Exploring the battle over church governance in the early modern period, this work argues for a historically grounded view of how congregations and presbyteries operated across cities and nations.
In a detailed, polemical voice, the text contrasts different church structures—from elder-led councils to independent congregations—and traces how power, authority, and discipline were exercised in various eras. It presents arguments about how early Christian communities organized themselves and how later authorities reshaped those arrangements, all through the lens of Protestant debates and prophetic writings.
- Understand how “the book” frames the conflict between Independents and Presbyterians.
- See how civil and ecclesiastical authority are traced through ancient and modern examples.
- Learn the historical lines of argument used to defend or critique different church forms.
- Encounter primary-style discussion of scriptures used to support governance claims.
Ideal for readers interested in religious history, early modern politics, and how ideas about church authority shaped communities.