The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-09-22

us to you, and to yO1r children. Ina
this teaching of the Assembly, which is nov
generally received by our ministers, though
not by our people, is contrary to the Scrip
lures l will now prove.
l. This teaching is, as 1 have shown
contrary to our Standards. But as the
Standards, as we believe, contain "the sys
tenn of doctrine taught in the Holy Scrip
lures, this teaching. is therefore contrary
to the Holy Scriptures.
2. But, in the second place, l will prove
this teaching to be unscriptural by direct
appeal to the Scriptures themselves. |
might prove this position by several lines Of
argument. might show that it is contra
ry to the doctrine taught in the Holy Scrip.
tures concerning the visible Church.
might show that it is contrary to that cove
nant which God, in Christ, has made with
the visible Church. l might show that it is
contrary to the administration of Gods
covenant with the visible Church, from the
time of Abraham, until the coming of
Christ, and bv Christ himself and his Apos-
ties. might also show that this teaching
is contrary to that of the Apostle Paul when
he, by inspiration, delivers the doctrine Of
the Holy Ghost on this subject.
The scriptural view on this subject will be
found very fully and thoroughly presented
by our late revered brother and father in the
ministry, the Rev. Charles Colcock Jones,
in his exceedingly thorough and valua-
bic work, "The History of the Church of
God, vol. 1, chap. IA, Is and 16, page 1S6
-228." The result of his elaborate argu-
ment based exclusively upon Scripture, as it
regards the point in question, is thus given
at page 233, "The infants of all parents
who adhere to the covenant and in their
lives are free from scandalous vices, should
receive the sign and seal of the covenant.
Our warrant for this statement is the prac-
tce of the Church under the Old DISPENSE
ton, and the absence of any alteration or
direction to the contrary in the New. If it
is urged that none but regenerated parents
can truly embrace the covenant for them
selves and their children, and therefore pre-
sent them for the sign and seal, then it would
follow, that regeneration is essential to any
connection with the covenant at all, which
would exclude all infants from it until able
to give CREDIBLE evidence of change of
heart, and oblge all who are conscious of
none to withdraw from it. Then the cove
nant of God to apply the seal, and the
promise of God, Il will be a God to thee
and thy seed after thee, would fall to the
ground. Rather let 1t be affirmed that this
sign whether circumcision or baptism aOds
that of coRnerion a0ith the msi6le Church,
and brought the individual under its watch
raining; and was also an outward sign
anu seal of the inward grace of faith and
union with Christ, which might be possessed
by the individual at the time, or which ne
might subsequently come in possession of.
The promise of God to be God to him,
might be made sure afterwards. Although
unregenerated, and not member of his in
visible Church, he would be in covenant with
God, and member of his visible Church.
While in this state, free from gross and
scandalous vices, believing intelligently in
the covenant, and desirous that his children
shall be recognized and under its blessings
they could receive the initiatOry rite, and be
through him members of the visible Church
also. Such was the practice Of the Old,
and it becomes our guide, since no case like
the present is found in the pages of the New
Testament. A door will be opened to for
maEty and superstition" &c.
Perhaps the scriptural argument on this
subject will be more clearly presented as it
has been recently done by JAS. Bannerman,
D. D., Professor of Apologetics and PastO-
raj Theology, New College, Edinburgh, in
his late invaluable work, "The Church of
Christ" Edinburgh, 1868. Vol. 2, p. 6S-
90, &C.; aud also at large, vol. 1, chaps. 3,
4 and 6. "The following five propositions
says DR.. b. I shall endeavor to establish.
x First, the covenant of grace as re-
vealed by God at different periods for the
salvation of his people has been the same in
former and latter times, and has always COM
pretended infants within it. Second, then
the Church of God, made up of his profess
ing people, has been essentially the same in
character in former and in latter times, and
has always included their infants among its
members. Third, the ordinance of outward
admission to the Church, has, in its essen
tial character and meaning, been the same
in former and latter times, and has always
been administered to infants. Fourth, the
principle upon which the initiatOry ordinance
of admission into the Church has been ad-
ministered, has been the same in former and
latter times, andhas always applied to the case
of infants; and, Fifth, the PRACTICE in re-
gard to the administration of the initiatory
rite, has been the same in former and in lat
ter times"
And, first, the covenant of grace as re.
vealed by God at different periods for the
salvation of men has been essentially one
and the same under every dispensatiOn, and
has alwavs inclnded within it the infants of