The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-16

And this conclusion was openly admitted by
no mean advocate of the Assembly's views
who in former argument on this subject
said, (See Charleston Observer, "as to this
Universal Church to which all the baptized
belong, previous to their own voluntary pro-
fession, can but remark, SOME SUCH INyEN'
TIoN as that is necessary to prop up the theo'
ry," which l now advocate. 2. 1t leads to
the conclusion that all who can be compelled,
by the threat of forfeiting their birthright
and their privileges as penalty for not be-
lieving, and attending upon the Lords Sup
per, to become communicates, are to be re-
cOgnized and treated as having real personal
and saving faith, and as spiritual members
of the Invisible Church. "Membership in
the Visible Church" says the author of the
Children of the Church and Sealing Ordi-
pances, Board of Publication, see page
A.ss eaanded on presumptire (hiS ital-
Jayisil lie" Church,
,dage of DIR, Watts,
50 far as they (infants) are
e4y way members of the Visi6le Church,
1t is upon the suppOsitiOm of their being
with their parents) members of the Invis-
bic Church of God" See also pages 1O1,
1927 Baptized children, therefore, accord
ing to the views of the Assembly as sustained
by DR.. A. A. Hodge and this writer, (see
Children of the Church, pages $685. are
to be regarded and treated as regenerated.
"When they approach majority the Church
should spare no effort in order to wake dor
mant graces into exercise, and to inspire
those pious views and feelings which prepare
and dispose them to come to the Lords Sup
per. If they slide into acts or habits in
compatible with godliness, either before or
after their first approach to the table, they
should be visited with faithful and tender
admonition, &c. . And unless there be
that in their known acts and deeds which dis
credits such profession, the Church cannot
exclude them,' &c. 4, From this theory it
therefore follows, that all adult members of
the Visible Church, and also all who have
been baptized throughout our churches gen
orally, are to be regarded as presumptively
members of the spiritual, that il. of the In
visible Church. Now what is this, but, ~
to break down all distinction between the
Invisible and Visible; ~ to reduce the Wis.
ible Church to mere presumption, or ideal
sham, having no definite nature, organiza-
ton, or end; (3) to foster universal hypoc
risy and presumption; a. to fill our Church
es with unregenerated and goddess profes
sors; (5) to deter every concientiouS parent
from having his children baptized; (6) to
lead children to grow up as hypocritical for
malists; (O to pronounce sentence of ex-
communication upon all conscientious par
ents, and upon all baptized children, and to
disinherit and disfranchise them as fellow
citizens in the commonwealth of Israel; (S)
it delivers over to the kingdom of Satan and
of darkness, all parents who are not commu-
nicants, and excludes all children, whether
baptized or unbaptized, from any well
grounded covenant hope of salvation; and
eternal life; finally, it makes void and of
none effect the promises and covenant of
God with his Visible Church. 7. S.