The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-01-21

thotize the remission Of the aims Of an I'M
repentant murderer? or the retention OF
1.-THE stns ofsgalncere peniteail The Ian
guage, broadly construed, admits or a
conclusion repugnAnt to our consciences
and 10 the character Of Christ Himself.
mo man cometh to the Father but by
Me" VI am the way" &C., &c. The Dis
ciples were merely commissioned to de-
clare 10 Els name the forgiveness Of the
aims Of the penitent and the retention Of
the sins Of the wicked. This,is The con.
atruclion that the " hole r rotestant Chris.
tian Church puts on this part Of the Tesla.
ment Where do we read Of the Disciples
or Apostles, after their commission was
given them, toTgiving the Sins Of any one
without making Jesus the great central
figure or source Of forgiveness And as
no cases occur just now TO my mind OF
the retention Of the sins Of any one, ! will
dismiss this phase Of the subject. Our
Prayer Book claims no power for the
priest other than Scripture fully estab-
fishes. The 22d article Of Religion covers
the whole point Of dispute. Il is a. fol.
lows The Romish doctrine concerning
|purgatory, patd0ns," &C., .'Is q foul thing
vainlY invented" &C., &c. ~ 10y:
There Is another feature oil our Prayer
Book that gives offence 10 o certain wing
Of the Church, although Mr.. L. did not
allude TO IT; It IA as follows - One OF the
|absolutions Ior the day 'hathgiyen
power and comniandmeht to Els minis.
tiers TO declare and pronounce to His PEG.
pie being penitent, the absolution and
remission Of their sins. He pardoneth and
= &ca sc, a Who pardoneth ?
The Priest . Mot for moment The
passage explains ITSELF The ministers
function is only declaratory one to the
penitent of acceptance with God.
Mr.. Latane says there Is preGerableI
form in-the 4laying onol handb" In the |
ordaining Of Priest, but The Bishops rare |
ly usetit.s II this be so,-Idos not die.
pute it-should not he accord the same
license 10 the Bishops that he takes to
himself In the use Of the shorter absolu.
ton 10 the general exclusion Of the one
alluded to above? He has the clerical
right 70 do this. 30 have the Bishops the
right to do the other; Our Church Is lib.
eral and catholic, and allows Bishops or
Priests 10 exercise their own judgment
about such matters, ,..-,fh
Z 1t.has been suggested that the views of
the congregation viii be taken on the
subject. l would merely say to all who
frequent st. Matthews; consider this mat.
Ter prayerlully and well. The Apostle
Paul says be not tossed 10 and fro, and
carried about with every wind OF doc.
trine," Hold last to that which Is good.
Do not have your Incompatible service
changed without your conscience approves
It. The Prayer Book ofto.day Is the same
that smoothed the path Of life to your
fathers and mothers, sisters, brothers and
friends. The question Is between yourself
and God. Man cannot settle 1t for you,
nor should he. Do what your prayerful
Judgment tells you Is best, and leave the
rest with God. 5,g6
In conclusion, I would say 1 despise
Ritualism as much as Mr.. Latane does,
and on the other hand, would oppose
any alteration Of the Prayer Book TO ia.
Vor the, other extreme wing Of the
church, or give the least countenarce to
build hybrid church on the ruins OF our
own. As long as the piety of the church
loes not oulgrow the requirements oil the
Prayer Book, it would be as well to let
matters remain as they are.
Very ateetionately, Puuo.