The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1861-11-02
Fo8 TaE CgSiRAL PsrsBYrFe,As,
A Pastoral Letter.

The Ministers md Elders IN the Synod Of
Vugipia assembled, the Chris,ion people
uader their care IRISH groce. macy and
yeace from God the Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Bear Brethren.-We feel it to be our
duty to address YOU upon the dangers, dis
ccuragements and temptations which visit
YOU in these times Of trouble AID distraction,
and threaten not only to embarrass and
hinder the progress Of the Lords work
among you, but, in some Of the churches,
even wholly to arrest it, We are in the
midst of war which will task the utmost
resources of the country, and make the
largest draughts upon the patriotism and
self-denyiug zeal and patience Of our citi-
zeDs, to conduct to q successful termination.
There is great danger, in these circum-
stances, of our overlooking the immense
and transcendent interests Of the church Of
God,'in the absorbing sOhcitude We natu-
rally feel to establish the inde pendence G
our own commonwealth, and Of those who
are confederate with it. We ask your at
tention, therefore, as the followers of the
Lord to some hints in regard to the claims
Of His cause upon you, IN the present CRISIS.
1st. And, in the first place, beloved
brethren, we are entitled to assert in regard
10 all the dispensatioDs Of Providence, that
thew are not designed to suspend, much less
20 arrest altogether the progress of the
work Of grace. This work iu time is only
the evolution OF that great plan OF salvation
which was conceived in the counsels Of eter-
nity, and whose final consummatiOn all other
works Of creation and providence are in
tended to subserye. God created all things
by Jesus Christ to the intent that, now,
unto the principalities and powers in heayeq-
ly places might be known by the church, t&e
nau.f0ld Wloj&m Il Cd " "Ali tbst t#e
Father giveth TO me, says our blessed 81
viour, "shall come to me, and him that
comes1 to me | viii in no wise cast out.
For l came down from Heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the wall Of HIM that sent
me. And thus is the Fathers will which
hath sent me, that Of all which He hath
given me should loose nothing, but should
raise it mp again at the last day" The
same Saviour who uttered these precious
words has said also, that He came not to
send peace .ou earth bat a sword, /" aud to
make the members of mans own house
hold his foes. The same yUice which cried
upon the cross, Father forgive them. for
they know not what they do has sum
uoued the hosts to the field Of battle. All
power in heaven and earth is In HIS hands,
as the Saviour of the eiec;; and it is as The
SGrioRr, that He has stretched out the
drawn sword over our land, aud has filed
it with strife and blood. There is no in
compatibility, therefore, between this war
and the progress OF His work of redemption.
The covenant which secures the salvation
of the church is as sacred as it can be made
by the blood which sealed it, and as sure as
il can be made 10y the oath of HIN who
''beeause He could swear by no greater,
hath sworn by Himself no weapon, "
saith the Lord to the church, mo weapon
that is formed against ttee shall prosper y
%. In the next place, as the work must
go on so also, it mus 60 on by yOur means.
No doubt that Christ our Head might dis
peuse with all human instrumenjahties,
ministry, Oracles and ordinances; and lie
might have done so from the beginning.
He needed the use of no word no preach
ing, TO men, no money. But lie has not
chosen to dispense with yoar services, and it
becomes you to bless His name every day
that he has not; but, on the contrary, at
He has given you the gloriuns privilege nd
fellowship OF being c0-EoFkegs with HIu
self; that lie has, with unsearohable corde-
scension and grace, said to you ALL tciH
not do The ~ rk ryithout you. 1t is still true,
and Eill continue to be true, till our blessed
Lord shall come the second time, without
sin unto salvation, that faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God,
and the word Of God, mainly, by the living
preacher. The ministry Of the word, there
fore, must be sustained, the ordinances of
worship must be continued, the church must
shine on as a light in the world.
But some OF you may say, "yOu are re-
quiring impos,ibllities. ''Have not our re-
sources been crippled, our ministers been
enlisted for the war, our taxes increased,
while our ability to pay them has been re-
duced, Sc Scr
We answer, "Is any thing too hard for
the Lord" A majority of the people of
this State, if they had been asked year
ago, whether it were possible for Virginia
to do, what is matter Of history now, that
she has done within the last six months,
would doubtless have pronounced it impos-
sible The trial has developed her re-
sources in q manner wbich has astonished
her own people. And this leads Us to OBJ
serve,
Sd. In the next place, that we have good
reason to believe and to hope, that this
great tribulation which has come upon US,
has been sent, not only not to cripple the
church, but to increase her resources. and
to make her a more fi.ient witness for her
Lord and Master; and that in two ways:-
(1) By bringing her to humble herself
under the mighty hand of God in true re-
Tof'rrce }o5 her sirs N'a1n vh7 l7s he