The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-21

acterlStlcs, the BODY and DlooG OF Christ,
though not visibly, are yet really present,
and in receiving the bread and wine,
Christ as our sacrifice is also received.
In this view there is much mysticism,
and doubtless whatever be the theory
taught to the minds of believing recip-
tents of the Lords Supper, there is no
more than that spiritual apprehension of
Christ, taught in Scripture and by the
standards of other Protestant churches.
The evils of Characterization are not
limited to the absurdities which it in
wolves. Having changed the bread to
Christ's body and the wine to his blood,
the priest proceeds to "ofer" the elements
Cor rather the consecrared wafer) as a
constantly renewed sacrifice of Christ.
Of the reverence held to be due this ex-
hlbition, the penalties for not adoring it,
and the power this false doctrine gives
to the priest, both over the salvation OF
the living and the release of the dead
from pnrgatory, and the blasphemous
denominations of the whole system, of
which this fatal teaching of transubstan-
tlatlon is the basis, there is no room here
to speak fully.
3. For these extreme and noxious views
OF these two sacraments then are oppo-
site extremes held by many protesting
Protestant faiths. By such, baptism is a
mere form or rite, which has no special
value, and especially as to children, is
regarded as merely service connected
with giving name and christening the
child, .. e., making it Christian, whether
outwardly or inwardly is hardly consid-
cred The whole occasion of the service,
which when rightly performed is most
solemn, tender and impressive, is thus
often prostituted to be mere merry
making, or for securing the patronage of
God-fathers and God-mothers, or to fit
the subjects when adults to be partioipa-
tors in some of the privileges and bene-
fits of civil life.
In opposing the extreme views of the
Lords Supper, some insensibly glide into
an indifference to its solemn and affecting
teachings, or to regarding its observance
as a KIND OF summary preparation for
death or as only important in order to
hold office under governments in which
the union of Church and State exists.
This brief view of misapprehensions
and misrepresentation must greatly
strengthen the correctness and scriptu-
ralness of the teachings of our Confession.
If the reader only retains the main idea
presented, that baptism sets forth mans
regeneration and sanctlfcatioa, and the
Lords Supper the great erpjat5o7a for san
by ChrlSt'S SuferingS and death, which
becomes to the recipient the ground of an
atonement or reconciliation with God
and that our Confession alleges that all
spiritual benefits are obtained by the re-
cipients of these sacraments, are q Bv the
o0orkt'eg ofthe SPIRIT IN them that 6yfaith
rece've them, these explanations will not
have been made in vain. For the ground
of the mistakes and errors of those who
misinterpret our standards, as giving
color to baptismal regeneration and an
intrinsic efficacy in the mere giving and
receiving bread and wine according to-
Christ's appointment, is to be found in
the omission to notice how distinctly the
true value of the Sacraments is ascribed
to the actings Of faith accompanying their
reception. See Shorter Catechism, cues
tons 81, 95, 90. True, children under
age of responsibility cannot exercise faith.
But parents may present them for bap-
tism on Their faith. And as villa
species of dispensation or covenant-pro-
yides by the signature and seal of the
testator, blessings for legatees long before
they are legally capable of receiving
them, so by the sacrament of baptism, the
blessings of the gospel E" are presented,
signifed, and sealed to those parents
who by true faith present their chill
dren, and to the children, who at proper
age, by the same faith, accept this sign
and seal Of Gods grace.
a. The fourth means of grace is prayer
This is a duty arising from our natural
relations to God. Unregenerate persons
are bound to pray. Heather religious
systems recognize the duty and provide
the methods Of worship The Scripture.
teach prayer by examples and precepl
The chief direction for prayer is oul
Lords prayer, at once a model in matte
and arrangement But notwith standina
these instructions the nature and uses ui
prayer are much Inexperienced. A.
in all which involves the relations of
divine and human agency to the produc
ton of the same result, there is in this
matter an inexplicable mystery to human
apprehension in the fact that we are in
structed eff we ask for any thing agree
able to His will He heareth us, l John