The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-24

Judged by this fair rule the answer given by Dr.
Smyth is entirely orthodox. Holding fully, as
he does, and as all Presbyterians do, the equal au
thority of the elder with his pastor as ruler, we
affirm that the declarations through the current OF
Presbyterian literature in Scotland and in this
country completely establishes the Legitimacy OF
the word used in this Catechism. The Westmins-
ter Assembly, the First and the Second Book of
Discipline of the Church of Scotland, such writer's
as Gillespie, DR.. Dick, DR.. Samuel Miller. and a
host of others use the very words assist,
"hep," &C., when speaking on this subject
1t would probably be difficult to find any writer's OF
established reputation prior to the rise OF novel
opinions in our own times, who would have raised
any objection to these words if indeed they did not
themselves employ them. We have now lying be-
fore us the manuscript Lectures Of DIR. John ID.
Rice, which he used when Professor in Union The
illogical Seminary. The one concerning ruling ell
ders opens as quoted below, and is so satisfactory
on the point in hand that it will crafty many read
ers to have his views in his own words His lee
ture begins thus:
''In managing the affairs of such a society as
the Church. different officers are pecessary. The
great business of ministers is teaching 1t is In
dispensable that they should have the qualifications
necessary for the profitable discharge of this duty.
They have to teach the learned and the ignorant,
the man of mature age and the child; and Of
course to adapt their Instructions to all the various
dispositions and mental characters among the peo-
to their charge. This requires a
well.furnished mind, and stock of knowledge ever
increasing They OF course have full employment
And it is not reasonable that they should leave
this important service, and be occupied about mat
tiers OF minor interest.
"Agaiu, it is to be observed that the government
of the flock iscommitted to these men; that is they
are bound to watch over their people, to know
the state of feeling existing among them, the varl
Gus causes that operate on their moral characters,
and modify their sentiments that due admonltlon
and reproof may be administered The studious
habits of a preacher, however, and the retirement
In which he is obliged to spend large part OF his
time render it very difficult if not impossible for
him fully to understand all these things, and ad-
minister discipline in way to render 1t effective.
1t is therefore, very lmpOrtantthat he should have
counseors and assistants, suited to the necessities
of the case. What he wants is men who while
thew have a deep spirit of piety, and carry the
principles of religion into all their concerns, do
yet engage in the business Of the world, and come
in frequent contact with all sorts Of people; who
know the calls of worldly necessity, the tempta
TONS cares, and sorrows Of ordinary hfe the
habits and feelings of the people, and who thus
are able to counsel and assist the pastor, and apply
the moral discipline of religion in the most efficient
manner"
The view OF the officers of the Church which
Dr. Rice presents in his lectures is the one which
has always been authorised in the history of Pres
,oroal +bot tba nraoobar Of tho word
stands first in dignity and importance, that his
function of ruling grows out of his office as preach
err, and not the reverse and that the elder, while
equal as ruler, comes in, under the order of oul
conception at least, as an assistant co-worker IN
ruling.
| But we are quite aware that some have risen UP
among us of late, whose conception of the order In
which this whole matter should be viewed, is en-
tirely different With them the preacher has hi:
root in his Office of elder-that is to say, the idea
of presbyter or elder comes first, and the preach
ing part is mere superadded function. This has
led the few who hold it into sort of High Church
Presbyterianism on this subject, and hence the de-
mand made that in speaking OF ruling elders We
shall no longer be permitted to use such word a:
assist, because as they imagine, it conveys the
| idea of inferiority to the minister.
Now, there are a few remarks we desire to make
on this point.
l. They demand that we relinquish mode o.
speech thoroughly Presbyterian, and sanctioned
by the best usage of the Church in every part anG
period of its history. We challenge proof to the
contrary.
3. If the argument on which this is grounded
viz: that he who assists another thereby necessari
ly occupies only secondary position in the work
and that to use it, as between an elder and his pas
tor, must imply the inferiority of the former-we
say if this is to be held valid the question is to IL
considered where the demand will end Let US
test it for moment:
In our Directory for worship, chapter l, section
4, touching the 'sanctifcaton of the Lord day,
we read LET every person and family, in the
morning, by secret and private prayer for them.
selves and others, especially for the assistance o.
God to their minister" &c. The argument of oul
New Lights on the eldership, will obige them, il
consistent, to demand the expunging of that word
assistance, inasmuch as for God to assist the
SOOU
work.
Again in chap of Public Prayer" the min
lister is to implore of God, among other things
g the assistance of his Holy Spirit" &c. Oh
course that also must be left out, as well as the
thanks to be returned lin chap S. at the close o.
the Lord s Supper for the gracious assistance Of
the Holy Spirit If there is any thing ridiculous
or repulsve in all this, it is in the argument used
not in the illustration to confute it.
5. High-church doctrine on the Eldership has
presented itself for adoption in the Church, only
TO meet merited and thorough overthrow-and
this at the hands not only of the ministers, but
of the ruling elders also, to whose good sense il
seems to be entirely repugnant.
4. 1t should be ever recognized as duty that
the strong fought to bear the in6rmities of the
weak, and every one ought to "please his neigh
Dor for his good to edifcation. 1t is sometimes
hard to know exactly what would be for " his
good" One might sometimes please his neigh,
Dor, when it would be any thing else than for his
"edi6cation" When will this objector be salts
fed? Will the three particulars mentioned by DR..
Smyth be euough-or must we concede the whole
sixteen complained of? The Southern PreSbvte-
rian is correct when it says that the continued
agitation of the subject could hardly fail to be in
furious to the interests of the Committee -
and had it added some other things nearer at
home not less to be effected there probably few
who would be inclined to dissent
But as an Irenicum, "a concession for the
sake of peace, and speaking for ourself alone, we
are willing to agree to Dr. Smyth suggestion.
Other matters and especially the monstrous doc.
trine of I" notification, now repeated and ampG-
fed by the Southern Presbyterian, have a bearing
far too important and public to be passed by. 1t
remains to :" try conclusions " with our cOtempo-
rary just there.
Rev. Henry NJ Smith, D. D.-The Third Pres
hr.or;nn Ohnrnh in New Orleans have at the re-