The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-05
For TIE Central Presbyterian.
What is Presbyterianism
No. II.

No. II.
Excellencies of the System ofDoctrines.
The system of doctrine now explained,
presents many decidedly excellent as
poets.
l. It is eopa,ently se,fptatraz The
statements Of the Bible are accepted as
final and conclusive. There is no teach
ing Of the Confession, especially on funda-
mental subjects, which rests on human
authority The reader of the " Confess
sion will find that the proof-texts of It's
propositions cited in the margin of the
pages, fully sustain those propositions.
This has been often illustrated in very
striking facts. A Presbyterian pastor
was once engaged in conversation with a
parlshioner well-known to be strongly
affected with views on the DEGREES, Pre-
dactaor, and efectuaI calling, opposed to
those taught in the Confession By
way Of instfucting him, the pastor quoted
from the scripture in the epistles to the
Romans and to the Ephesians, several
passages, in which such words as "pur-
pose, predestination," calling" and
others of similar import occurred The
parlshioner, an impulsive and excitable
man, at once spoke in very strong terms
OF disapproval Of the propositions stated
by the pastor, supposing he was quoting
the language of the Confession. The
pastor allowed him to 90 on fully, and
then turning to the Confession" showed
him that he had been finding fault with
the language Of the Bible, and not that
Of the e Confession, very much to his
establishment. He had no further crit
cism to offer on the teachings Of the Con
fession"
A recent convert, who had made a pro
fession of Christian hope, was hesitating
what church he would Join. A ministe-
rial friend who held decidedly opposite
views to those Of the &" Confession Of
Faith, which he regarded as only the
views Of harsh Calvinism, by way of re-
polling the convert from the Presbyterian
Church, gave him a copy of the " Con
fession of Faith " to read On meeting
the convert a few weeks afterwards, ex-
pecting certainly to find his object in Civ
ing him the book fully accomplished, he
asked, How do you like that book
gave you?' The reply to his amusement
was, like it very much, and intend to
JOIN the Presbyterian Church " In
deed said the minister, can you SlOaL
lo70 all those passages III the Confession
about DEGREES, predestination ?" &c
Well, said the convert, thought at
first they were very hard sayings, but
when / looked at the scripture text,
quoted to sustain them, found the Ian
guage just as strong, and I thought if ]
could sa0alJo10 the scriptures, it was Just
as easy to swallow the Confession
1t is true those who Join the Presbyte-
Ran Church are not required to receive
and adopt the Confession of Faith. 20
The officers Of the Church, such as minis
ters, elders, and deacons, are required to
do this, but others are received on their
simple and sincere profession of repent
a1ce and faith. They are disciples or
learners, not teachers subjects Of gov
eminent, not rulers. 1t is the effort oil
ministers by catechetical and Biblical
training, and the exposition Of Gods
word~in preaching, to train the disci-
pies to become acquainted with the
truth which God has revealed, so that
they may be ready to give to every
man who asketh them, reason for the
faith that is in them
q The Confession follows the exam
pie Of the writers Of the Bible, as to thu
mysteries IN the Revelation cod ha,
GlUc0, by not undertaking to explain, but
merely to state the facts Thus the Con
fesson' and Catechisms teach that Goo
does govern all men and all their actions,
yet that men are free agents, and not al
the Bible teaches as to Joseph's brethren
as recorded in Gen l. 20, "Ye thought
literally meant it for evil, but Goo
meant It for good, and as to those whc