The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-17
Secular and Civil-Moral and Eccle-
siastical.


The Cumberland Presbyterian General As
sembly, recently in session in Lincoln, ILL.,, had
this question before them, in the form of
memorial, asking the body to declare and
affirm the following propositions as the princi
pies taught in their Confession of Faith, and
the word of God:
"l. That things secular and civil belong to
the State.
60 That things moral and ecclesiastical be
long to the Church.
SO That in regard to things which are
mixed, beigg paELlY-seeular-a ni-cvil,- and
partly moral and ecclesiastical, the secular and
civil aspects belong to the State, but the moral
and ecclesiastical aspects belong to the Church.
a That it is the prerogative Of the Church
of Christ to sanction correct morals, to express
its views through the pulpit, the press, and
the various jiudicatures, on all moral questions,
regardless of civil codes or political creeds."
The Banner of Peace says:
The paper presented by the Committee on
Overtures upon the Memorial which was be-
fore the General Assembly, and to which many
looked with fear and trepidation, was undni-
neOuSly adopted without discussion; and amid
tears of gratitude to Almighty God for his
great goodness and tender mercies, it was pro
nounced by all, full and final adjustment of
the "vexed questions.
The answer was as follows:
l. The Confession of Faith is a much clearer
statement of civil jurisdiction than the first
proposition of the Memorial. See Chap. %,
sec. 3. Civil magistrates must not assume
to themselves the administration of the word
and sacrameuts, or the powers Of the keys Of
the kingdom OF heaven; or In the least inter-
fere in matters of faith. Yet as nursing fathers,
it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect
the Church of our common Lord, without
giving the preference to any denomination of
Christians above the rest, in such manner
that all ecclesiastic persons whatever shall en-
Joy the full Free and unquestioned liberty of
discharging every part Of their sacred func-
tions, without violence or danger And, as
Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular govern
ment and discipline in his Church. no law of
any commonwealth should interfere with, let,
or hinder the due exercise thereof among the
voluntary members of any denomination of
Christians, according to their own profession
and belief. 1t is the duty of civil magistrates
to protect the person and good name of all
their people, in such an effectual manner as
that no person be suffered, either upon pre-
tence of religion or of infdelity, to offer any
indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any
person whatsoever, and to take order that all
religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held
without molestation or disturbance" See
also accompanying scripture 2 Chron. XVI.
Is.
3 Your Committee are of opinion that the
second proposition Of the Memorial is not re-
spectful to the State, as a power ordained of
God For while the pulpit, press, and eccle
siastical courts have jurisdiction over all moral
and ecclesiastical questions, there are many
moral questions over which the State has iuris-
diction also.
g. Many questions have arisen, and doubt
less will arise, which must be divided, the
Church considering and acting upon such parts
of said questions as come within her iurisdic-
ton. And while she is to be free and untram-
meled in her teaching and adjudication, she
must be wise and prudent, and will find ample
instructions in her Just and scriptural STAN
dards. See Conf Of Faith, Chap 81, secs. 3.
T. at belongeth to Synods and Councils,
ministerially, to determine controversies of
faith and cases OF conscience, to set down rules
and directions for the better ordering of the
worship of God, and government of his
Church; to receive complaints in cases of NAL.
administration, and authoritatively to deter
mine the same; which DEGREES and determine.
tons, if consonant with the word of God, are
to be received with reverence and submission,
not only for their agreement with the word
but also for the power whereby they are made
as being one ordinance of God, appointed
thereunto in his word. - "Synods and Coun-
ellis are TO handle or conclude nothing but that
which is ecclesiastical; and are not to inter
NEEDLE with civil affairs, which concern the
commonwealth; unless by way of humble petit
ton, in cases extraordinary, or by way of ad-
vice for satisfaction of conscience, if they be
thereunto required by the civil magistrate "
See also Luke xii. Is, IA; John xviii. &c.
Also, Form Of Government, Chap. 7, sec. 2.
'These assemblies ought not to possess any civil
jurisdiction, nor to inflict any civil penalties.
Their power is wholly moral and spiritual and
that only ministerial and declarative. They
possess the right of requiring obedience to the
laws of Christ, and of excluding the dsobe-
dent and dsorderly from the privileges OF the
Church.
4. Your Committee agree fully with your
memorialists in the expressions of the fourth
proposition, except the phrase, "of civil