Reformation CD#24 - Church Government 2
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REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD(Volume Twenty-four)

Two large volumes. A classic on the Church and worship! This is one of the most extensive studies of its kind ever compiled.Nothing compares to it on this subject. Regarding these gems, Iain Murray writes,

Barrow demonstrates how social covenanting and close communion were practiced by Calvin in Geneva. He shows that Calvin, in his desire to upholdsola Scripturaand promote further Reformation, saw the faithful implementation of these two ordinances as the means ordained of God to extend, protect, and consolidate the work of the Holy Spirit -- in the individual, civil, and (especially) the ecclesiastical battle against the man of sin in his day. This book is available in the "Free Books" file in every Reformation Bookshelf CD.

Though this work is not an elaborate systematic presentation of the foundations of Christianity, such asCalvin's Institutes, it has still been correctly acknowledged as one of the most important documents of the Reformation.

An exceedingly rare and important book now back in print after 265 years! TheContending Witness magazine (May, 1841) described Plain Reasons"as the single best volume penned defending the principles of the second Reformation." It sets forth "the grounds why Presbyterian Dissenters refused to hold communion with the revolution church and state," (Reformed Presbytery,Act Declaration and Testimony for the Whole of Our Covenanted Reformation, p. 154n).

Croskery writes, "I have followed Hodge, the American divine, closely, almost verbally, in my treatment of the true doctrine of the Church and its unity."

Extremely scarce, this is one of the most important works answering the Independents at the Westminster Assembly. Hetherington, in his famousHistory of the Westminster Assembly, calls this work "the most elaborate" answer to the Independents' Apologetical Narration, "embracing every disputed or suggested topic" (p. 190). He continues, "It will scarcely be denied, by those who have carefully perused theAntapologia, that it furnishes a very ample and strong... refutation of the main positions taken up by the authors of theApologetical Narration. No formal reply was returned by the Independents to theAntapologia" (p. 190). 307 pages.

The title continues: "Also a particular Narration of divers Stories, Remarkable Passages, Letters; an Extract of many Letters, all concerning the present Sects; together with some Observations upon, and Corollaries from all the fore-named Premises." The second part even notes that it contains a "copy of a hymn sung by some Sectaries instead of David's Psalms;" and includes replies to some pamphlets (by Saltmarsh, Bacon, etc.) against the first part of Edward's work. In short, this book is written to stay "the plague of Sectarianism," which Edwards writes, "rages more and more, putting forth the symptoms presaging death and destruction on both Church and State, if not timely prevented." The summary for theThird Part of Gangraena is listed below. 319 pages.

More against the sectarian Independents; with some special attention given to Thomas Goodwin's attempted refutation of Edwards'Antapologia

"Ordained at Alva in 1664 he initially conformed to episcopacy, but on reading John Brown of Wamphray'sApologetical Relationhe became a convinced Presbyterian and joined the ranks of the conventicle preachers... Forrester's experience in both camps well equipped him for the ecclesiastical controversies of the day. A prolific if painstaking writer, he became one of the ablest advocates of Presbyterianism," writes Grant (Cameron, ed.,Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 331).

Houston notes that in the Apostolic church "the government of the church was one and common wherever churches were planted. It was Presbyterian, and neither Prelatic, a system of monarchial despotism, nor Congregational, a system of popular democracy." This biblical and Presbyterian uniformity was considered the apostolic, visible and doctrinal manifestation of the scriptural injunction to "one Lord, one faith, (and) one baptism."

This book clearly demonstrates that not Episcopacy, but its contrary, Presbytery, was believed by Cyprian and his contemporaries to be of divine right. Written in English, this rare work contains much valuable information defending the divine right of Presbyterianism from both Scripture and history.

Walker includes this among the "principal works" and best defences of Presbyterian church government, against Episcopalian attacks.

This book is in the "free books" file in all the Reformation Bookshelf CDs.

This book chronicles John Owen's thought as he matured and ultimately re-embraced the Presbyterianism of his youth.However, it is also much more -- beinga fine introduction to biblical Presbyterianism!

In a fascinating manner John Owen Represbyterianizedbegins tracing Presbyterianism fromthe Heavenly Session in the Trinity. It continues bymoving from the Presbyterianism of the antediluvian Patriarchs to a survey of Presbyterian church government as it is revealed throughout the Old Testament. It then demonstrates how the "Older Testament Presbyterianism continues as Christian Presbyterianism" in the New Testament (all the while providing an excellent historical overview and summary of Presbyterianism as it is found throughout the complete inspired record of Scripture).

Dr. Lee also provides many exegetical proofs for Presbyterianism while furnishing numerous insights into how the original languages of the Bible set forth the Presbyterian system of church government.

This is all accomplished in an easy-reading format which even a young Christian should be able to understand -- while, at the same time, offering profound divine truths that will be much appreciated by those more skilled and mature in the use of their biblical swords.

Don't miss this one, it will save you hours of study and research while also providing many valuable insights (on church government) that would be otherwise unavailable to those who do not read the original biblical languages.Furthermore, the story of John Owen's return to Presbyterianism is extremely interesting and very well documented and easily worth the price of this book alone!

This title is in the free books file on all the Reformation Bookshelf CDs.

The principles set forth by McWard, as a faithful defender of the Covenanted Reformation, can be easily applied to the current state of declension in the modern Presbyterian and Reformed churches. This makes McWard's book an exceedingly helpful aid, regarding a broad spectrum of practical church issues, for those seeking to maintain the original (as held to by most of the Westminster Divines) covenanted testimony in our day. 416 pages, this book contains a glossary and index.

The title continues: "In Behalf of the Ordination, Government, Discipline, and Worship of the Christian Church, As Opposed to the Unscriptural Character and Claims of Prelacy: In A Reply to the Rev. Archibald Boyd, A.M., on Episcopacy." This work has been called "one of the ablest works against Prelacy ever published." Contains some interesting information on the synagogue and its relation to the church under the new administration of the covenant. 312 pages.

Open (or Catholic) communion -- as with anti-creedalism -- is foundational to the destruction of the visible church and inconsistent with a love for the truth. Pressly here illustrates why this is so, while showing how exclusion from the Lord's table (by lawful ministers) does not necessary mean that one (at an individual level) is not a Christian. 15 pages.

A companion volume to the authors Catholic Communion, in the Present State of the Christian Church Inconsistent With a Due Regard for Truth, this work deals with the necessity of creeds, the conditions for church fellowship, the standards for membership in the church, etc. Pressly sees faithfulness in these areas as the God given means by which the church will ultimately be united in the truth. Objections to the old Reformed views of creed based membership, ecclesiastical fellowship and close communion are also dealt with. 72 pages.

Seeks to, writes Steele, "lay before the reader some of the desolations of Zion (i.e. the church--RB)," that the readers "eye may affect his heart,-- that he may be induced to search out the causes of these desolations; and that he may be aroused to the use of such divinely appointed means as the Lord will own and bless for the healing of our breaches, which are great like the sea." Numerous other subscribers note that they "have been grieved with steps of defection from our Covenanted Reformation," especially among those "several bodies who claim ecclesiastical relation to our reformation progenitors," and set their names to this testimony with the hope of uniting "the witness for Christ in Britain, Ireland, and America, on the platform of our Church in the year 1649."

An overview of Steele's contendings and sufferings for the truth, with his reasons for maintaining the attainments of the Second Reformation -- in opposition to the backsliding of the RPCNA.

The title continues: "Or, An Answer to the Question, 'Is It Agreeable to the Word of God, and Consistent with a Faithful Adherence to a Scriptural Profession, to Hold Ecclesiastical Communion With Such as Openly Oppose Some Parts of that Profession?"

Also freeon this CD are the following audio (MP3) tracks: