The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-05
TOPICS OF THE DAY

IORLCS or THE DA y.
The Biblotheca Sacra for April has
very full, learned, and exhaustive article
on "The Duration of Future Punish
ment, by Rev Ezra P. Gould of Newton.
Theological Seminary.
2 The same review has timely article
on The Sabbath the Change of Observ-
ance from the Seventh to the Lords
Day, to be continued in the next num-
Der. Tie Lords Day.: we do not hap
pen to have seen the point made, but is
there not a world of argument on this
subject in this simple phrase? "THe
Lords Day. what does that mean?
AS we construe it, Jesus GriSt'S Dag.
There is no question in this age about the
change having been made from the sew
enth to the first day; the only question
is as to the manner of Observing the new
day. Well, it is the Lords Day. Now
take this fully in, and can much doubt
be left as to how the day is to be OBJ
served? The fourth commandment set
apart one day in seven, the seventh day,
as holy unto the Lord. The first day,
which is now to be observed, is the Lord S
Day. 1t belongs to him. 1t should be
given wholly to sacred things. If we
buy and sell, we are not giving the day
to him. 1t is set apart as holy unto the
Lord-for his worship in public and in
private. 1t is the day to lock (specially)
after the soul. Now the phrase the
Lords day originated in the epistles of
Paul and the book of Revelation.
DR.. Atkinson, of Hampden Sidney, and
Dr. Smith, DR.. Peck, and DR.. Alexander,
of the Seminary, in the Southern Pres
6yter5ora Re0ieao, discuss, respectively,
Lecky's History of European Morals,
The Action of the General Assembly of
1879 on Worldly Amusements, The Sac
raments of the New Testament "a review
of DR.. Armstrong; book and L" Classical
Revision of the New Testament" The
Rev. E. c. Gordon, of Savannah, discusses
the Pre-Millenarian question. There is
an anonymous (and thoughtful) article
on City Evangelization Dr.. Girardeau
has another article on The Freedom OF
the Will, and the Rev. Harvey Glass, OF
Kentucky, discusses The Higher Life
Delusion.
An article in the Cothohc Presbyterian
which has attracted some attention, is
The Waning Prestige of the Ministry, 90
by Charles A. Aiken, D. D. The writer
affirms that "to some extent, and in many
parts Of Christendom, the ministry does
not enjoy the full consideration in which
it has been held in former times, and he
traces this to certain causes which he dis
cusses under the following heads: l. The
social rank Of the ministry is not what it
once was (having been weakened by the
position achieved in this country by sue
cessful business men, 2. The age is less
deferential than it's predecessors towards
station and official dignity. 8. The rela-
tive learning Of the ministry is possibly
not what it once was. 4. The DISPOSE
ton of the age to resent the assertion Of
authority in matters Of belief. s. The
concessions too often made by the min
istry to the temper of the age, in regard
to the presentation and enforcement Of
the truth. 6. The multiplying and mag
nifying Of lay agencies and activities in
the Church T. Sensationalism resorted
to by the ministry as a means Of helping
out the unattractveness and unpalatable-
ness Of the gospel. Pew-holders
and not Christ, are allowed to dictate the
terms and tenure Of ministerial service