The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-25
For the Central Presbyterian.
PRESBYTERIANISNI
OF the Doctrines of Presbyterianism.
No g

our Bible, it is the translation of two diff
ferent words; in the New Testament. one
meaning the matter and the other the
manner of teaching, but both derivations
OF Greek verb, meaning to teach and
In the Old Testament, seldom occurring.
the same distinction is observable, though
the Hebrew words are of different deri-
vations. BY this definition of doctrine,
it is clear that the popular acceptation,
thatlt denotes matter of controversial
kind, is misapprehension. 1t is true,
that the matter of teachingis mostly that
which sets forth the great principles of
truth. But the outcry against "doctrinaL
sermons is thus seen to be unfounded
The great truths of the gospel are doc
trlnes-or the principles of revealed truth,
which relate to God, and Christ, the
Holy Spirit, sin, sinners, holiness, saints,
mans ruin, and mans salvation. All
must admit that In presenting the teach
lngs OF the Bible on these and similar
subjects, there need be no controversy.
Indeed there can be no practical applica-
ton of the great teachings of the Bible,
unless those teachings are explained. The
duty (which God requires of man" and
the reasons of it, the threatenings to the
lmpenitent, the promises to the penitent
believer, and the laws which God gives
for the guidance of His people, are all
based on what we are to believe concern
ing God and man, sin and ruin, holiness
and salvation, and in short Gods gov
eminent of all men Hence there is no
ground for Pope's celebrated sheer:
For modes of faith let graceess zealots fight.
lie can't be wrong whose life is in the right "
This begs the whole question. For as
farmers, mechanics, professional men, and
all who engage In the various pursuits of
life, must, In order to act u,3ght in their
lives, have certain principles, or modes
OF faith, to regulate their actions; so
the Christian must have certain princi-
pies or modes of faith, to regulate his
acts as Christian, relating to God and
his fellow-men. These principles are to
be derived from the teachings of the
Bible, as the judge must derive his
principles from the fundamental law or
constitution Of the country-and other
men must derive theirs from the teach
ings of the various sciences, of medicine
agriculture, the mechanical arts, etc., by
which their kves' are regulated. And
since all men are fallible and liable to be
led astray by prejudice or passion or in
terested motives of some kind, there must
be dlllgent efforts on the part of ali to
find out and follow right teachings in all
the pursuits In which they are engaged.
Now applying these views of common
sense to the great matter of Christian
faith and duty, it has been found desir-
able that the various denominations of
Christians should have the truths of Scrip
ture as they understand them, presented
In certain systems Of divinity, in the re-
ception of which, the members of the diff
ferent denominations or churches agree
among themselves. 1t could be easily
shown, that while on several topics there
are dlversities of opinion, yet all Protes-
tant and evangelical churches agree with
each other in the most important tenets.
those which set forth the great Bible
truths, teaching the way of salvation.
Just the same view may be taken on the
subject of government in civilized nations.
There are diversities of forms, yet all
agree In some fundamental principles, es-
sentlal to secure the welfare of the peo-
pie. There must be laws and rulers to
enforce them, and taxes to support the
administration of law, and protection of
nation against internal violence and in
vasion from without And, on the other
hand, the principles of government, as
those of religion, will be matters of dis
cusslon sometimes very violent and some
times productive of revolution.
On the whole then, we must see that
for the welfare of all connected with the
religious society, which we call church
there must be formulated expositions OF
the truths of the Bible, and it is remark
able to observe, that those religious
bodies which have grown up under the
plan of repudiating all "creeds' and
confessions" Boosting that the Bible is
a sufficient confession of faith, have af
forded the fullest illustrations of the null
tlphcation of schisms and sects. PresLv
terianism has, now for nearly three cen
turies, afforded but too many instances of
division, growing out Of discussions on
non essential matters-and due in their
origin and results, which were to be de-
plored, to the infrmities of our common
nature. But the fundamental and es-
sential features of the system have been
retained by all these new ecclesiastical
organizations, so that all still hold to the
Confession Of Faith and Catecbisms"
4