The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-02-07

SofcEueu Unly Ny Hio PANJu"AS"0 Va f'N''"''S
answer: "The human heartis very treach
erous," We often deceive ourselves; and il
ia very base to plead ones conscience as 6
mere pretonoe, hoping thereby to gain q
point. If you or others think that l am now
SO tranegrossing, nothing 1 say could or
should have any weight with you. Such con-
duct is despicable.
Should any one say, Have not promised
subjection TO my brethren in the Lord ?
answer that l have. But the true interpre-
tation of that phrase is, that l have promised
subjection in the Lord, to my brethren. This
Interpretation is given to the phrase in the
form of liCensure: DO you promise to SUBJ
NIT yourself, in the Lord, to the government
of this Presbytery? 1t would be mon
strOua opinion, utterly contrary to the great
principles of Professionalism, that any church
court may by vote rule my conscience Let
them giVe me thus saith the Lord. and |
will cheerfally yield. Otherwise | viii claim
my Christian liberty as, Paul did.
What then shall our beloved Church do ?
This is great question. / merely drop a
few hints.
1. Let all the brethren who voted right
before do SO again. Let them be amiable
and courteous, but firm and unfinching.
2. Let us all find out what this Scripture
meaneth. "Hast thou faith? have it to thy
self before God" Rom. xiv: %.
8. Let the counsel of blessed Paul prevail:
I" Let US therefore, as many as be perfect,
be thus minded, and if in anything ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this
unto you. Nevertheless, whereto We have
already attained, let US walk by the same
rule, let us mind the same thing" Phil. iii:
Is, 16.
But if contrary to my expectations, the
New Book shall be adopted, and our Church
rent in twain, sOlemnly declare that l am
not responsible in any way for such results,
yet my soul shall weep in secret places, and
1 will love our Zion still.
In this letter I 60 into no detailed exami-
nation of the New Book. In the General
Assembly of 1872 I did this to some extent,
and my remarks we're reported in several pa.
pers. l do not wish to make this paper te-
diously long. Where the New Book is CO
pied from the Old, I of course make no OBJ
lection. Where it differs, it is in no case an
improvement worth troubling the Church
with, and in several others it must make con-
fusion and revolution.
Nor do l dwell on the significant fact that
the Northern Church has quietly laid the
New Book on the shelf. At the end of the
slate @npleasantness the Northern and
Southern Churches stood in very much the
ssgoe relation to tho New Book. But now
and for years past no one in that honored
branch of Christ's kingdom has, so far as l
know, said word in its favor. l have oc-
casonal correspondents, old friends or form
er pupils, all over that Church, and l take
several journals published by its ministers,
and 1 have not for long time seen or heard
word in favor of introducing it there
Have their good, and wise, and able men
(they have many auch) lost their love for
Zion Surely not. But they see that the
change is not desired nor desirable. l do
not believe that there is in one Of their Pres
byteries even considerable minority in fa-
vor Of the New Book. l see no movement
whatever in that direction. Such fact is
worthy of reflection. But 1 will tax your
patience no longer.
Faithfully yours in precious Christ,
WILLIAM S. PLUMER.