Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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But Presbyterianism and Congregationalism are more congenial to the
spirit of Calvinism than prelacy. In the conflict with Anglican prelacy
during the seventeenth century, the Calvinistic Churches became
exclusively Presbyterian in Scotland, or Independent in England and New
England. During the same period, in opposition to the enforced
introduction of the Anglican liturgy, the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists abandoned liturgical worship; while Calvin and the
Reformed Churches on the Continent approved of forms of devotion in
connection with free prayer in public worship.
3. The participation of the Christian laity in Church government and
discipline. This is a very important feature.
In the Roman Church the laity are passive, and have no share whatever in
legislation. Theirs is simply to obey the priesthood. Luther first effectively
proclaimed the doctrine of the general priesthood of the laity, but Calvin
put it into an organized form, and made the laity a regular agency in the
local congregation, and in the synods and Councils of the Church. His
views are gaining ground in other denominations, and are almost generally
adopted in the United States. Even the Protestant Episcopal Church gives,
in the lower house of her diocesan and general conventions, to the laity an
equal representation with the clergy.
4. Strict discipline to be exercised jointly by ministers and lay-elders, with
the consent of the whole congregation.
In this point Calvin went far beyond the older Reformers, and achieved
greater success, as we shall see hereafter.
5. Union of Church and State on a theocratic basis, if possible, or
separation, if necessary to secure the purity and self-government of the
Church. This requires fuller exposition.
§ 103. CHURCH AND STATE.
Calvin’s Church polity is usually styled a theocracy, by friends in praise, by
foes in censure. f682 This is true, but in a qualified sense. He aimed at the
sole rule of Christ and his Word both in Church and State, but without
mixture and interference. The two powers were almost equally balanced in
Geneva. The early Puritan colonies in New England were an imitation of
the Geneva model.