The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-13

7.Dr. Palmer presented substitute for
tho renort of the committee on Bills and
Overtures from the Synod of South Caro-
lima on Church Laws, etc., heretofore re-
ported. 1t states that in the nature of
the case, Just and necessary consequences
form part Of every Interpretation in
which they are implicitly contained.
Whilst, therefore, in this general sense
the consequences which are necessarily
deduced from the law of the Church are
a part of that law, the constant Protes-
tant doctrine in our Standards is that
ouences deduced therefrom have any
binding authority, except as far as they
are clearly established by the Divine
Word The substitute was adopted.
Adjourned.
Now, this paper will bear the closest
inspection. 1t gives to the Head of the
Church His mitre of power, and the
Church as His servant to put it on His
brow, on earth and before all men. I
regard this deliverance as worth all the
time, the expense and the toll of the AS
sembly of 1881.
We claim the "juS diuinuna" for every
thing we put in our Church Standards.
We do not bow to that big idol" Ex-
pediency, which modern Erastus sees.
But while we make this claim, we do not
belittle our position by saying we have
nothing but moral Suasio,a." We have
the Divine Word to govern us and our
people; and when we bind, we simply
appeal to the Word of God
The discussion between DR.. Woodrow
and DIR. Girardeau in the Assembly Of
1880 was. exceedingly interesting and in
structive; and yet, after the two giants
had contended for two days, not the As
sembly so much as the two astute de-
baters, agreed upon what should be said
They drew up paper, which they and
the Assembly too thought would recon
Gle and harmonic their views, and this
was the deliverance of 1880 on the Power
of the Church.
But the Synod of South Carolina was
not satisfied fully with that decision.
Whether DR.. Girardeau or DR.. Wood
row was dissatisfied, | do not know.
But it is to be hoped that the brethren
down there, who are certainly good on
splitting a hair, will rest sweetly and
for long time on the deliverance of
1881. Human language can express it
no better
The Church can make no ordinance to
bind the conscience of its members: but
when we rightly interpret the Divine
Word as it applies to the head, the heart,
the hands, yes and the feet Of men, we
put them under bond and yet it is the
law of God that bindsI
Suppose there should be parties in our
Church who should seek to subvert all
Church power and discipline, and would
let every one use his own freedom and
do as he pleased, and should procure
from our Assembly a deliverance to the
effect that the Church could have no
power except moral SunSiOn, and could
pronounce no decision that cuts deeper
than "dtdactac aEgai. hortotoryI" What
would be the power of the Church in any
of her courts, from the Assembly down
to the Session. On the other hand, sup
pose that under the jats dlvinune of our
Standards, some other parties with the
High Church idea had procured deliv-
erance from the highest court of our
Church, that the Church has the power
to bind its members by the assertion of
her dlcta Then Romanism would have
worn sweet smile at the approach of a
new ally: and that ally her foeman most
dreaded But now see ! Romanisma and
Erastionism are both met by true Re-
formed Church power, as interpreted by
the Presbyteri General Assembly Of
1881.
1 felt uneasy for the past three years
about the denouenae7at Of this subject.
But now my fears are asleep. am hap
Ply to congratulate all true Presbyte-
riansl Yes, we are the Church jure di-
gl1lo, governed by Pres6yters or Bishops
The two words are interchangeable in
the New Testament Yet this is not in
consistent with that charity which re-
cognizes all the people of God. The
Presbyterian Standards do acknowledge
other Churches. cant easily find this
in the Standards of other Churches
While we are then imon-pure-true.
blue-Presbyterians, we don't mean to
turn fools and try to unchurch other
Christians Good men, go on and cast
out devils in your own way and in the
Masters name We won't forbid" you
because you don't follow our pattern
and aoay of doing it. More anon.
SIGMA.