I

SECTION VI.

Of the government of christian churches.

Shall conclude thefe obfervations on the pofitive inftitutions of chriftianity with a short account of the primitive regulations for the government of christian churches; which, though not of divine appointment, were fuch as the wifdom of the apoftles thought to be the most convenient for tranfacting the business of chriftian focieties, and making them fubfervient to the purpofe of improvement in knowledge and goodness.

Christian churches were formed upon the plan of the Jewish fynagogues, in which a number of the more elderly and respectable members prefided, with the title of elders, or overfeers, which in the Greek language is expreffed by the word which in English VOL. II.

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is

is rendered bishop; and one of thefe perfons was generally, by way of pre-eminence in point of honour, but not of power, stiled the chief, or mafter of the fynagogue.

The principal bufinefs of elders in chriftian churches was to attend equally to the inftruction and good conduct of the fociety, and to pafs cenfures in cafe of improper conduct. In general, fome of them gave more particular attention to reading and exhortation, and from thefe elders, the fociety ufually expected an expofition of those portions of fcripture which were read in their affemblies every Lord's day; but any perfon who was prefent might, with the leave of the bishop, either expound the fcriptures, or exhort the people.

Thefe elders were chofen by the people, and, with their approbation, were ordained, or recommended to the divine bleffing by prayer, in which the elders of other churches affifted. Along with prayer they used impofition of hands, which was nothing more than a ceremony which they constantly used

when

when they prayed for any particular perfon, on any occafion whatever; and to this the extenfion of the hands of the person who prayed over, or towards any large body of people, correfponded.

Befides elders, there were also, in all christian churches, persons who attended to the civil concerns of them, under the title of deacons. These were generally younger perfons, of good character, who, if they behaved well in this office, were afterwards advanced to the rank of elders.

At the first appointment of officers in christian churches, there was no fettled provifion for their maintenance, but money was collected every Lord's day, out of which a diftribution was made to all who stood in need of it, officers and others, promiscuously. For, at the first promulgation of chriftianity, no person could have been educated for the ministry. All equally lived by their feveral profeffions, and therefore no perfon was entitled to more confideration in this respect than another. But afterwards, when christianity

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christianity got a firm establishment, many young perfons devoted themfelves wholly to the fervice of chriftian churches, and prepared themselves for that work by a diligent study of the fcriptures, and proper exercifes; and thus, giving their whole time and labour to the fociety, they were, as was reasonable, wholly maintained out of the funds of it.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER III.

OF THE FUTURE EXPECTATIONS

OF MANKIND DERIVED FROM REVE

LATION.

SECTION I.

Of a future ftate in general.

ROM the light of nature we were able

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to make out a tolerable fyftem of natural religion, as far as it refpects the duty of men in this life, though the particulars were fuch as can only be faid to have been difcoverable by nature, fince they were not actually difcovered by it. But nature was a much less fufficient guide with respect to the information, in which we are fo much interested, concerning our expectations after death.

It even left us under great uncertainty, whether we should survive the grave