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John Brown of Haddington’s Letters on Church Government and Discipline—originally titled Letters on the Constitution, Government, and Discipline of the Christian Church—is a robust and compelling defense of Presbyterian church polity, written with theological depth and pastoral concern.
哈丁顿的约翰·布朗（John Brown of Haddington）所著的《论教会治理与纪律的书信》（Letters on Church Government and Discipline）——最初名为《论基督教会的组成、治理与纪律的书信》（Letters on the Constitution, Government, and Discipline of the Christian Church）——是对长老会教会体制（Presbyterian church polity）一次强有力（robust）且引人注目的辩护，它是在神学深度和牧者关怀下写成的。
Brown presents church government not as a matter of human preference but as a divinely ordained structure, essential for the health and holiness of Christ’s Church.
布朗将教会治理呈现为一种神所命定（divinely ordained）的结构，而非出于人的偏好，这对于基督教会的健康和圣洁至关重要。
He begins by establishing the headship of Christ over the Church, rejecting the claims of magistrates and bishops to rule over God’s people.
祂首先确立了基督对教会的元首权（headship），拒绝了地方官（magistrates）和主教（bishops）对治理神子民的主张（claims）。
Brown carefully delineates the role of ministers, elders, and deacons, showing their biblical qualifications and functions.
布朗仔细地划分了牧师（ministers）、长老（elders）和执事（deacons）的角色，展示了他们的圣经资格和职能（functions）。
He also expounds upon the necessity of church discipline, arguing that the spiritual authority given to church courts—sessions, presbyteries, and synods—is vital for maintaining purity and order.
祂也阐述了教会纪律的必要性，论证了赋予教会法庭（church courts）——堂会（sessions）、区会（presbyteries）和总会（synods）——的属灵权柄（spiritual authority）对于维持纯洁（purity）和秩序（order）至关重要。
Each letter in this work provides Scriptural support and reasoned argumentation, demonstrating that Presbyterianism is not merely one ecclesiastical option among many, but the biblical model for church governance.
这部作品中的每一封书信都提供了圣经的支持和有理有据的论证（argumentation），证明长老会体制（Presbyterianism）并非仅仅是众多教会选项中的一个，而是教会治理的圣经模式。
This work remains a vital resource for ministers, elders, and all who seek to understand the biblical foundations of church government.
这部作品对于牧师、长老和所有寻求理解教会治理圣经基础的人来说，仍然是一个至关重要的资源。
Brown’s writing is characterized by clarity, conviction, and a zeal for the purity of Christ’s Bride.
布朗的写作特点是清晰、确信（conviction），以及对基督新妇（Christ’s Bride）纯洁的热忱（zeal）。
In a time when ecclesiastical authority is often neglected or misunderstood, his Letters on Church Government and Discipline call the reader back to a high view of Christ’s kingship and the necessity of faithful adherence to the polity He has established.
在一个教会权柄（ecclesiastical authority）经常被忽视或误解的时代，祂的《论教会治理与纪律的书信》呼唤读者回归到对基督王权（kingship）的崇高看法，以及忠实坚持祂所设立的体制（polity）的必要性。
Readers will be strengthened in their commitment to biblical church government and encouraged to see that faithfulness to Christ includes faithfulness to the order He has ordained for His people.
读者将会在他们对圣经教会治理的委身（commitment）上得到坚固，并被鼓励去认识到对基督的忠心包括对祂为祂的子民所命定的秩序的忠心。
About the Author
关于作者
John Brown of Haddington (1722–1787) was a Scottish pastor and theologian known for his deep biblical knowledge and commitment to Presbyterianism.
哈丁顿的约翰·布朗（1722–1787）是一位苏格兰牧师和神学家，以其深厚的圣经知识和对长老会体制的委身而闻名。
A self-taught scholar, he became a神学教授 and a minister in the Secession Church.
他是一位自学成才的学者，后来成为一位神学教授（professor of divinity），也是分离派教会（Secession Church）的一位牧师。
His works, including The Self-Interpreting Bible and A Compendious View of Natural and Revealed Religion, continue to be read for their doctrinal clarity and devotion to the Scriptures.
他的作品，包括《自解圣经》和《自然与启示宗教的简明概述》（A Compendious View of Natural and Revealed Religion），因其教义的清晰性和对圣经的虔诚（devotion）而继续被阅读。
TABLE OF CONTENTS
目录
PREFACE
序言
LETTER I – On the Nature and Foundation of Divine Right
书信一 – 论神圣权利（Divine Right）的性质和基础
LETTER II – Of the Divine Warrant for Church Government
书信二 – 论教会治理的神圣凭据（Warrant）
LETTER III – Of Christ’s Headship Over the Visible Church
书信三 – 论基督对有形教会（Visible Church）的元首权
LETTER IV – Of the Qualification of Church Members
书信四 – 论教会成员的资格
LETTER V – Of Private Christians’ Privileges and Power
书信五 – 论私人基督徒的特权和权柄
LETTER VI – Of Magistrates’ Power in the Church
书信六 – 论地方官在教会中的权柄
LETTER VII – Of Diocesan Bishops’ Office and Power
书信七 – 论教区主教（Diocesan Bishops）的职分和权柄
LETTER VIII – Of the Subject of Church Power
书信八 – 论教会权柄的主体
LETTER IX – Of the Qualifications of Church Officers
书信九 – 论教会职员的资格
LETTER X – Of the Election of Ministers
书信十 – 论牧师的选举
LETTER XI – Of the Ordination and Duty of Ministers
书信十一 – 论牧师的按立（Ordination）和责任
LETTER XII – Of Ruling Elders and Deacons
书信十二 – 论治理长老（Ruling Elders）和执事
LETTER XIII – Of the Nature of Church Power
书信十三 – 论教会权柄的性质
LETTER XIV – Of the Warrant for Congregational Sessions
书信十四 – 论堂会（Congregational Sessions）的凭据
LETTER XV – Of the Warrant for Classical Presbyteries
书信十五 – 论区会（Classical Presbyteries）的凭据
LETTER XVI – Of the Warrant for Synods
书信十六 – 论总会（Synods）的凭据
LETTER XVII – Of the Calling of Church Courts
书信十七 – 论教会法庭的召集（Calling）
LETTER XVIII – Of Scandals and Discipline
书信十八 – 论丑闻（Scandals）和纪律
LETTER XIX – Of Church Fellowship and Separation
书信十九 – 论教会团契（Fellowship）和分离（Separation）