The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-02

PRESBYTERIAN Church is called in the Provl-
dence of God to occupy position second in
interest and Importance to none in all the
earth. Feeble and sore-broken by the desc.
latons of war; maligned and accused falsely
by those who persistently refuse to under
stand her position embarrassed in her means
by the drying up of the pecuniary resources
of the country, nevertheless it cannot be hid
from our eyes that God has called her to all
the great fields Of Christian enterprise, as
though our organization were old and long
settled, and not, as it in truth is, In it's very
infancy.
China calls us, and the Red man of our
western wids looks to US, and the Soath
American Empires are demanding our zoal
and our labors, and Italy is turning r. us in
her priest-ridden state, and into ALI these
places, this infant branch of Christ's CHURCH
has already sent forth, at the commaSd of
her Lord, laborers to reap the white harvest:
All over this land, even in its desolatioI and
sorrow, the cry comes to us from MAIN
darkened region, "Come and help US; Your
beautiful temples are burned, our brethren
are scattered, we are without any onss to
feed the lambs of the flock; send us the inan
of God, to break to us the bread of l}e."
The young men of the Church, ardeTAJ de-
sirous Of entering into the Lords vineyard,
tell us they would 90 forward and be 4ontent
to take the lowest place in the RANKS of
Gods servants, could they but get til Ne ma
terial help they need. Two hundred and
fifty such youths throughout this broadN and,
stand in readiness to put on the wholS ar
NOR of God, and go forth to fight the BATTLES
of the Lord, whenever in His providence
He shall lead the Church to put forth bier
helping hand and furnish the means of their
training. Lastly, while we behold on eyeky
side, fanaticism and political influence inA
vading the churches in other regions, whil9
we behold the former champions of the truth
inviting and receiving back into the very
bosom of their communion, error once de-
nounced, and never yet forsaken; we see
that this prosecuted but unforsaken Church
of ours, presents to the view of the world the J
only representative on this Continent of the
true principles of our faith and order, ins
their unity, peace and harmony. And while
we stand on this ground, and challenge de-
NAL, we humbly acknowledge with gratitude,
that for this truly honored position, we are
indebted to Gods free grace and sovereign
mercy. - tx. ,g6 /. 7or4 - ~,
"Not unto us, O Lord not unto us, but
to thy name. give glory, for thy mercy and
for thy truths sake" bloes . sssta
1t follows them from these facts that God
has called US with voice of no uncertain
sound to stand in our lot, and to do our
duty. He has not given us true creed, but
to propagate that truth all over the earth.
He has not given us such field Of labor,
but that we should occupy it. He has not
given us desolate land, burnt sanctuaries,
scattered churches, but that from the very
ashes of their desolation we should feel called
upon to "arise and build" He has not put
it into the hearts of SO many of the sons of
the Church to preach the gospel at time
when the ministry of the world, as a profess
sion, offers fewer secular attractions than
ever before, but that the great heart of the
Church should be stirred to its profoundest
chambers by this astonishing fact of Provi-
dence, and that the members. of Christ's
Body should take these young brethren by
the hand and say you shall be trained; no
man shall be sent empty away; but we will
find the material aid that is needed to fit you
for the work to which God is calling you
! Tie hao NOT taken away our worldly goods,
and brought us into deep poverty, and hum
bled us under His mighty Hand, and thus
purified us in the fires of affection, but that
we should cherish in our. own communion,
that pure faith once delivered to us by our
fathers, and earnestly contend for it when
assailed, and keep it unspotted from the con-
tamination of erroneous doctrine, and from
the control of those who would enter in and
mar its beauty and purity. Let us realize
our position, not for vain glory, but as
stimulus to that fidelity which shall commend
us to God, and to the Spirit of His Son,
whereby we may stand acquitted in the great
day of accounts.
And with the cultivation of an aggressive
missionary spirit, which suggests the pro-
viding of the men and the means; inducing
the members first to give themselves to the
cause, and then to consecrate everything
else; to write "Holness to the Lord" even
'upon the bells Of the horses" recognizing
all the possessions of the Church as the
rightful property of the Lord that bought
us, there is, mseparably connected, holy
reward, precious and gracious blessing, in
conceivably great, such as shall fill all hearts
with Joy and gladness; while the Church
herself, thus rejecting the glory of the Di-
vine Bridegroom, shall indeed "look forth
as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as
the sun, and terrible as an army with ban
ners." Onward she shall march in her
career of conquest, and nothing shall ever
be able, successfully, to resist her; led by
the Great Captain of her salvation, and COM
bining in her character, and exhibiting in
all her organic life, the cardinal and essen
tial elements of Pure Doctrine, Scriptu-
raj Worship and Ministry, Unity of Heart,
resulting from Unity of Faith, and an
Aggressive Spirit of Missions.
From all these principles there shall 90
forth a Power impelling every member to
labor-each in his sphere-at home and
abroad, alike, to build up the kingdom of
Christ; to train the sons of the Church as
heralds of salvation, so as to perpetuate
succession of godly ministers; to difuse
abroad the truths of our holy religion by
means of sanctifed literature so that,
from thousand radiant points, the glory
of the Saviour shall be poured upon the
earth, and fill the world, while the Mighty
God, even the Lord, shall speak and call to
the Church, with voice, sounding through
all her courts: "Awake! awake! put on
Thy strength, O Zion! put on Thy beauti-
full garments, 0 Jerusalem, the holy city
arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the
glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee