The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-24

form the congregation of the measures
which have been taken with the excom-
municated person, and of the resolution
of the session to receive him again to
the communion of the church.
On the day appointed for his restora-
ton, when the other parts of divine ser
vice are ended, before pronouncing the
blessing, the minister shall call upon the
communicated person and propose to
him in the presence of the congregation
the following questions:
Do YOU from a deep sense Of your
great wickedness freely confess your SIN
in thus rebelling against God and In re-
fusing to hear his church--and do you
acknowledge that you have been in JUS
tice and mercy cut off from the commun-
ion of the saints ARSwer-I do. Do
you now voluntarily profess your sincere
repentance and deep contrition for
your sin and obstinacy; and do you
humbly ask the forgiveness of God and
of his church? Answer-I do. Do
YOU sincerely promise through divine
grace to live in all humbleness of mind
and circumspection; and to endeavor to
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour
by having your conversation as becometh
the gospel? ARsWer-I do.
Here the minister shall give the penn
tent a suitable exhortation, addressing
him in the bowels of brOtherly love, en-
couraging and comforting him. Then he
shall pronounce the sentence of restOra-
ton in the following words:
Whereas, you A. B. have been shut
out from communion of the faithful, but
have now manifested such repentance as
satisfies the church; in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and by his authority,
we, the session of this church, do declare
YOU absolved from the sentence of ex-
communication formerly denounced
against you; and we do receive you into
| the communion of the church that you
may be a partaker of all the benefits Of
the Lord Jesus to your eternal salvation.
The whole shall be concluded with
prayer and thanksgiving, and the people
dismissed with the usual blessing.
". The restoration of a deposed Off
Ger, after public confession has been made
in manner similar to that prescribed in
the case of the removal of censure from
an communicated person, shall be an
nounced to him by the moderator in the
following manner, viz:
Whereas, you, A. B., formerly min
lister of this presbytery, [Ora ruling elder
or deacon of this church, have been de-
posed from your office, but have now
manifested such repentance as satisfies
the church; in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by his authority, we,
the presbytery of c. D. Tor the session
of this church, do declare you absolved
from the said sentence of deposition for
merly inflicted upon you and we do fur
thermore, in the same venerable name,
restore you to your said office and to the
exercise of all the functions thereof
After which there shall be prayer and
thanksgiving, and the members of the
court shall extend to him the right hand
of fellowship.
Y. When the censure of excommuni-
cation or deposition has been inflicted by
church session, it cannot be removed
without the advice of the presbytery.
Nor, even after an elder or deacon has
been absolved of the censure of deposit
ton, can he be allowed to resume the ex-
ercise of his office in the church, without
the consent of the people.
VI. When a person under censure shall
remove to a part Of the country remote
from the court by which he was SEN
fenced, and shall desire to profess repent
ance and obtain restoration, it shall be
lawful for the court, if they deem it ex-
pedient, to transmit certified copy of
their proceedings to the session (or pres
bytery) where the delinquent resides,
which shall take up the case and proceed
with it as though it had originated with
themselves.
VII In proceeding to restore a sus-
pended or deposed minister, it is the duty
of the presbytery to exercise great eau
ton first admitting him to the sacra-
ments, afterwards granting him the priv
ilege of preaching for season on pro-
baton, so as to test the sincerity of his
repentance and the prospect of his use
fitness; and finally restoring him to his
office. But the case shall always be sab
judiee until the sentence of restoration
has been pronounced.