The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-12
For the Central Presbyterian.
What is PresbYterianism =?
No 10
2-Government.

cording to established laws. The "sun
knoweth his rising and his setting" the
moon follows appointed changes, the earth
revolves around the sun and on its own
axis. Winter, spring, summer, and au-
tumn succeed each other in regular order.
Plants grow from seed according to its
nature; first the sprout, then the stalk,
and thus the full grown fruit Like pro-
duces its like. What men call the claws
of nature" are the LaloS Of God, by which
the natural or material universe is gov
erned SO, as shown in the former part
of this discussion, all intelligent as we'll
as irrational creatures in the earth, are
governed according to Gods most holy,
wise, and powerful control. Angels and
principalities and powers are under
subsection to Him whom God hath ex-
allied to be Head Of all things for his
Church" In accordance with this anal
ogy Gods spiritual kingdom, as we'll as
that of nature and that of providence, is
ruled by law. The body of believing
men and women, with their children, con-
stitute the visible Church, which compre-
hends not only those protesting and call
ing themselves Christians, but also those
who are truly sent and belong to this
spiritual kingdom. This Visible Church.
under various names, is by profession, the
body of which Christ Jesus is Head, as
the i11Uisj6le or real body of true Chris
tan men and women, included mostly
within its fold, though some may not be
parts of this organization, Is. really united
with Christ. If angels and redeemed sin
ners must be provided with government,
much more does this visible Organization
need fundamental laws or principles of
government The Presbyterian Church
and every other body holding the pure
word, sacraments, and worship, are in
union with each other by the Spirit of
unity, and in their separate organisms
are constituent parts of the Church cath
ole.
God has not laid down, in the New Tes-
lament, a special or positive form for the
government Of the Church, as He did for
His ancient people, the Jews But He
has revealed certain principles which are
capable of universal application and
adapted to the wants of all protested dis
ciples of Christ, in all time and all parts
of the world
l. These laws or principles, respect
the people, the rulers, and the duties
which they owe to each other and to
Christ. The foundation of the Church is
Christ Himself-the "chief corner stone"
in this building, which is built up on
apostles and prophets All who "call
on His name" by faith, are members of
this body, with their children. For be-
lief on Christ introduces men into "adop-
ton by the Spirit" as children of God,
and also involves the belief of the truth,
the recognition of all the fundamental
teachings of the word respecting mans
estate of ruin and his estate of salvation
by Redeemer," and obedience to the
commandments of Christ. In order that
all things may be done "decently and in
order, these believers are added to the
Church, as successive generations arise.
Hence the Church is one Under the Old
Testament dispensation, as well as under
the New, these essential prerequisites to
Church membership have existed The
body we call the Christian Church, is
neither different from the Church of the
Old Testament in respect of its funda-
mental principles, nor is it an outgrowth
OF Judaism, but it is the Church estab-
lished in the family of Adam and re0r-
ganized, with fuller promises and more
special forms of worship and precepts of
duty, in the family Of Abraham, with
whom Gods covenant of grace, to abe a
God to him and his seed was made. In
our Lords time on earth, this body of
protested believers had greatly aposta-
tlzed, and was subject more to the com
mandments and ordinances of men" who
had corrupted the faith revealed to their
fathers, than to the ordinances of God.
John Baptist preached Saviour to come,
IN whom he instructed his followers to
believe, He introduced the doctrine of
publication, Of which baptism was the
sign, and the repentance and faith in One
who was to come, was the repentance and
faith on One who had come, preached by
Christ and His apostles, and the real
publication, s5gnifed by baptism, was
taught to be the work of Gods Holy
Spirit. During our Lords soiourn He
instructed His disciples to respect the
Serlbes and Pharisees as sitting in Moses
seat. Matt. XIII 2. He made no sep
arate organization. But after His agcen
sion He gave to His disciples, apostles,
prophets, pastors, and teachers, helps and
government" for the perfection Of His
people; and provided for the selfperpet-
uatlon and self-sustoipirc, &c II, 3tL,t.zL