The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-05-18

these attributes of the immortal, spiritual
body of Christ, and attempting to apply
them to the poor earthly shadow, particu'
lar visible Church, that all the mischievous
errors of spiritual despotism have been
evolved
Yet it is of divine appointment, as well as
of necessary consequence, that visible Or
ganized societies shall exist, for the gath
ering together and inhabitation of this
spiritual company; and to these societies
the same holy name is by accommodation
given, in the plural number. The Scrip
lures call them churches. As with the true
body, of which they are shadows, their high
est bond of union is not an outward organ
ism, but bond of faith and affection. They
together constitute the visible Church cathol-
ic. None of the parts are perfect. Some
of them have from time 20. time become so
corrupt, as to cease TO re true palts of
Christ's visible kingdom. The more they
approximate the Bible standard, the more
will they approach each other, not only in
community of faith and love, but even in
outward form. Meantime, their separate
existence beside each other does not mar the
cathoGcity of the visible Church as one
whole, but is the inevitable and designed
result partly of the separation of the human
race by seas, continents, civil governments
and diversity of languages, partly of the ex-
cusable limitations of the human under
standing, and partly of the sinful prejudices
of the heart; prejudices which, although not
iustiGable, will assuredly continue to operate
as long as mans nature is only partially
sanctifed. The native good sense of the
people has happily expressed the truth here,
by calling these different societies, not Sects,
nor schisms, but denominations of Christians
Pounds and guineas, shillings and crowns are
all money, the lawful coin of the realm;
these are only different denominations of
money. Cavalry, infantry and artillery are
but different denominations of soldiers, max
ing one patriot army. The fact that some
fight on foot, and some on horseback makes
no necessary schism; but all co0perate.-
This is the proper conception of the distinc-
tion between us as Episcopalians, Methodists,
! Baptists, Presbyterians, in the one visible
| Church catholic. We are but different de-
! nominations of citizens in one kingdom.
And this ] hold to be the conception of
the visible Church which the Apostles de-
signed to convey. This l hold to be the
development of the visible Church, which
they expected and designed. The very sym
bols of prophecy confirm it. Under the old
dispensation, the candlestick or lamp which
symboIzed the Church, was one. la the
Revelation there are seven. Ii: 20. "And
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are
seven churches" The nomenclature of the
New Testament is significant of the same
truth. So long as the word church is en-
ployed as the name of the spiritual body of
the redeemed, it is always in the singular
number. And when applied to visible
society of Christians living in one city, and
capable of having actual communion with
each other in public worship, the word is
also in the singular number. But the mo-
ment it is used to denote any wider aggrega
tions of Christians in organized bodies, it
always, save Acts tx: 81, becomes plural.
We read of the seven churches of Asia; not
of the Church of Asia; of the Churches of
Galatia, the Churches of Macedonia, the
the Churches of Judea; but the New Testa-
ment says nothing of any visible national
Church.
But did not the organized bodies of Chris
tians of the same nation and language, soon
after the Apostolic times, have more COM
prehensive bond of outward connexion
They did. And l am not unwilling to ad-
nit that the liberal and modest rule of the
early Synods and councils was a legitimate
substitute for the regulative authority of the
Apostles, now removed by death. But two
things are admitted touching these Synods; !;
that in the purer ages of the Ancient Church,
they neither claimed, nor did the Christian
people concede tp them any power of enjoin-
ing duties or making moral laws beyond the
authority of Sacred Scripture, and that each
Synod was coordinate with, and independent
of, all the others. No governmental tie bound
them together; they were united by no other
ties than those of mutual respect and afec-
ton; yet members or ministers from one
province received admission to free cOmmu-
Mon with the Christians of another. 1t is a
striking fact that even after metropolitan
powers were generally conceded to the bish-
OBS of Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria, there
were large communions, those of North
Africa, Persia, Chaldea and Britain, for
instance, which did not send delegates to
the Archiepiscopal councils, nor pay ale
glance to their canons; yet were they not
regarded as schismatic, but were considered
as parts of the Church catholic, until more
corrupt age. The associated Christians of
different provinces then presented practical
ly very much the aspect which is shown by
the evangelical sister denominations of the
Protestant world. They did not observe a
complete outward uniformity; but were dis