The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04
Entered at the Post Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
For the Central Presbyterian.
"P. B P's" Reply to Cd. w. s.


thank my good brother "P. B. P"
for all his kind words Here is my re-
ply. Leaving out the imagination,
rhetoric and special pleading"
l. heartily accept MacKnight's in
depreciation of "apt to teach" as requir-
ing knowledge of the things to be
taught, clear manner of expressing his
thoughts, and an earnest desire to in
struct the ignorant" But is knowl-
edge of Hebrew, ETC., essential to this apt
ness to teach2 See Peters and Moody's
sermons Were they apt to teach?
2. Zone" says "P. B. P" who un-
derstands Hebrew, etc., is more fit to
teach than one less learned" Therefore,
"P. B. P" would infer, the latter ought
not to teach at all. A is more learned,
and so more fit to preach than B, there
fore B ought never to have been ordained.
Bad logic, and no Scripture here. There
are degrees CT fitness, but the question is
not whether A is more fit than B, but
whether B, without any knowledge of
Hebrew, ETC., and competent acquaint-
ance with the Bible, theology, etc., is, ac-
cording to Scripture, fit to preach?
8. 1.-The Scriptures everywhere set
before us the highest standard as the OBJ
ject of our pursuit" " therefore P. B. P. ="
would infer that no one who has not at
tanned to the highest grade of scholarship
ought to be licensed. "Be ye perfect as
your Father in heaven is perfect. -
Therefore no one not thus perfect ought
to be in the Church. What sort of rea-
soning is this? Who thinks thus? "P.
B. P. IS" logic would empty our pulpits
and pews too
4. "D. W. S. goes for amending the
constitution so as to require only good
English education and competent
knowledge of theology, Church govern
ment and history, and the sacraments,
together with such parts of trial in Eng
lish as are now prescribed" Now, says
"P. B. P" if one should demand a
scriptural warrant for these qualifications
as condition of preaching, how would
Cd w. s. reply to him? Thus All
who were ordained by Christ and his
apostles, so far as we know, had these
qualifications. Their example is the
warrant. Peter knew nothing of He
brew, etc, but he was well up in Church
history and government and the sacra-
ments. "But who made you Judge OF
what is competent knowledge" etc.
Answer And the things thou has
learned of me, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach
others also" This is addressed to all
preachers. 3 Tim. ii: 2. "But give
chapter and verse for these parts Of trial. -
Very we'll "And let these also first be
proved" This includes Presbyters and
Deacons. Tim iii 10. Now let " P.
B. P. give chapter and verse, or even a
good inference, for his Hebrew, etc., quail.
ifcation.
5. "The mental training derived from
the declension Of nouns and conjugation
of verbs, etc, invigorates the faculties
refnes, prepares for the investigation oi
current topics, and forms the style in
speaking and writing" Be it so. But
gives us warrant for making these a
condition Of ordination.
6. " / would rather say that the out
come Of our high standard of ministerial
education is body Of clergymen supe
rior in learning and not inferior in piety
to those Of any other denomination, etc
True, but add to complete the picture
and a multitude Of sinners perishing al