The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-06
THE CHURCH OF CALVIN.
DIR. VAss Answers. way AM I
ARE ,BYTERIAN?

| Principles Are : uSta .neo-IEe Cnurcn
In strict Conformity to the Apostolic
Modei-The Bible the Presoyterian's
Only Rule Of Faith-Soms Things
Presoyterianism Does.
why Am / a Presbyterian was the
subject Of Rev. DR.. Vass' sermon at the
First Presbyterian church yesterday morn
ing. His text was /. Tim, ill.,, Is: "The
church Of the living God. the pillar and
ground Of the TRUTH and Eph., IL, 20:
Built on the foundation Of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone.
In substance, DR.. Vass said he could only
indicate the methods by which Presbyte-
rian principles are triumphantly sustained.
He could not argue them at length. First
! Of all, let man see, he said, that he is a
child Of God in Jesus Christ. Then let him
be careful TO be enrolled In the church
built on the true foundation. He summed
up his answer TO the question i'll FIVE par
| ticulars.
1--WE believe that the organic constitu-
| tlou of our church is not only natural and
rational, but II is 10 strict conformity to
the Bible principles and the apostolic
model. The Bible is our only decisive rule
Of faith; our only uninpeachable author
ity. We maintain the parity Of the clergy.
Christ's directions prove it, The apostles
were extraordinary officers. specially
chosen for special purposes, and
had no successors to their super
natural and peculiar powers. They did
transmit their ordinary functions, de-
manded by the church i'll all time, to pres
byters or bishops, as perpetual, co-eguai,
| spiritual officers of the house of God. Only
two terms are employed in the New
Testament to describe the ministry
'Episcopors or bishop, and Presbuteros or
elder These are used without distinction.
The first marks functions or duties
of Office, the second power to rule or rank.
| One is never ordained a bishop, but always
presbyter or elder. Only parochial, and
never diocesan, authority was heard of In
New Testament history. Ordination was
by the laying on Of the hands of presbytery.
THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT.
Ecclesiastical polity was not SO promi-
| nentIy discussed IN the early church as now,
but the germs Of church order are in the
Scriptures The church is composed of all
who profess the religion of Christ and of
their children. Power lies where Christ
places obligation. Obligation rests on his
people. Authority resides where Christ's
spirit resides. This power was used in
popular elections, as when Matthias was
chosen apostle. For convenience, and from
Old Testamental analogy, the representa-
tive system was used, and subordination OF
ecclesiastical courts employed; so order OF
government aud liberty of the people were
secured. The temple service with
its gradations was abolished and
of elders became the apostolic
model. We arrange our system under re-
vealed principles in q regular graduation OF
courts, from the individual cburch's session
through presbytery and synod, up to The
general assembly, or supreme court. Sim
plicity Of worship accords with this simple
government. United prayer, commingleC
song, administration Of sacraments, exposi
ton OF Gods word and worship with one
substance fill the scriptural requirement.
for public worship.
"Clement of Rome, who died before A
D. 100 and Polycarp, disciple Of John
speak Of only presbyters and deacons
lrennus, martyred A. D. 200, and justin
Martyr, martyred A. D. 165, knew but on
order SO testify the learned Jerome
Ambrose, Augustine and Chrysostam. Evel
Cyprian, zeIot as he was, did nothing with
out advice of his cO-presbyters. All this j
confirmed by the remarkable Teaching o
the Twelve Apostles recently discovers
by Bryennios."
DIR. Vass enlarged on further testimon
from the Paulicians, Waldensees, Culdees
Archbishop Cranmer, the late learne
Bkhop Of Durham. Dean Stanley, Mr.
Gladstone and many others. All the re
formed churches in reformation times, b
said, were Presbyterian in principle an
practice, and the English deviated in praC
tice only and under state arbitrar
authority.
THE DOCTRINE OF PREsBYTERIANs.
1--WE are Presbyt erian." DIR. Vass con
tinued, because of the purity and scripture
accuracy OF the doctrinal system of on
church. We believe the doctrine OF tn
Sovereignty of God, to whom nothing
contingent He will not spare the guilty
but he keeps mercy for thousands and fol
gives sin. We believe all men to be Dor
sinners, TO be without merit before God, c
ability by reason of their sinful natures an
willful sins to save themselves. We belev
that God, of his free grace and wondrou
love, in his eternal counsels, did provide a
adequate redemption through full, FIRE
and vicarious atonement by the obedienc
aud sufferings of his only begotten SoI
This is the only meritorious ground for ii
justification of all who believe in him.
1--WE believe that God. foreseeing man
perverse rejection Of Christ sent his hol
spirit to convince men of sin, renew the
3 | wills and draw them to embrace the offere
salvation. (lI. Timothy tx, 1O.) We beliey
. that Jesus Christ will do what he promises
viz, guard and defend and save his ow
sheep. 1t is remarkable that nearly ever
reformer of prominence, in different coui
tries, elaborated and adopted this same sy
t tenn of faith directly from Gods word. Tn
is called the Calvinistic system. We bull
{ ON this corr er-stone from the Bible.
1--WE are Presby terians, because of the hi
/ toric maintenance by our church that it
Christ's spiritual kingdom. The church
- the development of Gods eternal purpos
not only to save individual man, but man
an elect body of sinners, of whom the Med
Q ator shall be head Its mission is to say
souls. Its powers are declarative, not legisl
+ ti7e. Its officers must be spiritual
minded. No civil authority has place
= its councils. Erastianism mars beauty al
deadeas spirituality. Oar bauner bears Il
historic ms .ription: For Christs Grow
and Covenant
Dr.. Vass here quoted at length the orig
nal testimony of the Southern Presbyteris
church, at its organization, on this poin
9 This testimony, now so comm N, was DOrl
by us in the face OF tyranny, and befo
Z many churches now in line with this trut
were even born.
= THE cHURcH's ANTIQUITY.
|. 1--WE are Presbyterians because of ii
glorious and blessed history of the power
the church's theology on the world, and b
cause of her hoary antiquity. Look only
the sixteenth centu Y. What a mass