The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-23


essential to the constitutional argument Of
this subject, and to the only proper, that
the historical Interpretation of our Stand
ards, l have proved from the cOntemporar.
testimony of Baxter, and might proceed nov
to establish from the two great works O
Samuel Rutherford, "The Peaceable Ple'
for Paul's Presbyterie in Scotland ant
"The Due Right of PreSbyteries." ." In hi
"Due Right of Presbyteries,' - chapter vi
S 5, page 1876, he says: "Those who are no
members of a particular church may b
VISIBLE PROFESSORS, and so members of Wis
ible Church, ergo, the seals of the covenan
belongeth to them" In the same work
page 256, &C., 26S, &c., &C., he insists a
large that ORDINARY HEARING is cHURoH
COMMUNION, &c. The xii chapter of ''Tht
Peaceable Plea for Pauls Presbyterie IL
Scotland" London 4th, 1912, page 926, IL
entitled, "Whether or no some warrantably
aCh that baptism should be administered
only to infants born of one at least OF the
nearest parents known to be believer anc
within the covenant, and who are to be ad
mitted to the Lords Supper?" "That oul
mind" he says, "may be known in this We
propose these distinctions to the learned an(
godl, reader to be considered. 1st. There
is an inherent holiness, and there is fedora
holiness, that have right to the means o.
salvation, Vhich right Turks and Pagan'
have not. 2nd. People or persons are two
ways within the covenant, a. Truly, ant
by faith in Christ, and according to the elec
ton of grace, (2 in POSSESSION, because the
word of the covenant is PREACHED TO THEN
AS MEMBERS OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH
3rd. There is holiness of the covenant
and holiness of covenanters, and there is 6
holiness of the nation, flock and people, anC
a holiness of the single person. 4th. There
is a holiness of election in Gods mind, anC
holiness real and of the persons elected
5th. There is federal or covenant holiness
de jure, by right, such as goeth before bap
tism, in the infants born in the Visible
Church, and holiness, de facto, forma
covenant holiness after they are baptized
Hence our first conclusion, all the infants
born within the Visible Church, whatever bt
the wickedness of their nearest parents art
to be received within the Church by bap
tism." The author then proceeds to advance
nine arguments in support of his opinion
and to answer the objections of his oppo
nents, who were, be it observed, Congrega
tionalists.
The Doctrine which have established,
might, had room, further confirm from tn
Waldenses and Confessions of the ReformeC
Churches as given in the Harmony of Con
fessions. (See pages 9O8, 80, 315) A9o
Niemurs Collection, (see pages 163, 1e4
1S2, SAT, 64O, $50, 697, 1907 And il
Quick's Synodicum, Vol. I, page xiv.
1t is admitted by DR.. A. A. Hodge him
self Outlines, page 499-5OO,I that, "Romal
Catholics, Episcopalians, the PrOtestants o
the Continent, the Presbyterians of Scot
land, and therefore also of Ireland, Eng
land and their off-shoots-"and formerly o
this country, act upon the principle tha
euery baptized person not communicated
being himself a member of the Visibl
Church, has right to have his child regard
ed and treated as such also The same ad
mission is made by the author of eth
Children of the Church" page 49, &c.
That such were the views prevalent anon
the fathers and founders of our Church i
this country, [ can affirm on the authorit
of Mr.. Webster, author of "The Early His
tory of the Presbyterian Church in Amer
ca, who, in answer to my question, as
sured me that such was the fact. That thi
was the prevalent doctrine and practice i
1911, when my own Church was organized
is made evident from the teaching and doc
trine of the Rev. DR.. Andrew Finn, its frs
pastor, from whom it has cope down to tn
present day. Such also were the sentiment
of the Rev. DR.. Archibald Alexander. Al
cording to the distinct testimony of Re-
DR.. Ashbel Green, while there was diffel
ence of sentiment and practice prevailin
among the churches he feels called upon
his lectures, to the young persons of his col
gregation to deliver as his mature judgmel
that, 81 cannot make abstinence from th
Lords Supper, the ground in all cases
precluding from the privilege of devOtin
their infant offspring to God in baptism
some who are desirous of doing it, althoug
they cannot for the present view themselve
as prepared to go to the table of the Lord
See Lectures on the Shorter CatechiSr
Vol. H., page 379,)
In conclusion, would adduce the ulsVln
and emphatic testimony of DR.. Stuart Ro
inson, the Moderator of the General A
sembly, whose views 1 controvert, in h
work the "Church of God" (See pag
$3.50, 5 and g.: especial prominence
given everywhere in Scripture to the prime
pie that as concerning the out,working
time of the scheme of redemption, the ch
dren Of those, whO ar e themselves parties
the priOilsges of the covenant. ii
that is Abraham's children; as bo
members of the great edsib1e community viii
this covenant, as a charter founds and c
ganizes, they (the chi Idren) are required
be made formally par ties thereto by afixil
through their parents their seal to the GOV
nant, nor can this principle be