An Essay on the Warrant, Nature and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church
by Samuel Miller, D.D.
Professor of Ecclesiastical History and church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J.
In this work (15 chapters) by Miller (Presbyterian-Reformed), he examines the ministry of ruling elder first looking at the testimony of the OT church, the evidence in the NT, the testimony of the church fathers, of the witnesses in the dark ages, of the reformers and those since their time. He then looks at their need in the church, the nature nd duties of such an office, their distinction with deacons, their qualification for office, their election, their ordination, their resignation, and the conducting of discipline on them on the presbyterian plan.
Brown The Devil's Mission of Amusement 7 page article from 1889. Hollywood in the church and her ministries. Brown was a student of C.H Spurgeon.
Excerpts:
Different days demand their own special testimony. The watchman who would be faithful to his Lord and to the city of his God needs to carefully note the signs of the times and to emphasize his witness accordingly. Concerning the testimony needed now, there can be little if any doubt. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, that is so gross, so brazen in its impudence, that the most shortsighted of spiritual men can hardly fail to notice it.... Amusement for the people is the leading article advertised by each... until the hideous fact has been proved up to the hilt, that "amusement" is ousting "the preaching of the Gospel" as the great attraction... The Concert is fast becoming as much a recognized part of church life as the Prayer Meeting; and it is already, in most places, far better attended.
"Providing recreation for the people" will soon be looked upon as a necessary part of Christian work, and as binding upon the Church of God, as though it were a Divine command, unless some strong voices are raised which will make themselves heard.
Read the 7-page article: Brown, The Devil's Mission of Amusement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introductory
2. Testimony from the Order of the Old Testament Church.
3. Evidence in Favor of the Office from the New Testament Scriptures
4. Testimony of the Church Fathers
5. Testimony of the Witnesses for the Truth during the Dark Ages
6. Testimony of the Reformers, and Other Learned and Disinterested witnesses, Nearly Contemporary with Them
7. Testimony of Eminent Divines since the Time of the Reformers
8. Ruling Elders Absolutely Necessary in the Church
9. The Nature and Duties of the Office
10. Distinction between the Offices of the Ruling Elder and Deacon
11. The Qualifications Proper for this Office
12. On the Election of Ruling Elders
13. Of the Ordination of Ruling Elders
14. Of the Resignation of Ruling Elders;–Their Removal from One Church to Another;–And the Method of Conducting Discipline against Them
15. Advantages of Conducting this Discipline on the Presbyterian Plan
calv01 Calvinism: What's the Truth?
v1.2 Calvinism: What’s the Truth? An honest explanation of why we are not Calvinists, and the problems with Calvinism for the Christian.
Topics: Total inability or Total Depravity? | Unconditional or conditional election? | Limited or unlimited atonement? | Perseverance of the Saints | Extreme Calvinism
Download: calv01 Calvinism: What's the Truth? v1.2.
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