The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-18
For the Central Presbyterian.
PRESBYTERIANISM.
Introductory.

What Is Presbyterianism To many
no explanatory remark to such question
is needed. Many others, however, even
Of the members of the Presbyterian
Church, may be greatly interested in a
summary exposition of the faith and or
der of their own Church: either, such as
have grown up with only hereditary pre-
ferences for 1t, or who have entered its
communion under other influences than
those of intelligent convictions and pre-
ferences. And there are not a few who
sincerely desire, if only as a matter of
knowledge, information respecting an
institution, which for three centuries has
held no mean position of influence on re-
ligious thought and teaching, and proved
a factor of no small power in the forma-
ton of our Protestant civilization, and
thus on that of modern nations And
farther, there is large number, who while
not desiring, are certainly needing some
accurate statements of religious teachings
which they reject as unsound and of dan
gerous tendency, on the misapprehensions
or misrepresentation, or both, of inter
ested partisans
Withsuch a variety of characters to ad-
dress, it is matter Of no little difficulty
to present the explanatory answer to the
question above propounded To some,
much may be familiar, and so appear un-
necessary, while to OTHERS, the views so
adjudged may be Just what are necessary.
1t will be best, therefore, to write as if
addressing an ideal enquirer on the sub
ject propounded And indeed, there
may be many who think they are we'll
informed, who are yet incompetent d" to
give a reason to any one asking, for the
views they hold; and others who fancy
that opinions long held, however hastily
or groundlessly formed are correct, be
cause no one has had the opportunity or
means to disabuse them Of their long
cherished mistakes
g Presbyterianism is used in two. ac-
ceptations. As defined by Addison, it
means a form of government which in
vests Presbyters Cor Elders) with spiritual
power in the Christian commonwealth,
and admits no prelates over them But
this definition has respect simply to the
government of the Church, and will
hereafter be fully set forth, when that
part of the subject in hand comes up for
discussion. To the same writer we are
indebted for definition in which the
word is presented in another and more
general acceptation. Presbyterianism'
means the principles and discipline Of
Presbyterians. This concise language
denotes by Principles the system Of
religious faith and practice, and the plan
of order or government, and by Disci-
pine the mode of teaching and training
men in such religious faith and practice,
inducing the administration Of censure to
those who have wilfully departed from
their protested faith, or evinced gross in
consistencies with their assumed oblipa-
tons Of Christian duty and privilege.
The Confession Of Faith, Larger and
Shorter Catechisms, Form of Government
Cor Book Of Order) Book of Discipline,
and Directory for Worship, together form
the Constitution of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church in this country and Great Britain
and Ireland and the English colonies.
This compendium of Articles Of Faith, and
their catechetical equivalents as to all we
are to believe concerning God and the
duty He requires Of man; and as to gov
ernment and worship, was the production
] Of the most celebrated council orassenbly