The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-28

was not appointed to assume new ground
| but to set forth the reasons for the action o
| that Assembly. The simple question il
whether we shall sustain the reasons glver
| by our Committee.
| In regard to the fundamental question
what is true and proper baptism,-it is no
the mere pouring of SO much water upon
person, it is not the mere application o.
water in valid form, with the use of Ger
tain ceremonial or certain phrase; it is moi
| the mere administration by person claim
ing to be minister in the Church of Jesus
Christ. II is, in the first. place, funda,
mental ordinance wherein God himself pre-
sents His own holy and gracious covenant,
and by the means of His own appointment
and through the officers ordained and called
to this office by Him, seals that covenant
upon the brow Of the subject. The question
then concerning Romish baptism and Camp
belEte baptism is, Are the men who admin.
lister it, ministers whom God has called and
authorized to seal that covenant! 1t wa.
assumed by my excellent and long loved
brother Berry, that the Romish Church il
the old Catholic Church of the world, thai
from the days of the Council of Nice that
Church has still continued to be the OLD
Catholic Church of the world. No such
church as that which we understand the Ro.
man Catholic Church to be, existed at the
time of that Council. 1t is that overshadow.
ing power that grew up at Rome in con-
sequence of the withdrawal of the Empire
from that city to Constantinople, gathering
around it all the growing corruptions in the
Church; which at last arrayed in the pano'
ply of error stands up in the presence Of
Christendom, " "exalting itself above all that
is called God or that is worshipped, and as
God sitteth in the temple of God" claiming
that it is God. Concerning that the ques-
ton is, is it possible for any church to be-
come apostate? The Apostle Paul speaking
of some great delusion las l believe of this
very delusion) describes those who "changed
the truth of God into lie, and worship and
serve the creature more than the Creator
who is blessed forever" 1t is true, as my
brother asserted, the Church of Rome holds
in terms, in form, in pretence, the old Apos-
ties Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Greed
of Albanasius, but where are these in that
towering fabric Of superstition and apostacy?
They are buried and lost beneath the founda-
tions on which have been piled traditions,
decretals, canons and determinations of
councils, from the beginning to the late
council by which the final decree was made
that exalts the Pope to Gods place. Is it
possible to convert "the truth of God into a
lie?" Is the doctrine of the Triune God
fundamental Yet while that church holds
that doctrine in terms, does it not place at
Gods right hand the "Mother of God?"
Does it not by DEGREES, by all its authority
and influence impel its worshippers to adore
that "Blessed woman" and exalt her to
authority and control with her glorious Son
on His throne? Is that the doctrine of the
Trinity? Is the doctrine of the atonement
fundamental? She holds that doctrine; but
what is her exposition thereof? The blood
of Jesus Christ cleanses from al sin: but the
meritorious works of the saints-where are
they? The intercession of Jesus Christ is
the alone intercession for souls but where
are the many intercessions which that Church
enthrones? The word of God speaks Of
Goods many and Lords many" and we are
startled when we read the records of Pagan.
ism at the myriad of Gods whom the heather
worship; but thereis one form Of heathenism
that adores the number of gods which are
worshipped by this baptized Paganism Of
Rome Every saint that has gone to God
every holy angel that stands before the
throne Of God, every priest that fulfls his
function, every good man that is recognized
as living saint on earth, these are the
"gods many and the lords many" that stand
between the soul and God the Father, tina,
set aside the only mediator, and accomplish
salvation by their merits and intercession
Is that the doctrine of justification by faith
I need not 60 on in detail. There is not
one truth that has not been so corrupted by
the additions of that church, as to convert
it into lie
And now, as to one other point. 1t j!
urged that ours ought to be liberal Church
I believe we are My heart goes out ir
burning love to every soul that holds the
truth Of God in, fidelity; but 1 desire nc
liberality to those who reject Gods truth
other than to pray for thoir conversion. Or
the other hand, believe that our Church i;
called to utter a testimony for the whole
truth of God against all the forms of error
and especially all the forms of organized
opposition to Gods truth. Our last Genera
Assembly declined overtures from the North
ern Church which once bore the banner o.
"Christ's crown and covenant" Why
Because that Church had become unfaitbful
to that testimony, had abandoned her posi-
ton as the great standard bearer of the doc
trine that Christ only is King in His Church
and that His Word is to be maintained in al
fidelity and purity. She accepted the au
thority of the civil magistrate in things sa
cred, and accepted further the doctrine o
comprehension in matters of faith, so justly
and ably exposed in the discourse of our re
cent Moderator. While we thus stand to
wards a sister Church which holds funds
mental truth, is faithful in many things tt
the cause of Christ, which we love with ira
| ditional ties, and with whose ministers W,
lhave "taken sweet counsel together" shall
we not stand faithful concerning this othel
| body which rejects all the truth of God
which overburdens every thing which it pre-
tends to receive with gross heresies, AM
which is this day the great power in tn
world that opposes the cause of Christ, ant
lis the means of destroying the souls 0
men? AS we go forth in every land to pro
claim the Gospel of Christ, what is the pow
er we most dread? 1t is not the Paganisn
of the heather. Those miserable Gods tot
ter and fall at the very presence of tn
standard of the Gross. But it is the stealth.
policy of the willy Jesuits. 1t is the pre-