American Presbyterianism : its origin and early history
Briggs, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1841-1913
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PRESBYTERIAN COLONIES AT THE CLOSE OF THE i?tH CENTURY. noice eet — AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM ITS ORIGIN AND EARLY HISTORY TOGETHER WITH AN APPENDIX OF LETTERS AND DOCU- MENTS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DISCOVERED BY CHARLES AUGUSTUS BRIGGS, D.D. /é* at) DAVENPORT PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND THE COGNATE LANGUAGES IN THE UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, NEW YORK CITY WITH MAPS NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1885 COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS. cua OP EEE | Union Theale agical Seminary NEW YORK CITY PRESENTED BY | Family of Dr.Wm.A.Brown FEB 19 1945 Epwarp O. Jenxins’ Sons. OGNIGRH OBEN: me QP ww 8 TO THE SENATUS ACADEMICUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, THE ALMA MATER OF MANY OF THE FOUNDERS OF AMERICAN PRESBYTERI- ANISM, IN MEMORY OF THE CELEBRATION OF ITS TERCENTENARY, WITH CONGRATULATIONS UPON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS, AND PRAYER FOR ITS INCREASED PROSPERITY, Ghis Book ~~ Is DEDICATED AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION, 228811 - Bono CE, AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM has been carefully stud- ied by a number of the best scholars the Presbyterian Churches of America have produced. There are several works, well known to the public, of great merit. It will be sufficient to mention: Zhe Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church tn the United States of America,. by Charles Hodge, D.D., LL.D., Philadelphia, 1851 ; Azs- tory of the Presbyterian Church in America from tts ort- gin until the year 1760, with Biographical Sketches of tts Early Ministers, by the Rev. Richard Webster, Philadel- phia, 1857; Hzstory of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, by Ezra H. Gillett, D.D., 2 vols., Re- vised edition, Philadelphia, 1864; JZanual of the Re- formed Church in America, by the Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D., 3d edition, New York, 1879. These are models of their kind. The author has found them very helpful in his researches. a There are also a considerable number of valuable monographs, among which we may mention: Sketches of North Carolina, N. Y., 1846; Sketches of Virginia, Phil- adelphia, 1850; Sketches of Virginia, 2d series, Philadel- phia, 1855, all by Rev. W. H. Foote, D.D., containing rich stores of information ; Hzstory of Elizabeth, by Rev. E. F. Hatfield, D.D., N. Y., 1868 ; Azstorical Discourses relating to the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, by Rev. J. F. Stearns, D.D., Newark, 1853; Hzstory of Southold. by the Rev. E. Whitaker, D.D., Southold, 1881 ; (v) vi PREFACE. Annals of Newtown, by James Riker, N. Y., 1852; Two Centuries in the History of the Presbyterian Church, Ja- maica, L. I., by the Rev. J. M. Macdonald, D.D., N. Y., 1862; History of Rye, N. Y., 1871, and History of Bed- ford Church, N.Y., 1882, both by Rev. C. W. Baird, D.D. ; Biographical Sketches of the Founder and Principal Alumnt of the Log College, by Prof. Archibald Alexander, D.D., Philadelphia, 1851; Zerra Mariae, Philadelphia, 1867 ; Founders of Maryland, Albany, 1876; Virginia Vetusta, Albany, 1885, all by the Rev. E. D. Neill, D.D. The author would not have ventured upon a field ap- parently so well cultivated, if it had not been for the dis- covery of original documents which were unknown to previous writers, and which cast a flood of light upon the origin and early history of American Presbyterianism. An examination of the writers already mentioned re- vealed the fact that none of them had used the sources of information in the MS. stores of the Libraries, Mu- seums, and Ecclesiastical and Missionary bodies of Great Britain, with the single exception of those of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Accordingly the author took advantage of a summer in Great Britain to explore these sources, and he was sur- prised at the rich harvest awaiting him. He has spared no time, labor, or expense in the exploration of these sources, and everywhere they have been opened to his inspection with the utmost kindness. We feel it to be a duty and a privilege to tell the story of our researches, and to render thanks where it is due. In Scotland, through the assistance of Prof. Alex. F. Mitchell, of St. Andrews, and Mr. Douglas, of Edin- burgh, we were enabled to search the MS. Minutes of the Church of Scotland, from which we have made ex- tracts of all the material relating to America, in two vol-. umes which are deposited in the library of the Union PREFACE. eal Theological Seminary, New York. We give to our readers several longer extracts from these records in the Appendix XXIX., XXX., XXXII., and XXXIII. Through the help of Prof. Henry Calderwood, LL.D., and Dr. Kennedy, Clerk of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, we explored the Minutes of the Associate Synods (Burger and Anti-Burger). Extracts will be found in the Appendix XXXII. Through the kindness of Prof. A. F. Mitchell, D.D., and Mr. J. W. Tawse, we examined very carefully the Minutes of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowl- edge, the fruits of which will be seen especially in Chap- ters VII. and VIII. We are also greatly indebted to John Small, M.A., Librarian of the University of Edin- burgh, and Mr. J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Advocates’ Library, for free and full use of the MS. stores of these great treasures of learning. In the Advocates’ Library we discovered a large amount of valuable material relat- ing to America, which has been carefully copied under the direction of Mr. Clark, and deposited in the Library of the Union Theological Seminary, New York. From these stores we publish, for the first time, five letters of James Anderson, the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New York City (Appendix XX.), and letters of George McNish, George Gillespie, William Steward, and Alexander Hucheson (Appendix XXI.-XXIV.). In Glasgow we were greatly indebted to Prof. A. B. Bruce, D.D., and Prof. John Young, M.D., curator of the Hunterian Museum, and John Young, B.Sc., for ac- cess to uncatalogued books and manuscripts. Here we discovered the letter of John Eliot of 1650, which is now published for the first time in Appendix IV., giv- ing an account of all the ministers, towns, and churches of New England at that period. We also owe our thanks to Dr. J. Marshall Lang, of Glasgow, and Dr. vill PREFACE. Smith, of Cathcart, for the use of the MS. records of the Synod of Glasgow, which revealed the strong inter- est of that Synod in the American Presbyterian Churches, and assistance in funds and in supplies of ministers at an earlier date and in greater measure than was previ- ~ ously known. In London we were greatly aided by Mr. Hunter, the librarian of Dr. Williams’ Library, who is a model of kindness, courtesy, and attention to the wants of stu- dents. In the rich collections of this great Puritan Li- brary we discovered, among many other things, the letter of Matthew Hill to Richard Baxter, which carries back Presbyterianism in Maryland to 1668, and links the later Presbyterianism with the early Puritan emigration from Virginia, under the lead of the ruling elder, William Durand (see Appendix VII1.). Through the assistance of Mr. Hunter and the kindness of W. D. Jeremy, Bar- rister, we were permitted to examine the J7S. Minutes of the Presbyterian Fund Board and to discover therein the names of a number of early Presbyterian ministers aided by that Board on their way to America. Also through the effectual help of Dr. L. J. Bevan and the kindness of the Trustees of the Congregational Fund Board we were enabled to trace the origin of several other ministers sent out by that Board as missionaries to America (see Appendix XIV.). We also owe our thanks to Mr. Fred. Chalmers and W. M. Venning D.C.L., and the Governor and members of the New England Company, for important information with ref- erence to this first missionary Society of Great Britain (see Appendix V.). To the Rev. Dr. Baker, Head Master of Merchant Taylor’s School, the Rev. Dr. H. W. Tucker, Secretary, and Mr. Charles F. Pascoe, Librarian, we are in- debted for the free and full use of the Minutes and Letter Books of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel PREFACE. ix in Foreign Parts, where a considerable amount of valua- ble material was gathered, which is given in the Appendix XVI., XVII., XVIII., XIX. The author shall never forget the kindness and courtesy of the late Right Reverend Bishop of London, John Jackson, D.D., and the efficient help of his resident chaplain, the Rev. G. C. Blaxland, M.A., in the examination of the Fulham MSS., at the episcopal palace. The Libra- rian of the Lambeth Library, S. W. Kershaw, F.S.A.; and E. M. Thompson, Keeper of MSS. in the British Museum, are renowned for their kindness and atten- tion to scholars. We owe them our thanks for kind suggestions and help. Amid the mass of unpublished documents of the Rolls Office, the author was so fortu- nate as to discover among the Maryland papers, the im- portant letter of Benjamin Woodbridge, from Portsmouth, N. H., 1690 (see Appendix XI.), which gives fresh in- formation with reference to this city of New Hampshire, as well as the first Presbyterian preacher in Philadelphia. In Ireland our explorations were also rewarded with success. Through the kindness of Dr. W. Fleming Ste- venson and the Trustees of the Dublin Genera] Fund, we obtained the rare privilege of access to their valuable minutes (see Appendix XV.) In Belfast, the venerable Prof. W. D. Killen, D.D., gave us access to the MS. Minutes of the Sub-Synod of Derry, and other early Irish documents in the Assembly’s College. In Lon- donderry, the Professors, Thomas Croskery, D.D., and Thomas Witherow, D.D., placed in our hands the inval- uable minutes of a number of the early Irish Presby- teries, preserved in the McGee College, the fruits of which will appear in Appendix IX. and elsewhere in the book. In Armagh, through the kindness of the’ Rev. J. H. Orr, Stated Clerk, and the Rev. John Eliot, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Armagh, we consulted the x PREFACE, MS. Minutes of the Synod of Ulster, from which a con- siderable amount of fresh information was derived. In the United States, we have been greatly indebt- ed to George Moore, LL.D. Superintendent of the Lenox Library, for the use of the treasures of that rich- est library in America; as also for the use of two letters of Francis Makemie, never before published (Appendix X., 3 and 4), and other material, in addition to his val- ued counsel. To D. McN. Stauffer, Esq., we are indebt- ed for the privilege of consulting the most precious of all the letters of Francis Makemie, which is given in Ap- pendix X. 5. Latimer Bailey, Esq., clerk of the Session of the First Presbyterian church, N. Y., kindly gave us repeated access to the records of the Trustees and Ses- sion, the fruit of which will appear in the book. The Rev. James W. Mcllvaine, of Baltimore, has earned our thanks for furnishing the deed of gift of Ninian Beal (Appendix XII.) and other information resulting from his own researches. Weare also indebted to the Librarians of the Mas- sachusetts Historical Society, the Boston Public Library, the Harvard College Library, the American Antiquarian Society, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and the New York Historical Society, for transcripts of rare tracts and manuscripts. In mentioning these, the chief sources of help, we would not be unmindful of a large number of other friends who have given us assistance in various ways too numerous to mention. We can only express our gratitude to one and all. Without the help so kindly and freely offered everywhere in Great Britain and America this work could never have been written. We have not hesitated to use in the preparation of this book the material already given to the public in a number of articles published in periodicals from time to PREFACE. f time. It will suffice to mention, the Documentary His- tory of the Westminster Assembly, Presbyterian Review, January, 1880; the Provincial Assembly of London, Pres- bytertan Review, January, 1881; the Principles of Puri- tanism, Presbyterian Review, October, 1884, (originally given as an address at Airedale College, England, but revised and enlarged for the Review) ; Puritanism in New York in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, in the Magazine of American History, January, 1885; and occasional articles in several religious journals. ' These may all be considered as preparatory to the present work. The author has diligently sought for original authori- ties, and has based his work upon them. He has been greatly favored in the discovery of a considerable amount of new material,which modifies in many important respects prevailing views as to the origin and early history of Amer- ican Presbyterianism. He has, therefore, given his au- thorities very largely in foot-notes and in the Appendix, and by references to material which could not be intro- duced without overloading the book. No one will rejoice more than the author at the discovery of any material that may have escaped his attention. As he has been obliged by the evidence to change his opinion respecting several parts of the history, he will be ready to modify it still further in the light of additional evidence. Two maps have been prepared; the one giving the names of all the settlements in the American colonies where there were Presbyterian churches already organ- ized, or in process of formation at the close of the sev- enteenth century, at the beginning of the book; the other giving all the towns mentioned by John Eliot in his Description of New England in 1650, with the letter in Appendix IV. The author will be grateful if in any way his book Library ef the HINION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY xii PREFACE. may stimulate the young ministers of America to histor- ical research in the fields where Providence has placed them. He is convinced that there is still further light to break forth from early MS. records and letters upon the origin and early history of the various Christian Churches of America. This book was conceived ina catholic spirit and has been written upon a comprehensive plan. The growth of American Presbyterianism through internal and exter- nal struggles cannot be understood apart from the relig- ious development of Great Britain. The religious move- ments in Great Britain were immediately reflected in America. The author has endeavored to trace these movements in their origin in the mother country and their development in the lands of their birth and to fol- low them across the ocean in their influences upon the young colonial churches. There are several types of Presbyterianism. It has been our aim to give these adequate representation whenever they came naturally in the line of our investi- gation. We have not thought it necéssary to discuss the different theories of Presbyterianism at the outset. The American Reformed Churches have come into view in their relations to the American Presbyterian Churches of British stock. It was not our purpose to give a his- tory of these Churches. For an adequate history of the Dutch Reformed Church we may refer to Dr. E. T. Cor- win’s Manual; and for a thorough study of the French Reformed ministers and Churches, to the History of the Huguenot Emigration to America, by Dr. C. W. Baird, now in press. A satisfactory history of the American German Reformed Church is still a desideratum. It has also been necessary to discuss the conflicts of Presbyterianism with other religious bodies in Great Britain and America. In all these discussions it has been PREFACE. xi the desire and purpose of the author to be just and kind to all denominations and to all parties. He has not hesi- tated to condemn error, sin, and partisanship wherever he has found it. Union cannot be purchased at the sacrifice of truth or principle. We have no sympathy with those who magnify differences, nor with those who would reduce them to a minimum. We desire the or- -ganic union of all branches of the Presbyterian family in a broad, comprehensive, generous, catholic Presby- terianism. This can never be accomplished by the sup- pression of differences or by abstinence from their dis- cussion. The liberty and the variety are as important as the unity and the conformity to a common order. True union is the combination of these centripetal and centrifugal forces. We are also hopeful of a combination of Protestant- ism and the ultimate reunion of Christendom. We are sincerely attached to American Presbyterianism as the religion of our ancestors—we believe that it is in advance of all other Christian denominations in the realization of the ideal of Christianity; but Presbyterianism is not a finality. It is the stepping-stone to something higher and grander yet to come, when the Spirit of God shall be poured out in richer measure and in more abounding gifts and graces upon the Christian world, in order toa revival of religion which will transcend the Protestant Reformation by its omnipotent energy and world-wide sweep. a) : a | * Se J 4 a -— + - ae i is - Me rk = a a te" a oe tg wey, 7 AG rs, mat Art t4ee i al. ae) hg am ye oF Oe _ TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE, p. I. I. Presbytcrianism and Christzantty, p.5; 11. Presbytertanism and Catholicity, p. 11; Il. Presbyterzantsm and Orthodoxy, p.14; IV. Presbytertanism and Protestantism, p. 19; V. Presbyte- rianism and Puritanism, p. 26; VI. Presbytertanism and Prelacy, p. 40. E CHAPTER II. THE STRUGGLE OF PRESBYTERIANISM FOR SUPREMACY IN GREAT BRITAIN, p. 48. I. Welliam Laud, dictator of the British Churches, p. 50; II. The Solemn League and Covenant, p. 55; Ill. The Westminster Assembly, p. 61; IV. The Provincial Assembly of London, p. 68; V. Presbyterzanism and Independency, p.73; V1. Pres- bytertanism and Episcopacy, p. 79. CHAPTER III. THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN AMERICA, p. 87. I. Presbyterianism in the Bermudas, p. 88; Il. In New England, p. 92; Ill. Jw New York, p.99; IV. ln Maryland and Vir- ginta, p.109; V. In New Fersey,p.121; VI. In Pennsylva- nia and Delaware, p. 123; VII. In South Carolina, p. 127. CHAPTER IV. THE PRESBYTERY OF PHILADELPHIA, 1706-1716, p, 132. Il. The Presbyterian Missionary Socteties, p. 132; Il. The Episco- pal Missionary Soctetzes, p. 136; Ill. The Organization of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, p. 139; IV. The Struggle of Pres- byterianism with Episcopacy in New York, p. 143; V. The Growth of the Presbytery, p.158; VI. The Presbytery atded Jrom Great Britain, p. 161. (xv) a CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. THE SYNOD OF PHILADELPHIA, 1717-1729, Pp. 174. I. The Synod’s.“Fund for Pious Uses,” p. 174; Il. The Puritans of New York and New Fersey unite with the Synod, p. 176; Ill. Large accession of Irish Presbyterians, p. 184; IV. Re- cruits from England and Scotland, p. 191; V. The Subscrip- tion Controversy in Great Britain, p.194; VI. 7) he Subscrip- tion Controversy in the Synod of Philadelphia, p. 208; VII. The Adopting Act, p. 216. CHAPTER VI. AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM DIVIDED, p. 222. I. The Division of Presbyterianism tn Carolina, p. 222; I]. In New England, p. 228; Ill. The First Heresy Trial, p. 230; IV. The Struggle for strict Subscription, p.235; V. The Rise of Methodism, p. 238; VI. The Struggle for a Godly Minzs- try, p. 242; VII. The Great Awakening, p. 250; VIII. The Rupture of the Synod, p. 261. CHAPTER VII. THE SEVERAL TYPES OF AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM, P. 273. I. Zhe Covenanters in America, p. 272; Il. The Burger and Anti- Burger Presbyterians in America, p. 276; U1. The Union of British, Dutch, and German Presbyterianism Frustrated, p. 284; 1V. Extension of Presbyterianism into Virginia and North Carolina, p. 289; V. Missions among the American Indians, p. 297; VI. The Establishment of Presbyterian In- stitutions of Learning, p. 304; VII. Lmstitutions of Learning among the Reformed Churches, p. 311; VIII. The Growth of the Synods from 1742-1759, Pp. 313. CHAPTER: VIIL. THE SyNoD or NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA, 1758-1775, Pp. 317. I. The Plan of Union, p. 318; II. Mzsstonary Enterprises, p. 322; Ill. Growth zn the Southern Colonies, p. 328; 1V. Ln the Middle Colonies, p. 330; V. In New England, p. 334; V1, Efforts for Union with the Seceders, p. 338; VII. The Re- union of the Reformed Churches, p. 341. CONTENTS. * xvii CHAPTER IX. PRESBYTERIANISM AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, p. 344. I. The Presbyterians engage in the Struggle for American Inde- pendence, p. 347; Il. The Presbyterzan gain and loss by the Revolution, p. 352; Ill. Efforts to unite the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, p. 357; 1V. The Organization of the Gen- eral Assembly, p. 362. 18 III. IV. xl. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. JHE APPENDIX. . The Book of Discipline of the Elizabethan Presbyterians, p- i. Archbishop Ussher’s Reduction of Episcopacy under the form of Synodical Government, p. xvii. Presbyterianism in New England in the seventeenth century, Pp. XXili. Fohn Eliot's Description of New England in 1650, p. xxix. . The New England Company, p. xxxvi. VI. VII. VIII. IX. Order for the Reinstatement of Thomas Harrison, p. xl. Matthew Hill's Certificate of Ordination, p. xl. Matthew Hill's Letter to Richard Baxter, 1669, p. xli. The Early Life and Training of Francis Makemie, p. xliv. 5 . Letters of Francis Makemie, p. xlv. XI. A Further Account of Benjamin Woodbridge, with hes Letter from Portsmouth, N. F., 1690, p. 1. Ninian Beal’s Deed of Land for the Patuxent Church, p. lii. Separation of the Baptists from the Presbyterians in Philadelphia, 1698, p. liv. The London General Fund of 1690, p. vi. The Dublin General Fund, p. lix. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, p. |x. a eee XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXII. XXXII. XXXII. * CONTENTS, Foseph Morgan's Letter of 1718, p. 1xi. The Puritan Churches of New York at the beginning of the eighteenth century, p. Ixiv. Presbyterianism in South Carolina at the beginning of the eizhieenth century, Pp. Ixvii. Letters of Fames Anderson, p. 1xx. Letter of George McNzsh, 1718, p. Lxxxiii. Letter of George Gillespie, 1723, P- Ixxxiv. Letter of William Steward, 1726, p. 1xxxvi. Letter of Alexander Hucheson, 1724, p. 1xxxvii. Charges against Professor Simson, p. \xxxviii. Certificate of the Ordination of Nathan Bassett, p.\xxxix. The Protestation presented to the Synod of Philadelphia z# 1741, p. XC. Letter of the Synod of Philadelphia to President Clap, p. xcvii. Act for a Collection for the College of New Fersey, p. ci. Action of the Church of Scotland for the help of the German Reformed Churches of Pennsylvania, p. civ.- The Plan of Union, 1758, p. CcViii. The Collections in Scotland for the poor and déstressea Presbyterian ministers in Pennsylvania, p. cxii. Correspondence between the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1770, p. Cxix. : CHAPTER +I. THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. PRESBYTERIANISM is a system of church government by presbyters. It is thereby distinguished from the other systems of church government, the papal, the prelatical, the consistorial, and the congregational. In the papal system, the authority over the church is in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, culminating in the pope at Rome. In the prelatical system the government of the church is in the hands of prelates, or diocesan bishops. This is the method of the Greek and other Oriental Churches, of the Church of England, and of her daughters. Sev- - eral varieties of this system are found in different lands and in the successive periods of history. The consistorial system was adopted by the most of the churches of the Lutheran Reformation. These churches were governed by consistories appointed by the princes or other civil authorities. The congregational system lodges the gov- ernment of the church in the congregation itself, which is composed of a number of believers associated “by way of a church covenant.” This method makes every con- gregation independent in its government ; the churches are associated only for advice, and co-operation in pub- lic affairs. In the presbyterian system all ecclesiastical authority is in the body of presbyters, called by Christ and ordained by presbyters to rule over the church. These presbyters are associated for the purposes of gov- ernment in congregational Presbyteries, classical Presby- 9, AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM. - teries, provincial Synods, national Assemblies, and cecu- menical Councils. The larger bodies are superior in authority to the smaller, in an ascending grade. Presbyterianism does not claim that the presbyters of any branch of the Church of Christ have the exclusive authority over the church. It recognizes the ordained presbyters of the congregational and consistorial sys- tems. It recognizes that the pope and the prelates are presbyters, but’ declines to recognize them as of a higher order than presbyters. For presbyters are the genuine bishops of the New Testament, and the true apostolic succession is in the presbyters who have been ordained by the apostles and their successors from the founda- tions of the Christian Church until the present time. This was admirably set forth by the Provincial Assem- bly of London in 1654: “ Ordination is an act of office received from Christ, and is not Antichristian, though executed by one that is in other things Antichristian. We do not re-baptize them that were baptized by a popish priest, because the power of God's ordinance depertds not on the person that does execute the same, but upon an higher foundation, the institution of Christ. Ministerial acts are not vitiated or made null, though they passe through the hands of bad men; but stand good to all intents and purposes to such as receive them aright, by vertue of their office authoritatively de- rived from the first institution. A Bishop in his Presbyterial capacity hath divine right to ordain, and therefore his ordination is valid, though it be granted that he is Antichristian in his Epis- copalcapacity.” (The Divine Right of the Gospel-Ministry. Lon- don, 1654. ILI., p. 29.) “We say that ordination of ministers by ministers is no Romzsh institution, but instituted by the Lord Jesus himself long before Antichrist was; that our ministry is descended to us from Christ through the Apostate Church of Rome, but not from the Apostate Church of Rome.” II., p. 33. “It is certain that the Church of ome was a true church in the apostles’ days, when the faith of it was spread throughout the world, and it is as certain that after- wards, by little and little, it epostatized, till at last Antichrist set THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. 3 up his throne in that church. And yet still we must distinguish between the church and the apostasie of it; between the corn and the tares that are in it.” II., p. 38. ‘“ When the Protestant Churches did separate they did not erect a new church, but re- formed a corrupt church. And, therefore, ours is called the Protestant Reformed Religion.” II., p. 40. “It hath pleased God out of his infinite wisdom and providence to continue the two great ordinances of baptism and ordination sound for the substantials of them in the Church of Rome, even in their great- est apostacy. Every denomination of Christians is under some one of these systems of church government; but it is only in Great Britain and her colonies that the divisions of Christ’s Church are distinguished by names which indi- cate their church polity. This is owing to the conflicts 4 AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM. of British Christianity in the seventeenth century. The Reformed Churches of the continent of Europe and their daughters in America employ the Presbyterian form of government no less than the British Presbyte- rian Churches; but they prefer the name Reformed, which indicates their type of doctrine. The Presbyte- rian form of government has also been adopted by the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, by the Evangelical Churches of Germany, and by other religious bodies, which differ from the Presbyterian Churches in many important particulars. Presbyterian, under present circumstances, is a very inadequate term to characterize the Churches which bear the name; for Presbyterian- ism is vastly more than a system of church government: it embraces distinguishing features of doctrine, worship, and life. There are several phases of Presbyterianism, a num- ber of different types of the general system. It is neces- sary to keep this distinctly in mind, for there is a constant tendency in particular types and special phases to claim exclusive rights and privileges. It is important to dis- tinguish the essential features of the Presbyterian family from the peculiarities which belong to particular lands and special denominations and parties. It is not un- common, in the stress of controversy, to see the merely accidental and occasional features of an aggressive party assume the place of the essential features which belong to the whole family. There are features which deter- mine all genuine Presbyterianism, and there are types which are the complements of one another as the legiti- mate children of the Presbyterian family. It is wrong to disregard the unity in the essential features. It is also wrong to neglect the variety in the several legiti- mate types of the children of Presbyterianism. Presbyterianism belongs to the modern age of the THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. 5 world, to the British type of Protestantism; but it is not a departure from the Christianity of the ancient and medizval Church. It is rather the culmination of the development of Christianity from the times of the apos- tles until the present day. It comprehends the genuine Christianity of all ages. It conserves all the achieve- ments of the Christian Church. It leads the van of the advancing host of God. It makes steady progress towards the realization of the ideal of Christianity in ‘the golden age of the Messiah. I.—PRESBYTERIANISM AND CHRISTIANITY. Presbyterianism is pre-eminently Christian. It main- tains that all religion, doctrines, and morals should be rooted in the Christianity of Christ and his apostles. _ It is not sufficient that, with the Roman Catholic, there should be an appeal to the authority of the Church of Rome. The authority of the ante-Nicene Church is not decisive to the Presbyterian as it is to the Anglo-Catholic. The Presbyterian presses back, with the Reformers, to Christ and the New Testament for the only infallible authority for doctrine and practice. The Presbyterian does not lack the Azstorzc spirit, but he is suspicious of ¢radition, and critical in his attitude towards traditional usages. He insists that every -gen- uine Christian doctrine and usage must find its historic origin and authority in the words of Christ and his apos-, tles. He recognizes the office of the Church in Christian History to appropriate the Christianity of Christ in her life and experience, as she grows in grace under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But he also recognizes that the Church has not been faithful to the ideal,—has not been normal in her development; that there has been a mixture of good and evil; that there has been growth in grace, but that there have also been unfaithfulness, per- 6 AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM. versity, and apostasy. It is necessary, therefore, to dis- criminate between the work of the Spirit in the Church © and the work of the flesh; between genuine historical Christianity and spurious traditional Christianity; be- tween the real achievements of the Church and the cor- ruptions into which she has been seduced. The Scriptures are, and ever must remain, the touch- stone and infallible test of the Church, the norm of its legitimate development, the line of the Great Architect for the erection of its structure. The Church is not the master over the Scriptures, but the Scriptures give the law to the Church. Presbyterianism does not recognize the authority of the Church to define infallibly what is Scripture or what is the teaching of Scripture. It declines to concede to the Church such a right to make the canon or to interpret it. The Scriptures contain in themselves the assurance of their own canonicity. The Scriptures bear with them their infallible interpretation. John Wiclif said that “the Holy Spirit teacheth us the sense of Scripture as Christ opened the Scripture to his apostles.” This became the characteristic doctrine of Tyndale, Hooper, Knox, Cartwright, and of the Puritan type of Protestantism, and it received symbolic expres- sion in the Westminster Confession.* The Presbyterian churches in their creeds define the canon, and interpret the Scriptures in decisions as to questions of faith, order, and practice; but at the same time they recognize that they themselves may be in error even in these defini- tions. “ All Synods or Councils since the apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as a help in both.” (Westminster Confession, XXXi, 2, 3.) “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the * Westminster Confession, i, 4-10, THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. "fg Word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.” (West- minster Larger Catechism, question iii.) The Presbyterian churches exalt the Scriptures above the Church, and urge that Christian’men and Christian assemblies should wait upon God and listen for the voice of his Spirit speaking infallibly in his Word. Presbyterianism thus firmly plants itself’ on the rock of ages, the original Christianity of Christ. At the same time it guards itself from Mysticism and every form of Anabaptism. It declines to break with historical Chris- tianity. It declines to seek new revelations of the Spirit. The Spirit of God interprets to the Church not a xew Christianity, but the Christianity of Christ. The Spirit of God interprets the Word of God, the charter of the Church in all ages, and does not give new revelations, either in the form of additions to the Word, or of modi- fications of the Word. The Holy Spirit has been the guide of the Church in all ages, and will guide the Church to the end of the world, giving it the ability to appro- priate in its life and character in greater fulness and rich- ness the Christianity of the New Testament. The Spirit of God holds the Word of God before the eyes of the Christian world, that it may see therein how far it has grown in grace, and how far it has declined into sin and error, and how sadly it has failed of its high calling in Christ Jesus. Presbyterianism applies this test to all Christian history, and recognizes through all time the work of the Holy Spirit in the progress of the Church in the normal development of Christianity. At the same time it declines to compromise itself with the corrup- tions of the ancient and medizval Church in faith and in practice. Christ is the enthroned king and saviour of the Church, the sole source of its gifts and graces, and the arbiter of its destinies. It has been the peculiar office of Presby- 8 AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM- terianism to contend in a life and death struggle for the crown rights of Jesus Christ. The Church is the king- dom of Jesus Christ. “Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God for the gathering and perfect'ng of the saints in this life to the end of the world; and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto. ...-.- There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Westminster Confession, XXV. 3; 6.) Thus Presbyterianism exalts the Christianity of Jesus Christ above the Christianity of the ancient and the me- dizeval Church as the ultimate, the real Christianity ; as the model after which all historical Christianity is to be reformed, and to which it is to be assimilated. It en- thrones Christ above Christianity as the only king and saviour. If the Presbyterian Church is not the most Christian of all the Churches of Christendom, it is not the fault of its sheory, but of its practice. It has the true apostolic succession in striving after the apostolic faith in its purity, integrity, and fulness. Presbyterianism represents a real, a living Christianity. It did not battle for the crown rights of Christ and then restrict them by General Assembly and Presbytery. It did: not dethrone the Roman pontiff and the prelates of Great Britain in order to enthrone Presbytery in their place. If there was room for the complaint that Presby- ter was “ priest writ large,” it was a fault in the practice of Presbyterianism, and not in its theory. Ecclesiasticism appears in the history of Presbyterianism, but it is alien to its spirit and its principles. True Presbyterianism is a living organism looking to the enthroned Christ as king, and waiting on his royal word. True Presbyterian- ism is an organism of divine grace under the guidance and efficacious working of the Spirit of God. There may be the outward forms of Presbyterianism THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. 9 without the Presbyterian spirit. There may be Presby- terian doctrines without Presbyterian principles. There may be Presbyterian forms. of worship without Presby- terian life and piety. There is ground in some quarters for the complaint that Presbyterianism needs to be Chris- tianized. We would rather say that a formal Presby- terianism needs quickening by the Spirit of God, that it may'be a real Presbyterianism. FEcclesiasticism and scholasticism have in some places taken away its liberty, its freshness, its spontaneity and energy, and have threat- ened its life. Presbyterianism is casting off this scholas- ticism and ecclesiasticism in order to a clearer appre-. hension of its own essential principles, and to a better realization of its real spirit in an aggressive and progress- ive Christianity. Presbyterianism has been too often represented by spurious types which were not born of Presbyterianism, but were the children of Anabaptism. The Presbyterian principle recognizes the supremacy of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, but declines to imprison his divine energy in its external form and letter. Presbyterianism did not reject the authority of the papal church and the prelat- ical church, in order to establish the authority of a Presbyterian church. It did not make the Bible supreme as a book, but as the living word of the living God. — It did not bind itself to a written book, but to the Holy Spirit, who uses the Bible (written or spoken) as a means of grace. Presbyterianism recognizes the enthroned Christ as the source of Christianity to every age. The Word of God is the “sceptre of his kingdom,” and divinely called presbyters are his officers, commissioned to gov- ern the Church with his authority and in his fear. It never was a legitimate Presbyterian principle to confine worship, doctrine, and practice to the express command of Scripture. It was a perversion of the Pres- 10 AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM. byterian principle which required a “Thus saith the Lord” for every precept and every practice. This was a mark of the separating Anabaptists and Brownists, and not of the Presbyterians. Presbyterians follow not only what is “expressly set down in Scripture,” but also what “by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture.” The teachings of Scripture are far- reaching and vastly comprehensive : “We acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.” (Westminster Confesston, 1., 6.) The Holy Spirit guides in the application of the prin- ciples of Scripture to all the circumstances of Christi- anity in the successive ages of the Church. The light of nature and Christian prudence do not conflict with the teaching of Scripture, but take their place in subor- dination to the voice of the Spirit in the Scripture, and co-operate for the establishment of Christianity in the world. Those who refuse to recognize the use of the light of nature and Christian prudence in the circum- stantials of religion, and restrict Presbyterian order and worship and life to the express words of Scripture, have abandoned Presbyterian principles, and have gone over to the side of the separating Anabaptists and Brown- ists of the seventeenth century. The Holy Spirit interprets the Scripture to the be- liever, and especially to the divinely called presbyters of the Church. He turns the light of the Scriptures upon every circumstance with interpreting application. It is not the external letter of the Scripture, but the in- THE RISE OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN EUROPE. 11 struction which pervades it; and it is not so much the instruction itself as the distribution of that instruction. by the Holy Spirit, and his appropriate application of it to every time, place, and circumstance. Presbyterianism is a religious system which is animate with the influences of the Divine Spirit. Christ is pres- ent in it as its enthroned Sovereign and Saviour. It is a real Christianity which rejects everything that is not a product ofthe Christianity of Jesus Christ. It appro- priates everything in every age of the Church which bears the impress of Christ and which represents the power of his.Spirit. II.—PRESBYTERIANISM AND CATHOLICITY. | The term Catholic indicates the common features of Christianity—those characteristics of the religion of Jesus Christ which are to be found semper ubique et ab omnibus. This universality is not absolute; for there are those who bear the Christian name who are not Christians at all. It isa general and relative universality—wherever the true religion of Jesus Christ is found, whenever Christianity as such exists, and in all real Christians. 