The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-08
FoR TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
NON-COMMUNINa MEMBERS
D1sMIssIoN BY CERTIFICATE.

Much doubt is felt by many esteemed
brethren as to the prOpriety of dismisSing
our nOn.communing baptized MEMBERS by
certificate, when they remove from one con-
gregation to another. With every feeling
of respect for these brethren, the writer
begs leave to declare it to be most sound
principle of Pres5yterianism that they should
always be so dismissed. In support of this
declaration, 1 offer the following Proposi-
tiOns:
God gave the children of his people a
recognized place in his visible church, and
no being less than God can rightfally refuse
to acknowledge them in that place.
That God gave them such place is clear
" seen in the Abrahamic covenant, Gen. II.
And lust here, in order to show that the
covenant did not have respect only to tenn
poral blessings, some remarks are necessary.
By reference to Gen. xii: Is, we see that
when God selected Abraham, (as his name
then was) with whom to make MS covenant
and distinctly organize his visible church,
he made t,go promises to him. In verse :,
we read. "I will make of thee great ma
ton, &C." In verse 8, We have second
promise, and a longer one" And in thee
shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The first of these promises, as we shall see,
refers to the temporal estate. The second
is spiritual. Now as to the first promise IN
verse 2. In the next chapter Verse l5-lO
we see some mention of it. But not until
chapter XIV, do we come to the regular ar
rangement and covenant. Here the cove
nant for temporal blessings is fully made and
concluded. See verse Is. And let 1t be
noticed that this covenant for national and
temporal good, has no Uisible seat attached
to it. Yet we are expressly told in verse is,
that it was made Sin that same day. But
as vet, the second promise has not been so
much as mentioned again. IfOne promise de-
serves formal covenant, does not the other
The first promise for national greatness has
its covenant, but without an outward seal,
in chapter XIV. Now fort ne second promise.
We see no hint at it until We come to
chapter xvii. The things here recorded came
to pass many years after the covenant for
national prosperity was concluded. And
now God says to Abrqm, 81 am the Al
mighty God: walk before me and be thou
perfect. And l will make my covenant be-
tween me and thee. = As for me, be-
hold nv covenant is with thee; and thou
shalt be a father of many nations. Neither
shall thy name any more be called Abram,
but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father
of many nations have l made thee" The
first covenant was made with A5ram. The
second, with A5raham. Then after (verses
Z, 81 assuring him that the first covenant
should stand established, and be unaffected
by this second one, God returns to the Sc
cond. verse 9. And God said unto Abra-
ham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore
(verse 1-5) thou, and thy seed after thee IL
their generations This is my covenant
which ye shall keep, between me and yOr
aud thy seed after thee; every man chilC
among YOU shall shall be circumcised,
and nv covenant shall be in your flesh fo
an everlasting covenant" The words "Thi
Is nv covenant, mark this as a new cove
nant. distinct from the first. So also doe
the requirement verse y for spiritual ser
vice. So also the extension of blessings t.
the many nations" And so too the fac
that this eovsRant has an OWt10ard seal, whicl
the covenant for temporal good, had not ]
further proof be wanted it is given in tn
New Testament. See Rom. tx, Gal. iii, &c
Especially does Paul (Gal. iii; s. mark tn
second promise in Gen. xii: 3, as spiritual
declaring that By this "the gOaper sca
preached before unto Abraham. This is bu
a small part of the evidence. But here
enough to show that the two covenants wer
distinct in their making and in their end
The first was confined to the Jewish natio
in its benefits; and this is the only nation
which Abraham was the father after Il
flesh. The second applies to "many n
tions, to sail families of the earth"
which Abraham was only the spiritual fathe