The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-05

5th. This objection the writer presents as
one Of much more grave Importance. The
Alliance, he declare, contains the seed of
monster" "The desires and theories Whlch
uaderlje and prompt this Alliance, ''invOtOe
one of the essential elements of POpery."
The announcement of such on alarming
statement was almost enough to upset man
of excitable temperament and weak nerves ;
but after recovering little such considera-
tions as the following came to our relief.
q It seemed strange that the writer
should set out with the opinion that this Al
lance was not "going to effect anything ex-
cept talk, and then wind up by represent
ing it as big with mischief and ruin 1t is not
yet developed, indeed, but the seed is there,
aud will be sure to grow into baneful
Upas tree, spreading poison and death over
the Church. Here, then, comes out at last
an awful potentiality from what the reader
had been given to understand was mere
"wiOd that passesh away and cometh not
again. But that is only the authors incon,
sistency SO in tho second place
(2) Is it not marvellous in the extreme
that all this should have escaped the detec-
ton of the whole Presbyterian Church in
Europe and America.
After a careful examination of the subject
they sent delegates to form this Alliance. If
there is anything which Presbyterianism de-
tests it is Popery, in its whole "ssed, breed
and generation" Is it likely that princi-
pie, pregnant with this deadly evil, should
escape their scrutiny? Which is the more
likely to make mistake here, they or our
brother in the Reuiew?
AreView of all that is advanced in this sec.
ton would far transcend our limits. I'm
porsant as it is in the discussion of this SUBJ
iect, it's fuller examination must be reserved
for another time If we understand the au
thor rightly ne maintains this: that the eff.
fort to make the outward and visible Church
on earth correspond in extent to the spirit
ual and invisible, is of the very essence of
Popery. This position we do emphatically
eontrovert We do not hold that the out
ward and visible unity of the Church, in its
several parts, is essential to complete unity
which is mainly invisible and spiritual. But
we hold with DR.. Thornwell that
1.-THE visible or protesting Church approaches
perfectiOa as it seeks to realize the invisible or
spiritual The two ought to coincide, and the
purity of the outward is determined by Its approx
iwation to the inward. A church, therefore, which
cannot realize visible unity, and thus aim to
coincide with the invisible, Is selt-condemned and
any Constitution which does not recognize this fact
is convicted of being unscriptural This principle
of the unity of the Church hes at the foundation OF
the Presbyterian poty and all its pecuarities are
designed to bring this out and give it formal ex-
preston. 1t is singular that the only two bodies
which claim to realize this unity are in the deadli-
est antagonism-esch charge the other with being
Anti Christ. They are the Church of Rome, and
the Presbyterian Church. Rome does, IN certain
sense, give unity to the Church. She cOmpacts
all It's parts. There is no stronger outward rep
resentstOn Of uuitv than is furnished IN her system
of government. There is. however. this marked
difference between the two cases. The Church OF
Rome undertakes to exhibit the body in its unity
with an earthly head to exhibit Christ as well as
his members the Presbyterian Church exhibits
in visible unity on earth the body only, and connects
il with heavenly head. The Bishop OF Rome
claims to be the head Of the Church. (See Thorn
wells Collected Writings; Vol 4, p. 1850
Dr.. Thornwell goes on to the next "prin-
ciple of the Presbyterian system" which is,
" that this unity is realized by representa-
tive Assemblies" In connection with other
most pertinent observations he proceeds to
show that these representatives assembled in
a parliament might be properly extended not
only over a few churches, but "over the
universal church" He presents it thus:
Suppose now two congregations to exist.
They elect their representatives, who meet
in common The representative now covers
two congregations. Eularge these SUPPOSE
tons. and il will be perceived that the prin-
ciple of representation is capable of embOdy-
ing any number of believers. Whole CONT
nent8 may be made one body. The principle
is susceptible of application to the whole hu-
man race, and may therefore embody the
whole Church on earth in one grand parlia-
ment." Vol. 4, p. 1877
Now all this the writer in the Reviea0 must
Sc. down as zone of the essential elements
Of Popery." We leave to some future time
the further discussion Of this point, and with
out at pi esent entering into what is said of
the views of the Reformers, of Turretine,
Dr.. Cunningham and others, must be con-
tent az this time with the above quotation
from source which is we'll suited to give
the reviewer and others some considerable
"pauss." as to their premises.
To the above We would be glad to add
here, if it were not too long, an extract from
the speech of our dear and honored brother,
Rev. DE-. B. NJ Palmer, in the last Assem-
bly,. In that speech, verbatim report of
which is now before US, he declares his ap-
progsl Of Just such an idea as DR.. ThOrnwell
presents, and reminds the body that at the
Assembly in Naw 0;leanS 10 1858, he sin
trOduced this very idea and expressed the
hope upon the floor of that body that might
ye, live to sit in a General Assembly of the
whole world" And one main ground of his
dissatisfaction with the proposed Alliance
was that il did not have "tbe checks and
limitations upon its power which would at
ssch to properly organized Church Court. "
s. gc see that the very thing which these