The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-09

fro IL, ald 1Ss "A oesu- u. ), ano
therefore these are the things upon which
men are to be examined at their admission
into the Church, and which then they must
profess, and hold forth in such sort as may
satisfy rational charity, that the things are
there indeed" This principle is regarded
as essential, in order to secure what is called
pure communion, that is, communion purer
than the Visible Church as instituted by
Christ, holding external relationship to
Christ, and made up not merely of real, but,
of protesting believers in Christ, and in
Christianity, and requiring for admission no
qualification beyond an outward profession
of faith in Christ. "To demand more than
this" says DR.. Bannerman, (vol. 1, pages
80, &c. sis to demand more than Scripture
warrants or requires. 1t is to confound two
things which are essentially distinct from
each other, the qualification and character
necessary to constitute a man member of
the invisible, with the qualification and char
acter necessary to constitute him a member
of the Visible Church" 1t is to render a
Visible Church of no distinct benefit or use,
and is the very ground upon eOhieh the con-
gregatioRali8ts deny the existence of such a
Church, and is also the very ground upon
which the Congregationalists, who now con-
stitute what are now called Baptist Churches,
reject the baptism of infants altogether
(See Bannerman, as above, page 36-4O, and
his authorities.) Finally, on this point, ac'
cording to DR.. A. A. Hodge, as there can be
no other than PREsUMPTIyE evidence Of
membership in the Visible Church, and as
there can be no such Church without mem
bers; it follows that according to the Assem-
bly, and Dr.. Hodge, there can be no other
than PREsUMPTIvE Visible Church. (See
on this point further Bannerman, vol. l,
page "A, and vol. 2, pages &c, 81, SO, 1O3-
1867
III. Thirdly, the view of the Assembly
as defended by DR.. A. A. Hodge restricts
the right of infant baptism, to the children
of those parents, one or both of whom give
credible evidence of personal saving faith in
Christ and are communicates. To deduce
this doctrine from our Standards, DR.. A. A.
Hodge interprets the word believer to be one
who has made profession Of personal saw
ing faith, (see con Confession of Faith,
page 40, and presbyterian Doctrine, y
page 80, thus ignoring altogether the re-
peated form of definition given in all parts
of our Standards of the Catholic Visible
Church as composed of call those through
out the world who profess the true religion
together with their children. - Now this
teaching is both Congregational and dan
gerous. "Baptism," says the Ratio Disci
plina, page 80, ''may be administered to in
fants and young children, whose parents
have been admitted to the Lords Supper
or at least, one of them" (See also Say
brook Platform, chapter xxx, A. Pre-
cisely so teaches DIR. A. A. Hodge, las above
page 475) Baptized members have AZ
right to come to the communion until they
make profession of personal faith, unit
they do this, the rights of communing, AM
having their children baptized are held il
suspension for a just punishment for thei
refusal to believe" This doctrine is dan
gerous. 1st. 1t bases the right of the bap
tism Of children on qualification of par
which can never be &c th1T