The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-06
NARRATIVE.


If the state of religion within the bounds OF this
Assembly, would respectfully report:
That from careful survey of the field, brought
under review by the reports from fifty seven Pres'
6yleTies, we discover abundant cause for encour
,gement, aud earnest thanksgiving to God. our
Committee has been aware of the difficulty OF pre-
caring faithful report on this matter OF such
ieep interest to the Assembly, and for this very
| reason, We have epdeavored to use the more eau
tion in drawing our nferences from the data fur
| nished by the Presbyterial reports. And although
| has involved much time and labor to read and
compare the various papers placed Ia our hand, we
peg leave to record cur sincere qualification in being
hus privileged TO wSk through the length and
breadth of our beloved ON and to mark her bull
! wsTks.
We would be glad were it practicable to present
TO this Assembly, ALL the matters'of interest that
| have been brought befare the eye OF the Commit
tee for We are persuaded that our Church needs TO
be seen in all her borders, in order to DO duly estl'
mated but we must ccndense our report under the
| two general heads: Isl, The preaching or minis
tratiou of the Wordand 81, The results OF this
ministration in the Church and in the world:
lst. 10 regard to the ministration OF the Word OF
| God it is a matter fol devout thanksgiving, that
at least four ffths of the Presbyteries report that
their churches have been more fully supplied with
the preached Word and the ordinances OF the
| Church, than has been che case for years past
This result seems to have been accomplished by
the grouping of sevenl feeble churches under one
pastorate, and By the devotion and diligence OF the
evangelist. And agsr, there seemed to your Com
mittee reason for encouragement IN regard to those
Presbyteries where geat spiritual destilutions pre-
vail because of the earnest appeal they make to the
Church at large for help, showing their determine
ton to have a preached gospel in their desert
places, if they can by any means enlist the aid and
sympathy of their Christian brethren. This loud
Macedonian cry for help your Committee would
here reiterate, with the sincere hope that our be-
loved Church which is dispensing with q liberal
hand the bread of ife to the heather world, will
not be indifferent TO he cries of her own children
when they beg for The sincere milk of the Word,
The necessity resting upon the Church to give
more earnest heed to these appeals for help, will at
once appear as We consider our second general d.
vision of this report viz: The results of the preach
ed Word in the Chlroh and In the World. And
here we would say, could our whole Church but
see with the eye of your Committee, the great con-
trast between those parts of the moral vineyard
which have enjoyed the stated means of grace, and
those which have been without these means, the
conclusion must be reached, that the question as
to the state of relifion within the bou0ds OF this
Assembly really brings on the answer to another
inquiry Have the Presbyteries been well supplied
with the preached gospel2 Those Presbyteres
that have been better supplied during the past year
than formerly and let it be remembered that the
great majority report this hopeful fact bring before
you those encouraging fruits
lst There is deeper esrnestness among the
ministers and in the Church, that the work of the
Lord may be done we'll
ID While there are loud complaints from somo
Presbyteries Of 700 much conformity to the world
on the part OF Gods protested people, yet it ap.
nears that in most Of our churches there is faith
| u u 80 hat
arates from the world.
3d. Our churches haze made progress in the
: matter of worshippng God with their substance.
aud although their ,ferng5 cast into the treasury
of the Lord may uot6e larger than In former years,
yet we believe that .heJ have been more ohsyao-
terized by that spirt OF sef-sacrfce which alone
can render them vel pleasing unto God.
: 4th. The ministes of the Word take lively in
terest in the lamb of the fold, giving to them
their portion in TIL distribution OF the rich pro.
vision made by thegood Shepherd for the lambs
: as well as the sheepof his pasture.
sch. All the Prebyteres that have enjoyed the
abundant ministratons of the Word, declare
gracious ngatherilg Of souls into the Redeeners
kingdom-not by extraordinary religious services,
but by the earnest and prayerful use Of the ordi-
nary methods for ringing the truth Of God to the
solemn attention O those unto whom the Word has
been mercifully sat. 3
9Th. There haze been but few cases requiring
the severe discipline of the Church, and from this
fact we infer thatthe members of our Church are
in the main free rom all those fragrant transgres-
sious, which bring reproach on the cause of our
Lord.
Your COMMITTEE cannot without being tedious,
dwell on the picure presented by those Presbyte.
ries, that claim our sympathy and help, because of
great spiritual dstitutiOns, and therefore we must
content ourselvs with saying that their spiritual
condition is almost the exact reverse of that just
presented. Thee are sad complaints of the utter
neglect of familyreligion, disregard of the sane
tty Of the Lord, day. and of those obligations and
restraints whio characterize those communities
blessed with thtregular ministrations of the Word
and ordinances If Gods house. So truly have the
various reports revealed the fact that the measure
OF gospel ordinances measures the spiritual condi-
ton of the Particular field, that your Committee
beg leave to all attention to that which we all
know, but whih is too often lost sight Of that CID
has linked disgrace with His Word, and no man
may divorce them.
And in conclusion, we would say, that while it is
not with us altogether as we DESIRE yet there is
much to encourage our hearts, and we are assured
from the evidence before US, that He who walks in
the midst Of tle golden candestcks, has not with
held from US the gracious tokens of his favor and
acceptance.
Respectfully submitted by the Committee,
j. S. CoZBY.
w. H. DODGE,