The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13

1. For whom was the covenant of
grace made in eternity? Eph. i: 4.
John xvii: 2.
?. Is this elect people who were given
to Christ in eternity, regarded as one
body, the body of Christ? John xvii:
%, %. Eph. i: p, %.
3. How is this chosen people actually
separated from the wicked world, and
constituted into one body? 2 Tim. i:
8. Thess. i: 5. 2 Thess. ii; 13, IA.
LESS. XXVII.)
4. What is the body thus "chosen
and SCALED out from world of con-
demned sinners, called? Eph. i: %, %;
V: 25, q. Col. i: Is. Meaning of
the word translated "CRurch ?" Ans.
The body, or assembly Of those called.
5. Is this Church, as consisting only Of
those called by the Spirit, necessarily in
visible, its limits being known only to
God?
6. Since it is by the external word
that its members are called, and to an
external profession, and external duties,
does it not necessarily give rise to visi-
bic society which represents it, and to
which and to its various parts the same
name is given? l Cor. i: 2; xii q,
%. Rev. ii, iii.
Z. When and how did God first give to
this Church a visible organization Gen.
xii: Is; xvii: LA. When was this
organization completed? Elk. xix, Xxx.
8. Were the changes in its outward
form at the introduction of the present
dispensation, such only as are involved in
or result from the incarnation, death and
ascension to glory of its true King, and
the extension of equal privileges to all
nations, according to the promise made
at first to Abraham?
9. Of whom does the visible Church
consist? Gen. xvii: 7. Matt. xviii:
10. Mark xvi: 16. Matt. xix: IA.
l Cor. vii: IA. John xxi: Is.
TO- What is the design of the visible
Church? Rom. Iii: 2; TX: 4, 5. 1
Tim. iii: Isis. xiii: 10.-Matt. v:
Is, IA; xviii: 10, 20.-Eph. iv: IL
16.-Eph. III: III.
IL. Is it then both the result of Gods
electing love, and the instrument by
which that love effects its purpose? Is.
XII: s, 8, Is; Xix: 8, s.
II. Wherein consists the unity of the
Church? Eph. iv: 3-5. l Cor. xii:
II, Is. John xvii: %.
Is. Is the life therefore of each part
derived Immediately from its Divine
Head, by the Holy Spirit, and so, per-
feet in each part? John XIV: 5, 7.
ii. Is the name, Church, accordingly
used to express not only the whole visi-
bic body of Gods people in its relation
to the whole world, but each part of it
in relation to the community or nation in
which it exists, and from which it is
called out?
Is. Was it Gods design that the visi-
bic Church should embrace only the
elect? Matt. X: 4; xiii: 80, 1850.
10. Is this mixed character of the
visible Church overruled to important
results in extending its influence, in
gathering in, and training the elect?
II. Has not this mixture of evil some
times increased to such degree of cor
ruption as to cause a Church to become
a synagogue of Satan? Rev. ii: 9;
XVIII. 1-3. How has this been done?
Rev. ii: 4, 5, IA, 20; Iii: Is, Is, 16.
How then is the liberation of false doc
trine and immoral practices to be re-
garded?
Is. Has Christ given to his Church
gifts and ordinances by which this result
may be prevented in each part, and shall
be effectually prevented in the whole
body? Eph, iv: lilo. Rev. xi: 81,
II, Il.
10. Does this give to the whole matter
of Church organization and administra-
ton a high spiritual Importance?
20. Has God ever left his Church to
plan her own government or make her
own laws? Was any legislative power
given to her high priest and kings ex-
cept what was necessary to administer
the divine law?
q. To whom did Christ commit the
final and infalhble ordering of this i'm
portant matter? Mark iii: IA, Is
Acts ii: AZ. Eph. Ii: 20. Rev. xxi: IA.
%. What were the qualifications of
an Apostle? Acts i: q, %. Luke
XIV: 46, 4S. l Cor. TX: l. 2 Cor.
xii: II, L. Acts i: s. John xiv: %,
20. As such could they have any sue
eessors?
%. What extraordinary officers are in
Eph. ii: 20, united with the Apostles as
laying the Church's foundations, and of
ten mentioned elsewhere? See Eph. iv:
II. l Cor. XII: %. Acts xi: q, %.
Were they evidently INSPIRED teachers? ?
l Cor. xiv: 1882.
"A. What various supernatural gifts
were conferred on the primitive Church !?
l Cor. xii: $40, %. Their design?
20. Do we now enjoy the full results
of all these gifts? When all the truth
that God saw needful for the Church was
fully revealed, and her order settled, and
all diyinely attested, was there any fur
Their need for inspiration and miracles ?
20. As the Church is kingdom,
Christ being sole Head and absolute
Ruler, from whom must all Church pow
er emanate? Eph. iv: Ali. Whose
call alone can properly qualify and give
a moral right to any official position in
this Kingdom?
q. What are we taught of the agen-
cy of the Church, and the manner of its
exercise in choosing and appointing men
to Office? Compare Deut. i: 1916.