Questions on Chapter 6.

decretal epistle was in the name of “the apostles, and elders, and brethren.”

The only question involved in the matter we are now discussing is that of authority. Did the “elders,” or “the elders and brethren,” possess the same divine authority to act in the premises which belonged to the apostles? To suppose that they did, would imply that they could have decided the matter without the ratification of the apostles — yea, that any one of them could have issued a divinely authoritive decision; for it is certain that the official act of any one of the apostles would have been clothed with all the authority of Heaven. But will any one suppose that a decision from one of the “elders,” or from “the elders and the whole Church,” would have been authoritative without the apostolic seal? It was this which fixed upon the decrees the stamp of the divine authority. The Lord Jesus Christ had said to his chosen “twelve”: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” It was this unfailing promise which secured to the apostles, in all their official acts, the divine guidance, and authorized them to preface their decrees with these remarkable words: “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.”

We think it must now be manifest that the history of this council presents no proof that the sovereign power in the government of the Church belonged as yet to any person or persons but the apostles. QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 6.

QUESTION 1. What is the first thing to be considered in the investigation of the character of a government?

2. What five leading views are stated with regard to the depository of the highest authority in Church-government, and by whom have they been respectively advocated?

3. Are the Scriptures explicit on this question?

4. What may we infer from the authority with which the apostles were invested?

5. In the beginning of Christ’s religion, why could not the power of government have existed in the congregations?

6. What is proved on the subject from the second and fourth chapters of The Acts of the Apostles?

7. What is the argument in reference to the “seven deacons,” whose appointment is recorded in the sixth chapter of The Acts?

8. In reference to this case, what four facts are inferred?

9. What is the argument on the subject founded on the account given of the council at Jerusalem, in the fifteenth chapter of The Acts?

10. Who met with the apostles in this council?

11. Were the apostles all harmonious in their opinions?

12. Were the decrees of the council authoritative?

13. What fact gave them the seal of divine authority?

14. In whom, then, does it appear that the sovereign power of government as yet was deposited?