A View of the Social Worship and Ordinances Observed by the First Christians

CONTENT S

CHAPTER I.

Pag

On the importance of attending to every part of the word of God,

CHAPTER II.

There is reafon to prefume, that the New Teftament contains inftructions concerning every part of the worship and conduct of Chriftian focieties, as well as concerning the faith and practice of individuals,

CHAPTER III.

All Chriftians are bound to obferve the uni-
verfal and approved practices of the first
churches recorded in Scripture.
Sect. I.-Arguments to prove this,
Sect. II.-Objections answered,

Sect. III.-A more particular confideration
of the objection, that there are fome prac-
tices of the apoftolic churches, which
churches profeffing to follow their exam-
ple do not observe. The inftances confi-

17.

36.

Pag.

church of Jerufalem; of the alleged daily

obfervance of the Lord's fupper; of con-

gregational love-feasts; washing the faints

feet; the kifs of love; and the apostle

Paul's vow, Acts xviii. 18.

CHAPTER IV.

On the caufes of the diverfity of opinion

among Chriftians refpecting focial wor

ship and ordinances, and the evils arifing

from it,

CHAPTER V.

On the conftitution of the apoftolic churches.

Sect. I. The apoftolic churches were fingle

congregations,

Sect. II-Objections confidered, viz. church

denotes in Scripture elders or rulers ;-

church at Jerusalem too numerous to meet

in one affembly ;-application from the

church at Antioch to that at Jerufalem,

Acts xv. ;-the alleged want of union and

co-operation in fingle and independent af-

femblies,

CHAPTER VI.

On the character of those who compofed the

apoftolic churches.

Sect. I. They were fuch as gave evidence

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143

Pag.

Sect. II. Objections confidered from 2 Pet.

ii. and iii. Jude 4. 12. 16. &c.; the fe-

ven churches addreffed, Rev. ii. and iii.

the prefence of Judas at the Lord's fup-

per; the parable of the tares, Matt. xiii.

24.; remarks on this by Prefident Ed-

wards and Mr Gisborne; extracts from

Dr Erfkine's account of the character and

privileges of the apoftolic churches, in re-

ply to these and the like objections,

Se&t. III.-Obfervations on the admiffion of

members into the churches of Chrift,

CHAPTER VII.

Of the offices in the apoftolic churches.

Sect. I.-Of the extraordinary offices, and:

the rule to diftinguish these from the sta-

ted; of apostles, prophets, evangelists; of

the stated offices, elders or bishops; their

identity, duties, qualifications, election;

all apoftolic churches had a prefbytery, or

more than one elder; no foundation for

the diftinction between preachers and ru-

ling elders; of the different talents of el-

ders as explanatory of this; right of all

elders to support from the church, and of

their duty to afford it; of widows, and

their duties; of deacons-not all of one

Pag.

church of Jerufalem; of the alleged daily

obfervance of the Lord's fupper; of con-

gregational love-feafts; washing the faints

feet; the kifs of love; and the apostle

Paul's vow, Acts xviii. 18.

CHAPTER IV.

On the caufes of the diverfity of opinion.

among Chriftians refpecting focial wor

ship and ordinances, and the evils arifing

from it,

CHAPTER V.

On the conftitution of the apoftolic churches.

Sect. I. The apoftolic churches were fingle

congregations,

Sect. II-Objections confidered, viz. church

denotes in Scripture elders or rulers ;-

church at Jerusalem too numerous to meet

in one affembly;-application from the

church at Antioch to that at Jerufalem,

Acts xv. ;—the alleged want of union and

co-operation in fingle and independent af-

On the character of those who compofed the

apoftolic churches.

Sect. I.-They were fuch as gave evidence

Pag.

Sect. II. Objections confidered from 2 Pet.

ii. and iii. Jude 4. 12. 16. &c.; the se-

ven churches addreffed, Rev. ii. and iii.;

the prefence of Judas at the Lord's fup-

per; the parable of the tares, Matt. xiii.

24.; remarks on this by Prefident Ed-
wards and Mr Gisborne; extracts from
Dr Erfkine's account of the character and
privileges of the apoftolic churches, in re-
ply to these and the like objections,

Sect. III.-Obfervations on the admiffion of

members into the churches of Christ,

CHAPTER VII.

Of the offices in the apoftolic churches.

Sect. I. Of the extraordinary offices, and

the rule to distinguish these from the sta-

ted; of apostles, prophets, evangelifts; of

the stated offices, elders or bishops.; their

identity, duties, qualifications, election;

all apoftolic churches had a prefbytery, or

more than one elder no foundation for

the diftinction between preachers and ru-