The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-17
From tue Presbyterian Herald.
The Peculiar Danger of the Presby
terian Church.

ne history Vi IEe CuuiOh VAhlDluo NOii
slant alternations of prosperity and adver-
sity. Times of revival have generally been
succeeded by seasons of declension. After
great and signal triumphs Of the truth, error
has almost always creptin. Human nature,
even when partially sanctifed, is so prone
to be puffed up with pride, that it cannot
without injury bear long continued prospe-
rity. A church, as we'll as an individual
which has enjoyed long season of uninter-
rupted prosperity, is almost certain to for
get the source whence that prosperity is de-
rived, and to begin to feel, if not to say, in
the pride of it's heart mine own wisdom hath
devised, and mine own arm hath gotten me
this. 1t is from this source that the great
est danger to our own branch of the church
is to be apprehended just now. The Old
School Presbyterian Church has been bless
ed above all its fellows for the last fifteen
or twenty years. Whilst other churches
have been distracted by internal dissensions,
and torn assunder by sectional contests, it
has been at peace in all its borders. Its
ministers and private members have dwelt
together in the unity of the spirit and
the bond of peace Wherever they have
gone, in any part Of our wide country they
have always found brothers welcome and
unity of faith and Of worship. No sectional
] lipes lave hou, .ea their sympathies or con-
tcagJedt,. - spreac gne gVsp~.
Our Board sdissions, Education, Publ
cation and Church Extension, have gone
steadily forward increasing their resources
and expanding their operations, until they
have filed the whole land. No State or ter
ritory is wholly mbessed by their influence.
Our Colleges and Theological Seminaries
are manned by men of learning and talents,
and their halls are crowded with students.
Our last General Assembly was probably
the largest ecclesiastical body, of dele
gated character, that ever sat upon earth.
In learning, talents and piety it has never
been surpassed. 1t commanded the respect,
and called forth the admiration of the whole
Protestant world, and excited the jealousy
of all who hate the truth and wish to check
it's progress. The smaller bodies around
us have been attracted by our internal peace
ard harmony, and external prosperity, and
are seeking to form alliances with US. To
belong to such church and to exert COM
manding influence over it, is an object that
might tempt the ambition of even the most
worldly minded. The weak feel strength
ened by their connection with it, and the
strong find it an engine of sufficient power
] Al, -, fO a11
Our first danger then is that we will be
lifted up with denominational pride, and
thus fall into the condemnation and snare
of the Devil. There is a constant tendency
in all large bodies of people to self-glorif-
cation and self-aggrandizement Each sect
or party imperceptibly to themselves gliGe
into the belief that they are the people and
that wisdom will die with them. We car
see this in all other churches, much more
plainly than we can in our own. That which
strikes us as gasconade and vain glorious
boasting in them, appears to themselves t(
be merely plain and mexaggerated set
ting forth of their claims topubEc confidence
We forget that we are liable to make our
selves as ridiculous in their eyes, as the.
are in ours and what is far worse to rem
der ourselves odious to God and to cause
him to withdraw Gls favor from us. God re
sisteth the proud church, as well as the prou'
individual, but he giveth his grace unto tn
humble. Let us see to it then that all prid
and vain glorious boasting Of our superio
numbers, wealth, intelligence, learning an
piety are subdued. If we have them, lie
us remember that they are the gifts of tn
great head of the church, talents given t
us to be used not foT putting up our heart
with pride, but for the promotion of his glo
ry in the salvation of souls and that
they are not thus used by us, they will b
withdrawn. To him that hath shall be givel
but to him that hath notshall be taken ava
; even that which he hath.
AS pride goeth before destruction, and
, naughty spirit before fall, our next grea
, danger is that we will cause God to give L
) over to divided counsels and distracted e
: forts to promote the cause of truth. An
, bilious and bad men will creep into tn
r purest churches upon earth, and even tn
| very best men will some times suffer the
t hearts to come under the power Of unha
t lowed ambition. To be willing to see God
e church 90 forward whilst we ourselves al
thrust into corner, is an attainment whic
0 few men ever make. If we are not emplo,
ed by him in some way, we are very apt
S conclude that the work is not rightly dom
: and the next step is to oppose it. Then con
, strifes and divisions ard evil speaking
!, Too many great men in church or con