The Connecticut Observer, And New York Congregationalist

CONGREGATIONALISM.—NO. III.

Having ascertained who are the officers of a church, the next inquiry is; By whom are they appointed? By the pope as the source of all ecclesiastical power? by a diocesan bishop? by the clergy in their collective capacity? by the church session? or by the great body of the church? A difference in practice prevails among modern churches. The appointing power is not entrusted to the same hands. Some churches tamely consent to have no voice in the election of their spiritual guides, and quietly take such as the bishop sends. Others, and among them the congregational churches, claim the privilege to choose their own ecclesiastical as well as civil rulers. They wish for the same liberty in selecting a religious teacher which they exercise in employing a literary instructer.— Which of these practices is most consonant with scripture and with our rights as freemen? In the first chapter of Acts, we learn that even when an apostle was to be appointed, the election was not given to a house of cardinals or of bishops. The whole church acted. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, of whom there were present about one hundred and twenty, and stated to them the necessity of appointing one to supply the place of Judas. In compliance with this advice, they appointed two, and decided the election by lot. Perhaps they were unable to make a choice by ballot. Barsabas and Matthias may have had an equal number of votes, and instead of giving to Peter the casting vote, they referred it to God by casting the lot. However this may be, it is plain that the whole body of the infant church at Jerusalem had a voice in the election of an apostle.— And if in the election of an apostle, much more in the appointment of inferior officers. Accordingly we find (in the 6th of Acts) that when the apostles deemed the appointment of Deacons necessary, they did not themselves select them and impose them upon the church without its consent. No. "the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you, seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. And the saying pleased the whole multitude." otherwise they would have rejected the proposition, "and they" the whole multitude, "chose Stephen" and his associates, and presented them to the apostles for ordination.

If an apostle was chosen by the "brethren", if deacons were elected by the same body, even when the apostles were present, who can doubt that pastors were chosen by the churches over which they were called to preside.

It is passing strange, that, in this age of democracy any church should be willing to surrender this right. We claim the privilege to select the lawyer to whom we entrust the management of our legal rights. We select for ourselves the physician to whom we entrust the care of our health. We select the teacher to whom we entrust the education of our children. We select our own mechanic. We should spurn all interference here as an infringement of our rights.— How much rather should we have the privilege to choose the man to whom we will entrust the care of our souls, Shall we submit a concern of such infinite moment to the dictation of another? Let the sons of the pilgrims beware how they submit to that ecclesiastical domination which was originated and matured by kings and emperors. For says an act of parliament passed in the reign of Henry the eighth: "Arch bishops, bishops, Arch deacons and all other ecclesiastical officers have no manner of jurisdiction ecclesiastical, but by, under, and from his royal majesty."

It is devoutly to be hoped that the churches in our connexion will continue to use the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free: that they will continue to own the houses of worship, which they have built, and direct who shall preach in them. When they shall relinquish this right, and deed their buildings to an itinerant clergy, and allow strangers to say who shall occupy their pulpits, then will it be written on the walls of our Zion, "The glory is departed."