The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-03-19

ship, without any definition OF the functions
of the office beyond their joint power of Ju
risdiction as members of the Session. Il
makes no suggestion of their duties as set IL
the Church, to have oversight Of the flock
to watch over the people, to admonish them
of their duties, to guard them against errors,
to visit the sick, comfort the mourning, cher
ish the children-keeping the pastor fully
advised of tae state of the congregation, up
holding his hands, and pointing out to him
where bis special attention is needed. We
are persuaded that if the attention of the
ruling elders can be fixed upon this Section
8 of Chapter w., their voice will be nearly
unanimous for the Revised Book.
The Chapter, "0f Church Courts" en-
braciDg about one-third Of the Revised Book
of Government, is essentially the same with
Chapters VIII. to XII. of the present Form
of Government, except that several impor-
tant omissions are supplied from what has
become accepted usage, or declared by the
General Assembly to be tie. ns@nirhsr ~
| implication, os thc present Book. Tho chief
improvement 10 this chapter is it's setting
forth distinctly the Jurisdiction of church
courts" for the instruction of off ,e-bearers
in regard to the principles which uaderlie
the action Of these tribunals. The question
30 much controVerted, heretofore, as to q
quorum Of Preabytery, is settled Oy reqair-
ing the presence of at least one ruling elder
in Presbytery and three 10 the Synod to con-
stitute quorum. Provision is made also
| for formal subscription to the formula as
sented to at ordination; for receiving minis
ters of other denominations and churches of
other denominations into our counexion-
none Of which will probably be challenged as
unwise or improper.
As to Chapter VI, "Of Csurch Order"
Its two sections concerning ''the doctrine
of vocation" aud "the doctrine of ordina-
ton, though they contain additions to the
present Book in the way of supplying omis-
sioDs, yet they are really but an explanatory
preface to what follows concerning the cleo
tion and ordination of Church officers. This
brief definition of terms and exhibit of the
principles underlying vocation and ordina-
ton, for the benefit of both the Office bearers
and the people who have occasion to take
part in the solemn proceedings afterwards
described, is manifestly most valuable pro-
vision, and in full accord with the spirit of
our system. Of the Improvement in Section
3, defining explicitly the qualifications of the
electors in the choice of pastor, conining the
right of suffrage to communicants, it is need
less to speak, since the voice Of two.thirds Of
the Presbyteries has already decreed in favor
Of the revised provision.
The remaining four Sections of this Chap.
ter, covering the same ground as Chapters
XIII. to XVII. inclusive, of the present
Book, are substantially the same as the pre-
sent Book, and are therefore passed over
without notice.
Since these are the more important changes
proposed in the Form of Government, it will
be perceived that they are not in their char
acter revolutionary, introducing any new
principles, but simply supply from sources
already recognised as law the defects and
omissions Of the present Form of Govern
ment. Nay, in all the criticisms Of twenty
years no one has, at least to our knowledge,
seriously challenged these amendments as
wrong, unwise, or contrary to the spirit of
our standards. The chief arguments against
the Revised Form of Government have been
directed, not against its intrinsic provisions,
but chiefly against the expediency of adopt
ing 30 thorough revision in times of excite
ment.
Of the revision of the Book of Discipline
there is space here for only brief comment
on few of the proposed amendments. This
portion Of the revision is chiefly the work of
DR.. Thornwell, but his work has been much
improved by the varied criticisms of the Pres
byteries since 1859. The claim set up for
the Revision by DR.. Thornwell in 1859 is
still valid in every particular:
cit has pruned away redun isucies and
supplied many important omissions; removed
incongruities and contradictions to the gen.
eral tenor of our system; extended privileges
which experience has shown to be important |;
cleared up antiquities, and reduced our dis.
cipline to logical completeness which it did
not possess before; it has aimplfed the pro-
cess of appellate jurisdiction and cleared
away highway for our upper courts where
all before was rocks and thorns."
A careful comparison of the Revised with
the present Discipline will show that this is
no extravagaut claim in any of its several
particulars. The chief improvements in the
Revised Book relate to the definition of an
offence, how offences shall come before the
courts, how the prosecution of offences shall
be carried on through the series Of courts, or
dealt with in certain cases without process.
OF the revised definition Of an offence it is
unnecessary to say anything further, since
the Presbyteriea, by vote of more than two
thirds, have accepted the Revision in this
particular. OF the manner in which offences
shall come before the courts and be prose.
cuted-in regard to which the present Book
is sngularly obscure, ambiguous, and erro-
neous in principle-she Revised Book, as it
seems to US, is singularly felicitous in clear
| - -. 49, 4 f6 1t;aa 1yh;ch an y;ron fb ,,o