The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-19

|
privileges are the full forgiveness of sins, adop
ton into the number of Gods children, advance
ment In sanctlhcation through the indwelling o.
the Spirit and the hope of eternal glory. In all
his gracious work the Holy Ghost uses and bless
es all means of grace, especially the Word, sacra
ments, and prayer.
y. 1t is the duty of all believers to unite in
church fellowship: to observe the sacraments
and other ordinances of Christ and to obey his
laws; to continue In prayer to keep holy the
Lords day to meet together for his worship
to wait upon the preaching of his Word; and to
give as God may prosper them for the support
and extension Of the gospel. The sacraments
| appointed by Christ are baptism and the Lords
supper. Baptism is sign and seal of our
union to Christ. the washing of regeneration and
renewing OF the Holy Ghost, and our engage.
ment to be the Lords. 1t is to be administered to
those who profess their faith in Christ and to
their children. The Lords Supper is memo
rial of Christ's death and sign and seal of the
Dement'S thereof to believers. 1t is observed by
his people in token of their faith in his sacrifice
their further engagement to serve him, and their
communion with him and with one another 1t
is also the duty of members of the Church to
manifest a spirit of purity and love among them
| selves and toward all men, to labor and pray
tor the spread OF Christ's Kingdom throughout
the world and to wait for his glorious appear
ing:
HI. At the last day the dead shall be raised
ana all shall appear before the judgment seat OF
Christ, and shall receive according to the deeds
done in this present life, whether good or bad
Those who have believed and obeyed the gospel
shall be openly acquitted and received into
glory but the unbelieving and wicked being
condemned shall suffer the punishment due to
their sins.
This condensed creed may be too short
for some persons. 1t leaves the wav
open for controversy in regard to the
duration of future punishment The
language-"pu punishment due to their
sins"-is sound, but it may be inter-
preted as not necessarily meaning end
less.
AS to Gods purpose in all things, and
his special grace and efficiency in the
salvation of his people, enough is said !;
while forms of expression in the Con-
fession in regard to election and retribu-
ton, often wrested from their true
meaning to the damage of the Church,
are avoided
There is nothing said about Church
order or government. We know not
why this is So unless it be because our
form of government, carried out, would
require General Assembly of the whole
world, which is impracticable and I'M
desirable. The idea of the trainers OF
the abridged creed perhaps is, that con
verts OF the various Presbyterian Mis-
slons of all countries should in each State
or Government be formed into one com
munion, and should be left to fix the de.
tails of their polity as they may see
best; in some fields including plan OF
union with Congregationalists, which, in
many places, as in Turkey, may be wise.
In the Turkish Empire we have now
about dozen Presbyterian denomina-
tons, which is a great reproach and a
very great hindrance of the gospel.
What our Confession has about liberty
of conscience, oaths and vows, discipline
and forms of worship, is left out as mat
ters about which there may be difference
of opinion.
1t would be great gain if the Re
formed Confessions Gncluding the West
minster), as they are held in Christian
countries, could in some cases be made
more full, and in others could be
abridged. The whole Calvinistic sys,
tenn is taught in the words, God from
all eternity did, By the most mise and
holy counsel of his oa0n a0lU, freely and
umchangeabIy ordain whatsoever comes
to pass; yet so as thereby neither Is
God the author of sin nor is violence
offered to the will Of the creatures, nor
is the liberty or contingency of second
causes taken away, but rather estab
lished."
This clause implies election and rep.
rotation. 1t is not even needful to say
that Gods DEGREES are free, wise, good OF
Interchangeable, for all these are implied
in the definition of his attributes. The
words in italics may all be left out, with
out limiting or changing the sense and
the remaining words must carry their
full meaning into every chapter in regard
to sin and salvation. An abridgemeni
of our Confession that would retain every
principle, would be desirable for all who
believe it, and would also relieve from
much misrepresentation. Whether such
a change can be effected or not. it is very
desirable that all Presbyterian Churches
should unite and form shorter symbol.
than the Westminster, for the Churches
established by Presbyterian Missionarie,
in heather lands Herald and P,es5vter.
Aalino n D1o.-s-