The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-08-03

others. lie only guards his own fOur
Presbyteries have always acted on this prln-
ciple, and it is universally recognized. The
very putting it to vote whether a man coming
with clean papers should be received, implies
the right to say No, as we'll as Yes. This
being the case, there was no necessity for the
General Assembly issuing an order to the
Presbyteries as to whom they should receive
aud whom they should reject They have
a right to exercise their own discretion In the
matter, and therefore this action Of the As
sembly is not only unnecessary but nugatory.
The Presbyteries are not bound to obey it
If the Assembly had no right to give the
order-if they had no authority to alter Che
constitutional terms of membership in our
churches or Presbyteries, the lower courts
are under no obligation to regard the inJunc,
ton. The Assembly has the right to order
the Presbyteries to see that all those whom
they receive have the qualifications prescribed
in the constitution, and therefore little objec-
ton has ever been made to the act passed
some time ago, enjoining the Presbyteries to
examine every minister from another Presoy-
terry as to his soundness in the falth before
admitting him to membership. But beyond
this it has no right to go.
It may be said, however, that the action OF
the Assembly virtually amounts to nothing
more than declaration, that taking part IN
the rebellion and dissent from the deliver
ances of the Assembly respecting slavery, are
moral offences, which are proper GcnSadsr =
exclusion from church privileges until e1'i.
fessed and repented Of The Assembly, Of
course, has the right to express its judgment
and give instructions on all points of truth
aud duty So has every Presbytery and
every minister or Christian But such judg-
ments and instructions have only the authors
ty due to the advice or opinions OF those
from whom they proceed. They have no
legal force on any mans conscience or con-
duct If Presbytery should admit min
lister who had favored the rebellion, or dis
scented from the Assembly's deliverauce on
slavery, and any one should bring the matter
before the higher court by a complaint, the
Assembly would have the right to give a
Judgment which would be binding on all the
lower courts. But every man would be en-
titled to his opinion as to the correctness OF
that Judgment, and the next Assembly would
have a perfect right to pronounce a decision
of directly opposite character. The POpish
doctrine of the infallibility of church courts
does not suit Americans 1t is high time
that these simple principles of religious li6'
erty should be clearly announced and openly
asserted 1t is no new thing that the great
est advocates of liberal doctrines should be.
come iutoerant aud tyrannical when invested
with power If man makes up his mind
always to 60 with the majority, it will be a
miracle if he do not often 60 wrong
1t is, moreover, very obvious that the ac-
ton of the Assembly with regard to the
Southern churches is founded on a disregard
of two plain distinctions. The one is the
difference between political offences and ordi-
nary crimes. As this point has been cOnsid-
cred in previous article of this number OF
our journal, we shall not dwell upon it here.
1t is enough to repeat, what no one can deny,
that mans taking the wrong side in civil
war is no proof that he is not Christian
His course may be determined by wrong
political theory, or by regard for thes
actually in authority over him, We e.
bound to obeya de fdcto government, although
it be that of usurper. The apostle, in en-
Joining submission to the powers that be,
meant those in actual possession of the
authority of the State, whether a Nero or
any one else. This obligation is, of course,
limited by the higher obligation to obey God
rather than man. But it is not necessary
that every man should investigate the title Of
arulers authority before believing its validity.
The present inhabitants of France are bound
to recognize Louis Napoleon as emperor,
whatever they may think of the revolution
which placed him in power The fact, there
fore, that a man or minister supported the
late wicked rebellion, is not to be assumed
as proof that he is unworthy of Christian
fellowship even if that support was voluntary
on his part.
The other distinction to which we referred,
is that between sin and ecclesiastical offences.
Every day sad exhibitions are made by those
whom we are obliged to regard as Christians,
of the imperfection which belongs to our
present state. How often do we see mani
festatiOns of pride, covetousness, malicious
ness, arrogance, to say nothing of idleness,
sloth, lukewarmness, and wOrldly-mindedneSs
in ministers and church members? 1t is sell
dom that meeting of the General Assembly
itself occurs without some exhibition of un.
holy temper. All these things are great sins
They are heinOus in the sight of God, and
offensive to all good people. Yet they are
not matters for formal church discipline. We
may, therefore, see and feel that the conduct
Of the Southern ministers and members has
been exceeding wrong; that the spirit OF
pride, contempt, and luminosity, which they
have in so many cases exhibited towards their
Northern brethren and fellow-cirizens, are
great sins in the sight of God; but so also
are the evil tempers, the worldly-mindedness,
avarice, and other sins which we have SO
much reason to lament in ourselves and
others. Church courts cannot visit all kinds
of sin with ecclesiastical censure. We are
obliged to receive all into the fellowship OF
the church who give evidence that they are
true Christians, however imperfect they may
be; otherwise the best of US would be ex-
cluded.
Another thing must force itself on the
minds of the majority of the Assembly, as 1t
has already strongly impressed outsiders.