ted by Christ himself. Suited to the
circumstances of the Church has been their character in every age, and
the changes that have been produced on these were made by Him alone. It
is from a special revelation of his will that the precise character of
the laws by which his Church ought to be ruled is obtained; and those
ordinances for the government of his house, which are not revealed as
His, are without authority. Since the close of the Canon of Scripture,
no new light concerning the things of religion has been, or can be,
given; and the laws of the New Testament Church are therefore fixed
beyond the influence of change. There are various forms of civil
government, all of which are consistent with the immutable law of God;
and any one of which, accordingly, may warrantably be adopted according
to circumstances. But in the Church of God, only one form of government
is of Divine right: every other is an invention of man, and destitute of
authority. In the course of providence, the institutions of the Church,
like the doctrines of religion, will receive accessions of rich
illustration; but, like these heavenly doctrines--beyond the resolutions
of men, they are, according to the will of God, to stand. _Next_, as
members of civil society, under Him as King of nations, they appear.
Distinct from the organization of the Church, but also under Christ, is
the constitution of civil society. In order to promote communion with
God, were the ordinances of the former appointed. In order that God
might be obeyed by men in their mutual intercourse with one another, the
laws of the latter were decreed. That God might be glorified
immediately, the former was constituted; that he might be glorified
mediately, the latter was founded. The erection and government of the
Church originated in Divine grace. The whole structure of civil
government is derived from God as the moral Governor of the universe,
but is put under Christ as the Mediator. The laws of the Church of God
remain immutable, amid the changes that overtake the various communities
of men. The laws of civil society may vary with the course of
providence, and yet be still consistent with the perfect standard of
moral procedure. The laws of the house of God are applicable to men of
every clime. Like all the commandments of the decalogue--which, indeed,
they embody, they are binding on men in all possible circumstances and
conditions; but, according to the state of society, may civil