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Manual of Congregational Principles

(Reprint of work first published 1884)

Manual of Congregational Principles
By R.W. Dale (1829-1895)
Quinta Press. 248 pages. £
ISBN 1 897856 03 2

This is a reprint of a work first published in 1884, now edited by Dr. Digby L. James with a foreword by Rev. Alan Tovey, the General Secretary of an Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches. The original work reflected views about the scope of salvation and about who should be baptised which are 'corrected' in an additional note in this edition.
Infant baptism is vigorously advocated, but apart from this, the principles here, followed in the main by Congregationalists, Baptists and independent evangelical churches, are explained with Biblical evidence and compelling reasoning in easy language. The five basic propositions are:

1. All believers should be organised into churches.
2. The will of Christ is the supreme authority in every church.
3. All church members should be Christians.
4. All members are directly responsible for maintaining Christ's authority in the church.
5. Each local church is independent of external control.

Built on this foundation are chapters on the congregational understanding of church officers, baptism, the Lord's supper, church membership, and relationship with other local churches and with the state. There are also historical notes on the meaning of the word 'church' and on the origin of episcopacy. Much of this material is rooted in the words of Jesus: 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matthew 18.20, AV) and their context. Generally, church meetings have lost their sense of awe and humble submission to the Lord that these words imply, according to Dr. Dale.
Those who regard plural eldership as a recent phenomenon will be interested to find it taught here and to read a lament that it had fallen out of fashion. There is also a helpful blending of the leadership of the elders and the involvement of the whole church in decision-making. You do not have to agree with every detail in this book to appreciate its value. Here is a biblical base for local church life that could prevent some from carelessly or ignorantly ignoring it.

Clifford Pond