The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-07-14

having no DOUBT carried large part of
the Assembly with him, the eloquent
doctor deliberately informed the BODY
that such deliverances are mot to haze
the force Of La10 ALWAYS" This was a
surprise; we might call it an astounding
one. indeed II seemed at one blow to
knock the bottom out of his elaborate
and beautiful structure. If we are to
have law which is sometimes law and
sometimes not law how are we to know
when to bow in submission? when to
yield to IN theS1 authority, and when not?
1t seemed as if our worthy brother, hav-
ing brought us to anchor in a secure
haven, unexpectedly cut the links of our
cable and sent us out to sea again Or,
to change the figure, so far as the distin-
gulshed speaker himself was concerned,
1T seemed as if he was doing what the
Chlnaman is sometimes made to do when
condemned to capital punishment-co
hitting hdr7-ko17, q. e., cutting his own
insides out. Our brother certainly COM
mitted hor7-kar5 as to his argument; he
cut out its inwards.
But after making this important ex-
ception to his doctrine as to the binding
of these deliverances, he seemed to think
that some would naturally ask, eff IN
theSS deliverances are not binding olaOous.
when are they? How are we to know
when they are law and when they are
not law ?" They are to be considered
binding a0he'a they are clearly sustained
6y the ecord Of God" says Dr. Girardeau.
Well, this is almost as great surprise
as the other qualification If all such
delverances are to be set aside except
when clearly authorized and supported
by the word of God, what do we want
with such decisions? One who is sure
OF "Thus saith the Lord" need not
care much about IN thesieS. The learned
speaker seemed singularly blind about
this time. How it happened that his
opponent overlooked these extraordinary
admissions Is quite unaccountable
But the sequel was almost as remark
able; viz: the Assemblys deliverance.
offered as substitute by one of the COM
batants, and to the amazement of the AS
sembly, seconded by the other, and adopt
ed. This deliverance makes two points:
" l. That nothing is to be enforced by iu-
dlcial prosecution but that which is con-
tanned in the word as interpreted in our
standards" (What the precise object of
this declaration, in this connection NAV
be, is not obvious If it means anything
here, 1t cuts up DR.. Girardeau and his
IN theSSeS by the roots; for assuredlv
many an IN theSl deliverance-part
ly that from which this whole discussion
originated -" is not contained in the
word as interpreted in our standards. j."
Nobody claims that.) The second point
IN the Assembly's declaration is ais fol-
lows: 1.-The judicial decisions of our
courts differ from their IN thesa deliver
ances, In, that the former determine. and
when proceeding from our highest court
conclude a particular case" (very true
but not very new) "but both of these
kind of decisions are alike interpretations
of the word by Church court, and both
not only deserve high consideration. but
must be submitted to unless contrary to
the Constitution and the word" Ger
tainly if the voice of the Church and the
voice OF God are not authoritative what
could be? Days of earnest, powerful
argument should not have been required
to bring an able and learned court of
Christ to see what is self-evident); "of
which, f" continues the deliverance, 'there
is a right Of private judgment belonging
to every Church court and to every in
dividual member" Is this concluding
clause another case of hor5 kari? Itlooks
like it. You are to consider so and so
law, and be bound to obey it; especially
if the voice of the Church and the voice
of the word concur; but if any Church
court or indeed any church member has
scruples or doubt on the subject he can
exercise his private Judgment and not
obey. If this is not making law and
hort-kori-lng it, what is If any Church
court or church member is to act accord
ing to its or his own Judgment, what be-
comes of the law, IN theSi or otherwise
Are we to understand that private iudg
ment may set aside deliverances of the
highest court? deliverances clothed. with
the authority of law, and get the party
retain, good and regular Standing? If
this is not notification, what is? Taking
the elaborate speeches of our distinguish
ed brethren, and the final action pro-
posed by them, together, it looks as if
there had been good deal of middle.
1t might not have been amiss before
the discussion ended, for some one to have
reminded the Assembly that most that
had been said as to the power of the