The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-21
For the Central Presbyterian.
What is Presbyterianism ?
Means of Grace-Sacrament tcontin-
ued)-Prayer
No @

DOVh CdCIduenUS nave Deen mlSappre-
hended, both as to nature and use.
l. 1t is well known that by some bap-
tism is believed to effect renewal of the
nature of the subject, especially, if an in
FAINT This is called "Baptismal Regen-
GRAFTON. John Baptist expressly taught
that the renewal of man nature was only
effected by the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit; and by contrasting that efficient
work Of the Spirit with his own baptizing
with water, very clearly indicates the in
efficiency of their baptism with water
In no case of baptism, by the apostles, do
we find adults baptized except on a pro
tesson of faith in Christ; and in the bap-
tlsm of the households of the TAILOR, and
OF Lydia, the administration Of the Sacra-
ment to the households or children. was
due only to the faith of the parent
Hence we do not find this Sacrament anv
where represented in the Scripture, as a
means to awaken convince. and convert
sinners; but its benefits are, ~ to adults.
to keep in lively remembrance their orr
glnal need of the purifying power of
God s Spirit thus becoming a means CAV
OF reminding them of that solemn engage
ment IN the service of Christ, protested
by receiving baptism on a profession of
faith; of which engagement, that Sacra-
ment is sign: (6) Of the pledged work of
the Holy Spirit of which it is seal, for
carrying on the good work of God s grace,
which we profess has been begun in the
heart and life: (c) especially of remind
ing us of our obligations and duties in
our daily lives, of our frequent and sad
failures by remembering which, we may
be humbled; and CD of the privileges
and blessings of the Holy Spirit, who
dwells in the hearts of believers, leading
them into truth, enabling them to morti1
ty the affections and lusts of the flesh, and
to live lives of growing holiness and con
formity to Gods law. (2) AS to chill
dren, their baptism may give greater eff
hciency to the word which, by the Spirit,
convinces of sin and enhghtens in the
knowledge of Christ, renewing the will
and enabling and persuading them to
embrace Christ; inasmuch as they are led
to reflect on the Specification of the Sa-
crament, both as to their natural estate
of unholiness and need of this regenera-
ting power of Gods Spirit, set forth in
this Holy Sacrament. But all this is
something very different from the notion
that the application of the water of bap-
tism regenerates the soul.
2. 1t is also taught by some that in re-
ceiving the Sacrament of the Lords Sup
per, the recipient actually receives 1.-THE
body and bloc !, the soul and divinity of
Christ" which, passing into the material
body of the recipient, becomes a spiritual
nourishment. 1t declared by the Coun-
Gil Of Trent chat the body of Christ which
was born of the Virgin Mary, and is now
seated In heaven" is that which is pre-
sent in the bread and wine. In this
place, and with the views which direct
IN the preparation of this discussion,
there cannot be full examination of this
theory of the Papal Church. 1t is need
less to show that, unlike our Lords mir
acle of changing water into wine, by
which both the substance of water and
its characteristics were manifestly, to the
senses, changed into the substance and
characteristics of wine, so that the gov
ernor Of the feast pronounced it wine, in
this so-called change in substance, trans
Su68tG'1t9ot5o1a, there is no such change
obvious to the senses. The whole theory
Is contrary to the clear teaching of Scrip
ture, that this Sacrament is ~ common
orauVe, q remembrance, Luke xxi (:
l9. ~ Declarative Of Christ's death.
Cor XII 24-26. 60 Symbolical, this
IS my body, Matt XVI &c. az A COW
enanting rite, the blood of the New les
lament (literally covenant she'd for
the remission Of sins" o. A means of
exciting thanks" or a eucharist. Mark
xiv: ~, % and co. a communion, I. e..
the common bond of believers, who be-
ing many are one bread and one body
Cor. K: 16, IT, Now none of these
distinctive Scriptural descriptions of this
Sacrament, either involve or declare that
the body and blood are really present.
but all 60 to show that as the Jews kept
the feast Of the passover as a memorial
of deliyerance from Egyptian bondage
and a renewal Of the ooYenanted obhSa-
ton to Gods service, SO this Sacrament
sets forth Christ our passover slain for
Us, Cor. v: 7.
A modification of the view, now con.
troverted, is held by the Lutheran Church