The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-06-09

mony of the Church. But if the same
man, without ecclesiastical authority of
any sort, enter upon the public preaching
OF the Word, going from city to city and
subordlnatlng pastors as lay workmen
under him, he is so far from representing
the Church that his position is one Of
public reputation. His appeal to the
masses is, that he comes to them simply
as Christian and thus stands upon
broader ground than the Church and
to make this apparent, he ostentatiously
refuses Church orders expressly to en-
phasize his individual and irresponsible
attitude. Is not this to antagonize the
Church? Nay more: is it not a mani
fest indictment of the Church, as incom.
petent to the task of converting the
world Is it not equivalent to saying
that, however useful the Church may be
as fold in which to protect the flock. or
as school In which to train the converts
for heaven, as an instrument of Evangel-
ism, she is disabled simply because she
is Church?
Let 1T be understood, this criticism does
not descend into any particulars, such as
the piety or motives of these Law Evan
gelists, or the methods they employ, or
the results they achieve. The question
submitted is one of naked principle: Has
the Lord Jesus organized His Church
upon earth? Did He institute an ordained
ministry for the preaching of the Gospel? {?
Are we bound to respect His authority
In the premises, or may we supercede
His arrangements by devices more pleas
ing to ourselves? Does not fidelity to
our Lord require that we shall discounte-
nance irregularities, which are breaking
down the defences of the Church and
bringing her authority and institutions
into contempt? How can we expect the
children of to-day to honor and revere
the Church of God, when they see that
Church publicly disparaged, and that
with applause, in the very matter for
which she was organized by her Divine
Head? Let this evil proceed unchecked
Tor two generations, and where will any
Church organization be? What if the in
surrection should extend into our colleges
and semlnaries; and our young men say
what Is the use of consuming time and
money, and sflicting our souls with
wearisome studies, and undergoing vexa-
tlous examinations in which we NAV be
dlshonored at last, when all that we nave
to do ls to step to the front and gain in
an instant all the advantages of a free
lance? And why should they not say
all this? If one may be irresponsible
upon the claim of a supernatural call
from heaven, why should any encounter
the hazard OF that Injunction of the Mas
ter lay hands suddenly upon no man?
In word, can those measures be COM
mended which from their nature tend to
the disintegration of the Church, so that
nothing shall be left of her precious form
but the atoms of which it was composed ?
II IN these utterances I Jar against the
opinions of any of my brethren, crave
their indulgence. I am this day enforc.
ing the claims of the Church, as the king
dom OF the Redeemer. We have entered
a complaint against those who cast us out
twenty-five years ago, that the principles
in their constitution they an.
nulled in their practice. VIII it not be
a similar fault if we announce in our creed
the supremacy of our King, and then
proceed to explode the very Church il,
which and over which He reigns? The
desire for the conversion of sinners is
grand and holy passion; but it was lust
as strong In the bosom of Jesus as in any
Of us; yet He contravened no law of the
Jewish Church, which was soon to pass
away, declaring his purposes to fulfill
all righteousness" Even of Him il il |
written, $50 also Christ glorifed not
Himself to be made high priest; but he
that said unto Him, thou art my Son, to.
day have 1 begotten Thee There is
really no stopping place between the re-
cognition OF an organized Church and an
ordained ministry, and the Plymouth
platform which openly repudiates both.