The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-09-15
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE CHILDREN OF BAPTIZED PARENTS
Have a COVENANT Right to BAPTISM.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT

Presbyterian Chnrch, at its late session il
Memphis, received Overture No 5-"Is i
contrary to our Standards for one of our min
listers to baptize the infant child of parent
or the ward of guardian, standing IN 1Ott
PARENTS, who has not profesSed personal faith
in Christ; but was baptized in infancy.
This overture was answered in the afirma-
tive, and the Assembly referred to the fol.
lowing portions of our Standards as reasons
for this answer 1st. Chap. %, sec. 4, Con
fession of Faith; "not only those that do
actually profess faith in, and obedience unto
Christ, but also the infants of one or both
believing parents are q be baptized" End.
The answer to the 166th question of our
Larger Catechism which is, Baptism is not
to be administered to any that are out of the
visible Church, and so strangers to the cove.
nant of promise, till they profess their faith
in Christ; but the infants descending from
parents either both, or but one of them pro-
Tossing faith in Christ and obedience to him,
are, in that respect within the covenant, and
are to be baptized" Sd. The answer to the
95th question of our Shorter Catechism,
which is" Baptism is not to be admins
tered to any that are out of the visible
Church, till they profess faith in Christ and
obedience to him; but the infants of such
as are members of the visible Church, are
to be baptized -
Now the above decision I believe to be,
1st, unconstitutional; End, unscriptural ;
3rd, anti-Presbyterian; 4th, to be pure and
unmitigated Congregationalism. Against
this teaching of our Assembly feel solemn
ly bound to protest, and to condemn it, and
to resist it, and to appeal from the present
popularized terms on this subject, to our
Standards fully, and not partially expressed;
and to those Standards as they are histori-
cally interpreted by the faith and practice
of the Presbyterian Church, when, and
since, they were formed; and also to the
standard authorities upon the constitutional
nature and form of the Presbyterian Church
Government, as it stands fundamentally op-
posed to Congregational Church Govern
ment.
stand firm in this protest because, though
I may be at this present time one of small
minority, have perfect assurance that am
standing upon the rock of truth, and that
truth, like sheetanchor fastened deep in
the foundations, which as Presbyterians we
believe to be the system of doctrine contain
ed in the Holy Scriptures, will hold our
Church fast and bring her back to the origi-
nal purity, liberty, and charity of her first
principles. Imake this protest also because,
as Presbyterian, and only because | am
such, I can do so without being schismatic.
To use the language of DIR. Stuart Robin
son, the able Moderator of this same AS
sembly,* according to the very first prin-
ciples of Presbyterianism which forbids an
absolute and blind obedience, and requires
of all its office bearers, and lower courts, as
well as the General Assembly, to be govern
ed by the Word of God, as interpreted by
our standards of faith and order, to bear
witness for the truth, and to condemn erro-
neous opinions which injure the peace and
purity of the Church; both ministers and
inferior courts are to exercise their own
judgment also, and in case any decision of
the General Assembly is seen by them to be
not consonant with the Word of God as in
terpreted by our constitution; or any claim
to exercise power over the lower courts, or
individuals, above the powers allotted to the
General Assembly to be, in the covenanted
agreement of the constitution concerning
the exercise of their powers by the courts
severally THEN THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
and the lower courts are under no Obtga-
tiOns to obey them, but on the contrary, their
DUTY under their ordination v0WS makes at
obligatory to dssObey and resist the same
with earnestness proportioned to the wrong
and the Importance of the principles In
volved. And this they MUST do, first be-
cause to obey such commandments out Of
conscience is to betray true liberty of con-
SCIENCE Confession of Faith, ch. 2O-2 )
and secondly, as means for testifying for
the truth, and as the instrumentality which
the Lord may use. II In the exercise there
fore of my privilege and duty I will proceed
to show that the decision is,
I. UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
I affirm the above decision to be unconsti.
tutional, and that on the contrary our stand
ards quoted fully and not partially, and in
terpreted according to the Holy Scriptures
teach that those who are baptized are there
by constituted members of the visible
Church, and professors of the Christian
religion, as opposed to the Jewish and al
other religions; and "believerS and "pro
fessors of faith in Christ and obedience tc
him" as the Author and end of the Chris.
tian religion; and that their children are tc
be baptized, that is, have a right and title tc
baptism according to the covenant of God
which God has given to the visible Church
to be administered through and by it.
1 affirm that profession of the true reli
gion and of faith in Christ, and obedience
to Him-which constitute membership in the
| See Ecclesiastical Catechsm in "The Free