The Baptist directory: a guide to doctrines and practices of Baptist churches

Front matter

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'/vA v«o

Part First. Chaptee I

A CHURCH.

PAfll

1. What is a Christian Church 13

2. Churches Constituted 17

3. Churches Recognized 18

CHAPTEK n.

ITS OFFICERS.

1. The Pastor 20

2. The Deacons 23

3. Other Officers 26

CHAPTEE in.

ITS ORDINANCES.

1. Baptism 28

2. The Lord's Supper 33

CHAPTEE IV.

ITS SERVICES.

1. Treadling. 38

2. Social Meetings 38

3. Special Services 41

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTEK V.

ITS WOESHIP.

1. Preaching 42

2. Praying 45

3. Singing 49

4. Exhorting 52

CHAPTEK VI.

ITS GOVEENMENT 56

CHAPTER VII.

ITS MINISTEY 61

CHAPTER Vm.

ITS MEMBERSHIP.

1. Qualifications 76

2. Admission 77

3. Dismission 80

CHAPTER IX.

ITS DISCIPLINE.

1. Laws of Action 85

2. Private Offences 89

3. Public Offences 94

CHAPTER X.

ITS BUSINESS.

1. Order of Business 103

2. Rules of Order 104

CHAPTER XI.

ITS MISSION 115

CONTENTS. XI

CHAPTEE Xn.

ITS CUSTOMS.

1. Councils , 128

2. Associations 131

3. Other Bodies 132

CHAPTEE XTEI.

ITS DUTIES 135

CHAPTEE XTV.

ITS PRIVILEGES 140

CHAPTEE XV.

ITS PIETY..., 143

CHAPTEE XVI.

ITS DOCTRINES.

1. Articles of Faith 154

2. Covenant 176

Part Second. Chaptee I

DENOMINATIONAL PECULIARITIES 179

CHAPTEE n.

THE BAPTLSMAL QUESTION 182

XU CONTENT S .

CHAPTER EI.

INFANT BAPTISM. 20ft

CHAPTER IV.

THE COMMUNION QUESTION. 211

CHAPTER V.

QUESTION OF CHUECH OFFICERS 236

CHAPTER VI. -

QUESTION OF CHUBCH GOVERNMENT 239

CHAPTER Vn.

BAPTIST HISTORY 242

CHAPTER Vni.

FORMS AND BLANKS 258

CHAPTER IX.

BBNEVOLENT SOCIETIES 268

TIIE

BAPTIST CHURCH DIRECTORY

Chapter I. A Chukch

I. — What is a Christian Church?

A Christian Church is a congregation of baptized believers in Christ, worshipping together ; associated in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel ; practising its precepts ; observing its ordinances; recognizing and receiving Christ as their supreme lawgiver and ruler; and taking his Word as their sufficient and exclusive rule of faith and practice, in all matters of religion.

That a Christian Church is a congregation of Christian disciples, and not a society, or number of congregations or churches combined, and united under some more general head or government, is evident from the Scriptural mention made of the Apostolic churches. There were "the churches throughout all Judea, and Ga lilee, and Samaria ;" ' also " the church which was in Jerusalem ;" a they " ordained them elders in every church ;" 8 " the churches of Galatia;" 4 " the churches of Asia;" 6 "the churches of Macedonia ;" 6 " the church of the Laodiceans ;" 7 " the church of the Thessalonians ;" 8 " the church that is at Babylon-" 9

Though the church is sometimes spoken of, in distinction from the world, as the church universal, embracing all the people of God everywhere, yet by churches are meant single, separate, visible congregations of Christian disciples, definitely organized, with their laws, officers, ordinances, discipline, and duties, doing the work and maintaining the worship of Christ. A church is " the body " in its relation to Christ who is " the head." It is " a spiritual temple," as being composed of spiritual or regenerate members, and distinguished from all material and unsanctified organizations. It is " the pillar and ground of the truth," in its relation to the maintenance and support of the divine law, and

* Acts ix. 31 . 2 Acts xi. 22. » Acts xiv. 23.

* 1 Cor. xvi. U 6 1 Cor. xvi. 19. 6 2 Cor. viii. 1. » Col. iv. 16. 8 1 Thes. i. % » 1 Peter v. 13.

its proclamation and propagation of the great realities of the Gospel.

1. The Character of Churches. — A church constitutes a kind of spiritual kingdom in the world, but not of the world ; w r hose king is Christ ; whose law is his word ; whose institutions are his ordinances ; whose duty is his service ; whose reward is his blessing.

In all matters of faith and conscience, as well as in all matters of internal order and government, a church is " under law to Christ ;" 1 but as men and citizens, its members must " submit themselves to governors," 2 like other men, so far as shall not interfere with, or contravene, the claims of the divine law and authority upon them. 8 — They must " render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and unto God the things that are God's," 4 remembering that God's claims are supreme, and annihilate all claims that contradict or oppose them.

2. The Design of Churches. — The evident design of our Saviour in founding and preserving churches in the world, was, that they should be monuments in the midst of guilty men, bearing perpetual witness against the wickedness of the world, and to the goodness of God. But espe<

M Cor. ix. 21, * 1 Peter tt. 14.

* See Part First, chap. vi. 4 Matt. xxii. '21.

cially that they should be living testimonies to the work of redemption, " the light of the world," and " the salt of the earth." '

They constitute the effective instrumentality by which the will of God and the knowledge of salvation through Christ are made known to men ; at the same time they form homes for the saints on earth ; sheep-folds for the safety of the flock, and schools for the instruction and training of the children of the covenant ; while they encourage the penitent and warn the careless. Churches should well understand their "high calling," and seek to accomplish it, "according to the will of God." 2

3. The Authority of Churches. — The authority of a church is limited to its own members, and applies to all matters of Christian character, and whatever involves the welfare of religion. It is designed to secure in all its members a conduct and conversation " becoming godliness."

This authority is derived directly from God ; not from states, nor princes, nor people ; not from its own officers, nor its members, nor from any other source of ecclesiastical or civil power or right. 8 But Christ " is head over all things to the church," 4 and also as of right, " the church

8 See Part First, chap, vi.— Second Part, cbap. vi. 4 Eph. i. 22.

is subject to Christ." ' But the authority of the church does not extend to its own members even, in matters merely personal and temporal, and which do not affect their character or duties as Christians. 11

II. — Churches Constituted.

When a number of Christians, members of the same or of different churches, believe that their own spiritual improvement, or the religious welfare of the community so requires, they organize a new church.

This is done by uniting in mutual covenant, to sustain the relations and obligations prescribed by the Gospel, to be governed by the laws of Christ's house, and to maintain public worship and the preaching of the Gospel. Articles of faith are usually adopted, as also a name by which the church shall be known, and its officers elected.

III. — Churches Recognized.

It is customary for them to call a council, to meet at the same, or at a subsequent timo, to recognize them ; that is, to examine their doctrines, inquire into the circumstances and rea« eons of their organization, and express, on behalf

1 Eph. v. 24. a See Part First, chaps, viil., Ix.

of the churches they represent, approbation fo: their course, arid fellowship for them, as a regularly constituted church of the same denomination. The calling of a council is, however, entirely optional with the church ; it is a prudential measure merely, to secure the sympathy and approbation of sister churches, but is in no sense necessary.

The council usually hear their articles of faith and covenant ; listen to a statement of the causes which led to their organization ; examine the letters held by the constituent members ; carefully consider the whole subject, and then vote their approval, if they so approve, or advise them to the contrary, if they disapprove. It is customary to hold some appropriate religious service on the occasion, when a discourse is preached, a charge given to the church, the hand of fellowship extended by the council to the church, through some one chosen by each for the service.

Note \. — A church may fail in some respects to meet the requirements of the Gospel, and still be a Church of Christ, providing it fulfills the fundamental conditions of a scriptural faith and practice.

Note 2. — But when a church ceases to acknowledge and submit to Christ as its supreme ruler, and to receive his Word as its supreme law, then it ceases to be a Church of Christ, though it iuay still accept some of his doctrines and practise some of his precepts.

Note 3. — If a council should refuse to recognize a newly constituted church, still that church would have the right to maintain their organization, and continue the forms of worship, and would as really be a church without, as with the sanction of the council. It would seldom, however, be expedient to do this, against the convictions of churches and pastors expressed in the decisions of a council.

Note 4. — The multiplication of feeble churches should be guarded against, and the organization of new interests without the prospect of becoming independent and efficient, should be discouraged.

Note 5. — Especially ought the formation of new churches, as the outgrowth and fruit of strife and dissension in older ones, to be avoided and discountenanced, except in the most extreme cases. A large and careful observation proves, that very few churches so constituted ever attain to any considerable degree of prosperity, or usefulness.

Note 6. — It not unfrequently happens, that a council doubts the propriety of recognizing a new church, and yet hesitates to refuse lest it might possibly place difficulties in their way, and hinder the progress of a good cause. In such cases the more wise and prudent course is, for the council to adjourn for a specified time, three or six months, at the end of which the case would be likely to present a more definite aspect, and allow of a more satisfactory dec j3ion.