Alexander McLeod (1774-1833) and Thomas Smyth (1808-1873) on the divine right of Presbyterian church government:

“39. How shall we ascertain what particular form of church government is of divine appointment?

Whatsoever is agreeable to sound reasoning from established truths — supported by approved examples — sanctioned by divine approbation — established by divine acts — or recommended by directions from God, is of divine right; and that form of ecclesiastical government which has each part of divine right, and embraces whatsoever is divinely authorized, is, exclusively, of divine appointment, and the proper government of the Christian Church.” — Alexander McLeod, The Ecclesiastical Catechism (1806), p. 17

“59. What is meant by the divine right of church government?

By the divine right of church government, we are taught, that it is not the result of human prudence, but sanctioned by divine approbation, established by divine acts, and enforced by divine precepts.

62. In what sense do Presbyterians hold the divine right of their system of government?

They maintain, that a particular form of church government, in its essential principles, was appointed by the authority of Christ; and that it is the duty of all churches to adopt this form; but they do not believe that the whole platform of government is laid down in detail in the word of God, nor that differences in such ecclesiastical arrangements merely, will destroy, or essentially vitiate, the character of a church.” — Thomas Smyth, An Ecclesiastical Catechism of the Presbyterian Church (1843), p. 27