The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-27

cnurcn mas MUCH 10 learn neie iiou 'h"'
great enemy of Christ's truth, the Papa
cy. This thoroughly knit system appears
always to have its men at the right point,
and money to sustain them there; be-
cause all act in concert, and each priest
knows that he depends on the united
treasury of the church. So, to do its
work successfully, our church must real
ize in action, the scriptural theory OF It's
unity of spirit and government.
PRESBYTERIAN PRINCIPLES MUST BE CAR
RIED OUT.
To what then shall We look, Tor mo-
mentum to overcome the partial inditfer-
ence and inertia of individual congrega-
tions? Religious establishments by the
State, and a general religious assessment
have been repudiated by the common judg-
ment of our church and community
The law of God expressly leaves Chris
tians free to use their own Judgment in
the amount of their contributions, say.
ing, q Cor. tx: 7, every man, ac-
cording as he purposeth in his heart, SO
let him give, not grudgingly, or of neces
sity.'> There remains therefore no other
authority save that of the church, and
this extends only to enlightening, in
structing, and persuading the people, by
the love of that "Lord Jesus, who, though
he was rich, for our sakes became poor;"
and to the wise direction and administra-
tions of the contributions of the faithful.
But our system can never exhibit its
full vigor, until our church courts be-
come Presbyterian in fact, as we'll as in
name. The different courts must actual
ly govern the church, and be the efficient
media of the power delegated to her by
her Divine Head. Ministers and congre-
cations must be governed, as well as in
dividual laymen. For instance, Presby-
teries must prevent those arrangements
which often virtually sequester and neu-
tralize ministers, where domestic conve-
nience or some such motive leads them to
settle over feeble churches, which in fact
are not able, and do not expect to pay
for and employ their whole time. The
church as united whole should possess
and direct the labor of the whole minis
try, as her appointed organ for her grand
task; and SO, the strength of the whole
must be concerted for their support.
OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.
The attempt to organize more efficient
ly the service of the Church is not sell
dom met by doubts of this general kind.
We are reminded that the true life of
the Church is the life of sniSit2al reli
gion in lne neafts of its I'd
people. 1t is suggested that the desire
for more compact organizations is often
the result of the decline of this true
life, and is a species of attempt (neces-
sarily vain) to substitute for the life of
true religion a sort of "machane reh-
gion :" that nearly all the corruptions of
the Church in past times have arisen thus,
in the well-meaning but illjudged essays
of good men to heal evils of the Church
which nothing but true revival can rene
dy; that human foresight, when it goes
thus rashly to legislating, can never fore
see the ulterior results in which its expe-
dients will eventuate. And just thus, it
is said, Popery, with all its spiritual ty-
ranny, grew up by the human expedients
of good men.
Moderator, there is a sense in which
these remarks are true; valuable, states
manlike truths. Especially would | ad-
NIT that it is beyond the reach of mans
foresight, to surmise the ulterior work
ings of human institutions. Nothing but
the light of experience, or else the teach
ings of Omniscience, can guide US safely
here. Therefore our wisdom will be, to
attempt to invent nothing, and to apply
to the maladies of the church no other
expedients but the plans given to us by
the precepts and precedents of the Bible.
For then land only then) we shall be
safe; because then we have the safe
guidance of Omniscience. But [ also
urge, that while the true life and strength
of the church are spiritual, our Lord has
manifestly decided that certain instru-
mentalities are necessary to foster this
life. He has ordained the employment
of such. He has resolved to work usual
ly through them. Among them are, ac-
cording to our Confession, "the reading,
and especially the preaching of the
Word" There is then true sense in
which it is our duty to employ "machin-
cry" and to expect success proportional
to its completeness; that is, Gods own
machinery. And now, my desire to ap-
ply this more closely adjusted system is
grounded wholly upon the belief, that it
is Gods expedient. Gods machinery !;
or, in other words; that it is but more
correct and full application of the Church
government laid down for US in the
New Testament. This have endeavor-