The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-09-04
PASTORAL LETTER
Of Roanoke Presbytery to the Churches
within its Bounds

DEAR BRETHREN: Grace be unto you,
and peace, from God our Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ. At the meeting of the
General Assembly held in Huntsville, Ala,
the following resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, There appears to be in some
portions Of our Church degree of neglect
on the part of Christian parents in present
ing their children, at the proper time, for
baptism, which the Assembly regards as Civ
ing occasion to those who do not appreciate
this holy sacrament to speak against the
truth, and which is detrimental to household
religion, and to the spiritual interests of the
children Of the covenant; therefore,
ResOlUe3 l. That the Presbyteries com
prising this General Assembly be, and they
are hereby, instructed to bring this subject
distinctly before the minds of all our peo-
pie, and to take measures to ascertain to
what extent parents, in their respective
bounds, are forgetting their covenant VOWS,
and send up to the next General Assembly
specific reports on this subject.
Res0lVed ,. That the publications of our
Committee on the subject of Baptism, and
especially of Infant Baptism, should be dis
semiOated and carefully read throughout our
whole bounds in order to correct the evil re-
ferred to: and that the Stated Clerks of the
several Presbyteries be, and they are hereby,
ordered TO procure and circulate such publ
cations among their churches.
In accordance with this action of the Gen
eral Assembly of our Church, it becomes
our duty, brethren, with all plainness and
fidelity, and all Christian affection, to exhOrt
and enjoin you to give immediate and earn
est attention to the question of duty brought
before you.
We would speak specially to two classes: ::
l. To those who entertain doubts concern
ing the Scripture warrant for Infant Bap-
tism. It Is not III the hae of the purpose
now before us to enter upon any discussion
If the reasons for shis ordinance. 1t you
win yourselves 90 into the examination of
the matter, without prejudice, in spirit of
candid inquiry, and with humble prayer for
the teaching of the Holy Ghost, we thor
Oughly believe that He will lead you into the
whole truth concerning it. 1t is not con
ceiyable that He would suffer any to remain
in error here who really desire to know and
"do the truth" and are willing to seek for
it in the use of right and necessary means
The point which we would make is just
this: No follower of Christ can afford to be
in doubt about this matter, for the simple
reason, that it is one reaching beyond any
mere question of opinions, and bearing di
reetly upon the practice.
There are certain doctrines of our Church
to which, you know, the remark just made,
might not in precisely the same way, or so
fully, apply. We believe that they are
clearly taught in the Word of God. We
believe that they have an important influence
upon Christian characters, Christian expe-
rience, and Christian hopes. We receive
them as a part of the precious heritage of
the redeemed people of God. From the be
ginning, therefore, they have been incorpo-
rated in the symbols of the Presbyterian
Chureh-have furnished it with hOnored
"banner words in many hard fought fight
for the truth, and have served no little to
give it its own peculiar individuality. But
at the same time, as not essential to Chris
sisn faith, and not necessarily related to OBJ
vious, specific duties, no formal subscription
TO them is required of those who are received
into the Church on profession of faith in
Christ.
But the question before US is not of this
character. IL is one that is obliged to con-
troll the practice one way or the other. 1t
draws deep among fundamental principles of
Christian conduct. 1t is concerned with du-
ties Of the highest Importance; and it will
not do for any one to say that be is in doubt
here. lie has no right to be in doubt 1t
is his instant and imperative duty to reach
clear, definite, fixed conclusions touching a
matter which is not one of dogma or creeds
merely, but involving graVest responsibilities.
And therefore, brethren, in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ, by your allegiance to
him, by your prOfessed submission to his au-
thOrity and teachings, by your loyalty to
the Church whose right you did sOlemnly
recognize to require you to conform to its
order and practice, when you are received
into its communion, We do aHectionately ex-
hort and charge YOU to take this whole mat.
ter into prayerfal consideration and study,
and to deal with it in the fear of God.
,. We desire to speak next to those who
are not restrained by any imagined or actual
seruples Of conscience from presenting their
children for baptism, who profess to believe
that the ordinance is of Divine appointment
but who neglect it, either because it is re-