The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-06

Churcn (Columbla Presbytery) has lust
done-mark the Ne1O School theoyy of
efectual calling with judicial censure Z?
They would as soon blow up their AS
sembly hall with dynamite When>I see
pronounced New School men professors
in their seminaries; when I see a known
Socinian lecturing on doctrine by the in
vitatlon of another when l hear the pre-
valence of merely negative preaching in
their churches, l cannot stultify myself
by according them orthodoxy. No their
body exists by the tolerance of doctrinal
errors, which our fathers could not tole-
rate. Hence, it cannot be righteous for
us, under pretext of fraternity, to make
that special recognition of them which, if
it means anything, historically means ::
We avouch aHnity Of doctyinaE and eccle-
siastical principle.
Ubiquitous Legislation.
Once more: Their Assemblies mot
individuals only formally legislated
against us ibels, than which none more
extreme, malicious and unfounded were
ever uttered against Christians innocent
OF them of rebellion and treason against
our most honored members: and of
heresy, schism, and blasphemy against
our Church itself
ooh, but these are virtually matters
of the past, it is said 1.-THE Northern
Church does not now believe any of these
libels, nor hold these tyrannical princi-
pies in earnest. They were the incidents
OF a time of intense xcitment-excite-
ment which made us Southern men say
pretty hot things too. And when we
reply, " Then let them simply withdraw
and disclaim," the answer is: ooh, it
isn't Christian and generous to insist SO
stubbornly on their openly eating their
humble pie; since we know that in their
hearts these violences are disclaimed, we
should not stickle.
10 this l reply; There is no man who
would more cordially assent to this, than
| would, if there were word of truth in
1T. Were there any secret sorrow for the
llbels, or rectifcation of the unpresby-
terrain theory of church power no one
would be further from sticking for
mere form of amende. But, while there
may be, as we hope, great softening of
anger, there IS no change of theory and
tyrdranlcaI principles. And this is the
saddest part of the history; the one most
solemnly necessitating our continued
testimony against their error of principle,
than now, seventeen years after the end
OF the war; now, amidst the calmness of
assuaged passion, this powerful Church
stands to its obnoxious principles more
unanimously than in May, 1861, when
these principles compelled our separa-
ton. This l prove
l. By their cautious, tenacious refusal
OF any disaYowal, when pointed to it. 2.
BY their embodying in their own Church
Digest, as a rule, of the Popish and
tyrannical decision Of the United States
Supreme Court, in the famous Walnut
Street church case The amount of this
decision was, that all lay Christians shall,
like lay Papists in Popish countries, hold
their rights in ecclesiastical property at
the mere will of a usurping ecclesiastical
head-authority, without any appeal to
the courts of justice in their country.
This ruling, so essentially Popish that
the very civil courts Of the country have
refused to conform to it, the Northern
Assembly greedily embodied it, and it
stands today as their Church-law. 8.
Their recent Assembly at Springfield |
unanimously declared, that the usurping
Of the Spring resolutions, and
their successors, must stand. The usurp-
ing Assembly of 1861, whose action ne
cessitated our protest, lacked &c of being
unanimous. Here, now, are the plain,
stubborn facts. Let no man attempt to
pooh pooh them away. 1t is little
short of moral obhquity to do this. Do
we ourselves adopt the ty1annieS, the
virtual union of Church and State, en-
acted in the Spring resolutions? Do we
DOW approve them? Or have we become
simply fatigued with the duty of defend
ing Gods truth and the Church's rights |
There is no other explanation. Let no
one say: oh this is raking up an an
tiquated, dead issue" The Springfield |
Assembly unanimously assures us of
their purpose to keep it alive Let no
one say oh, bat the Confederacy is
dead, and this doctrine, though tyran-
riical, can never again have a practical
application" l reply, first, who knows
whether it cannot except the Omniscient |
All Church history teaches us that it is
not for man to say, This truth of God
henceforth, has no more practical use.
1t is profane-the Church's only duty
is to testify, and keep on testifying for
all the truth God has given her.
But, again, there is no. truth more like |
Iy to have burning application again