As for the performance itself, I must expect from the christian reader some favourable allowances, for any oversights and imperfections that may be found in it. And if at any time I have either mistaken or misrepresented the church, in defence of which I write, I shall, upon information, with all due submission acknowledge the error. To conclude, I earnestly beseech Almighty God of his infinite mercy, to make all those who shall peruse this book, honest and impartial, diligent in the search of truth, and heartily willing not only to receive, but also to acknowledge conviction. Trinity College, Dublin, PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE decided approbation given to the Treatise on the Government of the Church by characters of the first eminence, and the rapid sale of it beyond my expectation, have induced me to prepare for the press a new and improved edition, in which I have spared neither labour nor expence in rendering it still more deserving of the approbation of the Friends of the Church. It must be highly gratifying to all true lovers of Primitive Truth and Order to find that, in this age of indifference and lukewarmness, the principles which I have contributed my endeavours to restore, have met with even a tolerable reception, when the very contrary might have been expected. Yet still, it will require no ordinary exertions in all the friends of the church, with the assistance of God's holy spirit, to bring back their erring brethren to that blessed state of unity described in the Acts, in which the christian people are represented as "remaining stedfastly, not only in the doctrine and worship of the apostles, but also in their FELLOWSHIP." It has been observed of late, that there is much less of Infidelity among us, than there was some years ago; but that there unfortunately prevails among Protestants in general, a sort of imperfect christianity, which, supposing a certain knowledge of the fundamentals of doctrine, considers every thing else as totally unimportant. This observation is extremely just, and perfectly applicable to the present times. But let us abply it more explicitly to the respective bodies of those who profess the tenets of Protestancy. The Protestants of Great Britain and Ireland are divided into two great bodies, viz. those who are not members of the church and those who are. Of the former the Presbyterians, Independents and Methodists are the most numerous; and it is of importance in the present case to observe, that, beside the profession of the true faith, they all appear to admit the necessity of church society and church governors of some description or other. Some among them even contend zealously for the divine right of their respective forms of church government*, but it may be observed, that in general they consider this as totally unimportant, and left undetermined in the scriptures. But this is an extremely unscriptural and *The independents have of late years manifested a wonderful zeal in inculcating the necessity of attending to church government and unity. The following extract from what is entitled the Scripture Magazine, edited by the Scotch Independents, will, I am confident, be readily subscribed by every true Churchman: "Another thing, which greatly tends to hinder the progress of the gospel, is the glaring inattention to the nature of a Church of Christ, mani dangerous sentiment. Christ and his holy apostles, as I think I have clearly proved, instituted but one form of church government and communion, and confined the covenanted means of salvation to the living members of this one communion, and to none other. The characteristic mark by which this communion is distinguished from all other societies, is, that it is governed by the order of Bishops maintaining the true faith and worship. To separate from this society without the strongest reasons constitutes the sin of schism so pointedly condemned in the scriptures, and with the nature of which Protestant Dissenters of all descriptions appear to be entirely unacquainted. "He that is not with the Bishop, (as the celebrated Bishop Taylor remarks,) is not in the church, that is, he that goes away from him willingly and separates himself, departs from God's church; and whether he can then be with God, is a very material consideration, and fit to be thought on by all that think heaven a more eligible good than the interests of a faction, and the important desire of rule can countervail.— (Consecration Serm. Dub. 1660. Pref.) Or to use fested by those who profess to be most deeply interested in the conversion of sinners. The common opinion on this subject is, that if sinners are brought to the knowledge of the truth, all is well; and as to forms of social institution and worship, they are deemed quite unnecessary, or, at any rate, of but trifling importBut how can the effects of christianity be expected to follow in assemblies, where the union and fellowship of the body of Christ do not appear?-Edinb. 1809. p. 192. ance. |