The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-02-24

TO say the least, 10 attempt to foros
them into cogrSspondsnee with any
system that did not then prevail. This
rule is allowed by all, and the practice
Of the early Church il made the guide
in such matters. For example, Sunday
Is univsrSallY observed as the CAristian
Sabbath, though Saturday was the old
Sabbath commanded By God. There
is no command in the New Testament
to observe Sunday, but as the first
Christians with one consent observed il,
all good Christian people will OBJ
serve il to-day except men like
the Seyenth-day Advsatists, who will
listen 70 no argument from hisssry,
even though the Scriptures thsnselyes
csms 70 Us as historical facts handed
down By a historic Church. Rsason-
able men cannot be expected to ascspt
the Scriptures, unless they have as
good or better reasons for Believing
them 70 have besn properly handed
down to nz, as the other great facts Of
tho worlds history. This neglect Of
the early history Of the Church isa
SrOat causs ofin6delity: Very naturally
those sects whose historic continuity
canns. BE- shown, are unwilling to bring
them to the test Of hiEtory.
The ChuEch goVernmsnt and ministry
then were a historic fact before the
New testament Scriptures wore writ
tsa, as when st. Paul says, II Cor. v.
1921. "And all things are Of God, who
hath reconcilsd US to himself b. Jesus
Christ, and hath given unto as the
ministry Ct rsosnsiliation' Nov
thsa We are ambassadors for Christ as
though GSd did b-ssesh ysu by rs; We
prsy you in Christs stead boye recon
ciled to God"
Itwould seen that The lsSis Of this
tsxt vas Irresistible. St. PsSl speaks
of tAe ministry which was already
sstasl;shsd az csning dirsOt from God
through Christ, and the form i: was
stabilized ia was under tks Inspiration
Of God.
How were ministers instituted into
their Office In every iEstancs the
Church ordained to the ministry By the
laying on cf hands Before St. Paul
vent IN his frss misIi1nary journey
the Church ordained him by tee lay
ing Oh Of hands. He IN turn exherts
Timothy or Tim. l6) Wherefore, I
put thee IN remembrance that thaa stir
up the gifs which i, in thee by the
putting on Of my hAndE" This text
taken In connection With n. Tim. Nv
IL -'aezlec. not the gift that is in
thee by prophecy with the laying on Of
the hands Of the Presbytery," would
show that an assembly of Presbytsn,
with 81. Paul presiding as an Apostle,
ordSined St. Timothy q minister.
This same practice prevails In the
Episcopal Church to-day ; every pres
byter or priest is ordained by ths BiSh
op and presbyters present, the rubric
or law of the Church reading thus
~ hen this prayer ia d,ns, tia Bishop
with the pries.s present, shall lay
their hands ssverally upoa the head Of
every one that rsceiveth the order Of
the priesthood" According TO tha
practice OF TIE esrly Church tAs orIina-
ti1n Is not valid unless a Bishop is
resent, as one succeeding ~ the place
of Apostle.
SJms psople have made themselves
ys4 merry over the idaa that the lay
~. 0n " ht,Is should bs supposed
A-c-Ss4ry % rpatiade the ClrIstian
Ministry, 81 that ;hoss 81 appointed
sh5uli have special gifs s. Il l. hardly
necessary to refer tp tSa f4ci that 4s
the laying on of ihs Apostles hands
the gift OF the Holy Ghos: vas the
result. There is complete nlisusder-
standing in the minds of many persons,
as 20 the intention Of outward forms,
which are necessary for every visible
society. All societies have their ss-
tablishei rules and regulations for ad-
mitting members and electing officers
Thus Baptism Is the initiatory Fite to
the Christian society or Church cut
wardly the communion indicates their
in it thus the Church ap-
points her officers according to ApostOl-
ic practice.
Wc rsAtily percoive the evil results
sf disregard of established ferns, in
ma.tars connected with the state, and
woa!d do 50 jast as easily in matters
connected withkhe Church, were it not
for the studied efforts of those whe
have been educated into total disre-
gard for the'established ordinances. If
a governor or sheriff refused 10 60
through the forms prescribed by law,
be would at once be rsjscted aud one
would be installed who was willing to
take the oaths of Office. Should such an
one claim that the people had elected
him and that was Ell that was necss-
sary and attempt to take by fierce
his Office, it would be termed rebellion
and his arrest would follow. No state
or humsn society could exist for a
moment unless the regulations of such
laws were carried cut. How nearly
does this csmc home to us, when We
remember that = few years age the
votes fer Hayes and IHlden were near
" tie, and the DemeHatie party felt
itself wronsed by the result, and the
mutterings of disastrous war vsre
heard. The love of law and order pre-
vailed the country was spared: the
agony and suffering Of twenty years
ago. Had not the forms Of law been
regarded civil war would have destroy
cd Union.
This principle applies to the Church
as a visible society. The only differ
ence ia her casa is thai in event of 9
disregard of practice and Apostolic
law, moral force and persuasion must
be used in place of physical compClsion,
trusting that the people will love the
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