The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-18


and thus to terminate its visible Church character
That this conclusion is Just the latitudinarian him
self virtually proves, when ne is constrained to
repudiate the official declaration of some brother
who has come to dispute some article OF the short
creed which has been adopted as their Church Gov
euant. The communion must disavow and exclude |
that dissentient from the ranks of her ministry or
she ceases to have even the short, latltudinarlan
creed The principle is conceded. Then If we
are right in believing that Christ has given his
Church fuller creed to witness, the same prlncl-
pie sustains US.
This demonstration is enhanced by the fact that
the truths of redemption are a connected system.
To say that it carries evidence to the human rea-
son is to admit that its several propositions must
have a logical dependence, for If the reason OF man
has any methodical law, corresponding method
must appear in that set OF atirmatlons which are
to commend themselves to the reason as truths
When therefore the advocates Of doctrinal licence
say, meaning TO either a reprOach, that "ortho-
doxy is remorSelessly logical, they have In fact
spoken the highest praise. That it is logical In
the dependence of its proposition, Is one OF the
prime signatures of truth. The revealed system
is regular arch; the removal of the smallest stone
loosens another, and that another, until the very
KEY stone is shaken and the whole structure IS en-
dangered The surrender of point OF doctrlne
not fundamental to salvation endangers others
more important than itself. When once men be-
gin to drop out part of the testimony of Je
sus their word viii eat as doth can&er, Y Tim.
ii: III What pastor does not know how original
sin and regeneration stand or fall together ?
Christ's divinity and justification? But let us
consider an instance less obvious. Does God
fore-knowledge of the future generate His purpose
concerning it as in some OF the thoughts OF some
of his rational creatures? Or is the reverse true
of the Infinite Supreme Cause; that his eternal
purpose generates His foreknowledge of the fu-
ture A question this: you will say; nice, alb
struse, far remote from the practical issues of
faith and redemption. Well, believe that many
an imperfect believer who has answered it wrong
is now gloriGed through the mercy Of God in
Christ But he who follows the two propositions
to their strict consequences must at last admit,
that Is it is true that God fore-kuowledge always
generates His purpose; then the election OF
grace" is conditioned on some foreseen spiritual
good in man. Then the sinners will must be sell
moved in its first action to quicken itself to choose
God as his spiritual good, and then native deprav
ity is not radical and the last sinner should be
taught to look to himself rather than Christ to
initiate his salvation, and to preserve 1t. Thus
this very remote abstraction will become so prac-
teal as to modify every prayer that comes out OF
the believing sinner mouth, fhe is only sufficiently
consistent in his logic Thus the rejection OF
truth not fundamental may leopard those that are
Do you ask, Will not this virtually abolish the
distinction making all error even the least neces-
sariiy destructive since the less leads on so logl
ealy to the greater heresy? [ reply, there Is al
ways some liability to such result, In the man
who adopts any substantive error in theology: but
be is not regularly subject to it because the Spirit
and providence of God, who loves him if he is
true penitent, guard him against the natural con-
sequences of his error, and maintain IN him prln-
ciple of holiness, whose tendencies are stronger
than the logical tendencies of defective creed.
But the herald and teacher Of others Is expected
to be thoroughly informed, and to have logical
consistency of mind. Every scribe which is in
structed unto the kingdom of heaven IS like unto
a man that is householder, which bringeth forth
out of his treasure things new and old, Matt,
xiii: 80. There are two reasons for not toerating
in them as teachers the error which we lament
in the private Christian whom we embrace as a
brother That the mind of the educated profess
siona man is more likely to be consistent in its err
ror, and to push it to mischievous results. And
that he who undertakes to guide others, especially
where immortal souls are the irreparable stake IS
justly required to attain unto fuller accuracy.
Let us now return seeing each communion is
sacredly bound to deliver some one consistent tes
timony, which one shall it be? There can be
but one answer That one which is conscientiousy
believed by its associated teachers. And the prin-
ciple of association must be this that those who
can honestly see eye to see shall associate into
body, or branch of the visible Church. Does it
necessarily follow hence that there will be several
denominations Of Christians within the Church
catholic, limiting partially It's external unity? We
answer so be it it is the smaller of the unavoida
BILE evils unless all human minds which imbibe
any Christian truth can be rendered intalibe; or
unless the right of private judgment be destroyed
or else unless an inspired umpire in doctrinal diff
fcreuceS can be found on earth. The position of
the Pope is very express avowal Of this conclu-
sion for in attempting to exact of all Christians
formal unity, he processes infaibility The former
cannot be reasonable without the latter. The re-
suit which we have embraced is found as eondu-
Give to peace as to purity of doctrine. The Pres
byterian communion, the srictest of all in exacting
full orthodoxy according to her standard of all
her ministry, is also the most truly Catholic of all
the Protestant Churches. Her overtures to other
branches of Christs Church. and wherever they
are accepted, her actual relations with them, are
of the most paternal character. But if all these
denominations were aggregated, there must be
either unfaithfuness to truth, or strife. The de-
bates of denominations over doctrlnal differences
are far less bitter than those of earnest men differ
ing within the same pale. Witness the comparative
heat of the strifeS between the Old and New
Schools before their separation, and of the Evan
geicals and Puseyites in the Anglican Church.
So true is this, that there is no communion on
earth formed on this theory Of comprehension,
IlaC Is True lO IL. ANOut luClUuC WIN uOlu Iu0
essentials of the faith. None can include all those
who, on their own theory, are faithful to all the
fundamental doctrines but they find themselves
compelled to make term of full ministerial COM
muuion of one or another of the lesser points,
Suppose two bodies, one of which heartily admit
ted lay preaching, and the other as sincerely be-
heved it anti scriptural and disorganizing How
could they possibly administer a communion gov
eminent in the same Church Courts? Pedobap
4,ekS aoI lpnrna N the
spiritual family. Those who hold that prelatic
ordination is essential to valid ministry, cannot
work in the same government with us, who hold
that Presbyterial ordination is not only sufficient,
but more scripturaL Now we, at least, are very
willing to admit that neither approaching nor i'm
mersiOnism, nor prelatic ordination, Is tunda-
mental error Yet in 4 communion of the opposite
belief, they necessarily exclude their advocates.
The theory of comprehension, if consistently at
tempted, would be found impossible.
Indeed, as though It's advocates were fated to
demonstrate its falsehood by the greatest posi-
bic absurdities, we find them combining rejection
of some brethren on grounds not fundamental lin
the truth of their own theory with the cordial
embracing of other false brethren, in spite OF diff
ferences which are fundamental, lin the truth,
again, Of their own theory. The Church of " the
Reformers" is avowedly constructed by its founder,
Alexander Campbell, on the broadcast plan of CON-
prehenSiOn 1t glOries in having no creed. 1t be.
gan BY declaring that the test for communion should
have but one question In it: do you receive
Jesus as Saviour p But let the brother seek ad-
mission into its fold who proposes to practise the
amiable weakness of babysprinkling, >" and, he
is strictly excluded, Notwithstanding every other
grace of an eminent Christian. Yet this charity,
which is too narrow to allow this error. so obvious.
ly non essential, if an error, is yet capacious
enough to embrace him who discards the whole
office work of the Holy Ghost, and the very calling
of grace by which alone any soul ever became Chris
tian. The ANGLICAN will not admit the pious
brother who prays to God out of some other book
than his even though it be more apostolic; but he
gories in his equal readiness to aficiate with