The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-14
PRESBYTERIAN logic.
DR.. McKe1vey breaches the
First of the Denomina-
tiOnal Sermons.
A STRONG, ELOQUENT DISCOURSE.
D.. Milburn at Park Reformed
Church---The Autumnal.

sermons, entitled, "Why Am Presby-
terianf" was preached at the Tabernacle
Congregational Church yesterday morn
ing by the Rev. DIR Alexander Nc Kelvey,
of the Second Presbyterian Church. The
Doctor was heard very attentively by
large audience, in which there were
seated a number of Presbyterians and
others who are not Congregationalists.
All admitted that he very logically
answered the question which formed the
subject of his discourse.
The text was chosen from PauPs
epistle to Titus, /, 2, "For this cause left
/ thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in
order the things that are wanting, and
ordain elders in every city, as had ap-
pointed thee"
In opening his discourse the Rev. DR..
McKelvey said that when he was first
called upon by the Rev Mr.. Scudder TO
preach sermon on Presbyterianism in
his church he positively declined to ac-
ing such subject there, he would be
charged with lack of good taste, If not
with want of Christian courtesy.
Finally he yielded to Mr.. Scudder's re-
quest on condition that he would explain
the matter thoroughly to his congrega-
Ii.
much as a re-study of the subject had
made him stronger Presbyterian than
ever.
WITH CHRISTIAN CHARITY.
LET it be understood" (" he added, 1--WE
hold our views with Christian charity;
that we should all love the Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. whatever be the &C.
clesiastical designation, and that we do
not hold that connection with any par
ticular denomination Is essential to saliva
tion and acceptance with the great Head
of the Church. :.
rhe Doctor then gave as his simple
reason for being a Presbyterian that
Presbyterianism is eminently scriptural
and practical.
..If you believe" he went on, ''that
Congregationalism is just as scriptural
and practical, we thoroughly respect your
views and conclusions. Ecclesiastical
forms and ways do not save souls. !"
Presbyterianism, he declared, derived
its name from its form Of government.
Then he went back to the Greek to find
the word from which elder, an ODD man,
one ripe in age and experience, called to
take part in the management of public
affairs-was derived
"Presbyterianism, !" he said sis express
sive of both faith and form. Pope
writes:-
..For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight,
His can't be wrong whose life is in the rightl
true; but probably, as the poet meant it,
and as many people accept it. it is un-
scriptural and unnatural. AS q man
thinketh IN his heart he believes Out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh The tree is known by its
fruits, and the life of a sincere man is
the outflow of his faith and of his heart"
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES.
The faith of the Presbyterian church
was declared to be in general harmony
with that of all Evangelical denomina-
tions The Old and New Testament
not only contained, but was the word of
God. Presbyterians accepted those scrip
lures as the only rules of faith and life.
In all church affairs the final appeal was
the Bible. 1t held to the sovereignty of
God and the utter dependence upon Him
for salvation. 1t believed in human de-
prayity, not that man was bad as devils,
or might be. or If unsaved, as he will be;
but that he was all through tainted with
sin, so that unless man is born again he
cannot enter the kingdom of God. Presby-
terianism Is the belief in the full and pure
offer of salvation to everyone, In mans
free agency and responsibility. It's writ
ten confession of faith is the same rs that
of all other churches; but the great de-
sign and application of this same confess
sion Of faith should be properly borne in
mind. The church members are not re-
uuired in any form to subscribe to it, they
place themselves under it to be instructed
IN its principles; hence the Presbyterian
church cordially receives members from
other churches who believe with it in the
essential truths of salvation, but who
differ in some particulars. The safeguards
OF the confession of faith applies to the
pastors and elders, and even of them it
only asks if they sincerely receive and
adopt the confession of faith of the Pres
byterian Church in the United States of
America as containing the system Of doc
fx.< <HaH Halu Sari irltT YY0c
The confession of faith and everything
pertaining to the American church work
jnCs were made definite and stable, and
the more reliable by the form OF church
government.
And here is where the Doctor made
some very strong points.
A GOVERNMENT OF ELDERS.
Primarily and in general" he said.
"the Presbyterian form OF govern
ment is government by elders,
elected or appointed by the, people:
Since the church is the pillar and
upon the teachings of the prophets and
APOSTLES. Jesus Christ being the chief
corner stone, in considering the scriptural
authority for our form OF government, it
is Important that this formal thought be
kept in mind, that Presbyterianism is in
form a government by elders chosen by
the members, and representing them"
With this thought in mind the doctor
advanced to the consideration of the
origin of such a government, and quoted
D ssage after passage of scripture con-
taining references to elders in proof that
such a form of government was script
ural. After which he asked, with these
things before us, If any form of govern
ment may be claimed to have divine
right, does it not look as though the
claim belongs to Presbyterianism?n
He went q step further and claimed
that the mother church in Jerusalem was
governed by presbyters and elders The
origin and Office of deaconate, he said,
was found in the sixth chapter of Acts.
The deacon was the child of necessity
and to attend to the wants of the and poor
temporalities of Christian worship.
The Doctor explained the workings of
the church government very clearly to
his listeners, saying that its organ
ization was more in harmony with the
spirit of American institutions than any
other church body, and declared that the
Constitution of the United States was
Fashioned in a great measure by men who
were thoroughly lmbued with its ideas.
In closing he said:-"B Brethren and
friends, let me assure you that there is
only one thing that can save you as in
diyiduals and make you permanently
nrosperous. That one thing is personal
ioyaity to Christ and Him crueified.
There is no other name under heaven
- -ot.vr man NAV ha saved -