Year: 1877




reason that lady was once said to have mar
ried man, viz, to avoid his importantly Z
The Bible rule is a good one: " Let every
man be fully persuaded in his own mind"


5. Some promise us great and long peace,
if we will only change our constitution. But
would such measure secure peace? Not
at all. Adopt these changes, and it will not
be five years till we shall be called on to al
ter our Confession of Faith, perhaps the first
section of the ". Chapter, which says that
God did create or make Of nothing the
world, and all things therein, whether visible
or invisible, in the space of six days, and all
very good" Compare the first and second
chapters of Genesis with Elk. Xxx: 8-1I
XXI: II, etc. In fact there is no telling
where we will stop. The next point of at
tack will probably be the Directory for Wor-
ship, perhaps the fourth section of the XIV.
Chapter, which reads: If at any time the
civil power should think it proper to appoint
fast or thanksgiving, it is the duty of the
ministers and people of our communion, as
we live under Christian government, to pay
all due respect to the same If Christ had
had Church with godly pastor in Nineveh,
would it have been meet in him and his peo-
pie to have taken no notice of the proclama
tion for a fast, because they did not agree
with the king and bis mobiles in theology,
morals, or politics


6. If he was not misunderstood, one said
he was in favor of the New Book, because it
would tend to hinder closer relations between
the Northern and Southern Presbyterian
Churches. saw within few days, in one
of our own papers, an article which said: "It
is the belief of many that have been lockers
on in the recent discussion and repeated agi-
tstion Of the New Book question, that its
advocates are instigsted not SO much by
love for the book as by fear of the ulti-
mate organic union between the Northern
and Southern Presbyterian Churches" He
says much more to the same effect. We are
always in danger of evil surmisings. We
should never indulge them. l have heard of
no one avowipg such things in the public
prints. 1 charge them on no one till he
avows them. But if any one should be per-
suaded on such grounds to go for the New
Book, he would fall into great mistake
Neither book will have the slightest effect on
our relations with our Northern brethren.
If better state of things is to be brought
about, it will not be by the Old Book, bu: by
the Spirit of God. And if the Spirit of God
gives right tempers to all the brethren North
and South, the New Book cannot hinder
them from expressing to each other in the
most fitting and cordial manner their mutual
esteem and confidence, as well as their alb
horrenoe of sll wicked feelings they may
ever have INDUCED or expressed towards each
other.


After these hints at arguments, wish to
ask your attention more particularly to two
other things.


7. One is that it is not wise or edifying to
the body of Christ to press these changes on
the Church, when she is sverse to them, and
when such agitation must injure the cause of
Christ by disturbing the peace and harmony
of Gods house, and by diverting attention
from the great work to which the people Of
God among as are urgently called. This as
pect Of the measure is very threatening.


Ia 1872 the New Book of Discipline alone
was sent down to the Presbyteries. How
they felt about it We all know from their
earnest utterances. Now the very same Book
of Discipline, without particle of amend
ment or alteration, and with the Form of
Government preceding it, and so joined With
it, is sent down for approval. Can the pa
tience of the saints thus be worn out, and
our people at last made formally to adopt
what they never desired or be led to commit
sin by losing good temper towards those
who are urging these changes? The altered
Form Of Government is the foundation on
which the altered Book Of Discipline rests,
and is, if possible, more Objectionable than
the latter. Yet in 1878 when the Book Of
Discipline was by itself before the Presby-
teries, they said they did not want it. A
few indeed voted for it without change
Some expressed quasi readiness to receive
it, if certain important amendments should
be made. Not one of these changes has beer
incorporated into it. Several other Presby
teriea rejected it altogether, and would not
even critioiSe it, or suggest any modifca
tons. 0ae of the excellent Committee o.
Revision, foreseeiug the evils likely to follow
to the Church nObly came forward, and threw
his great influence against it. So decisiVel!
did the Church express her mind that man!
. thankfully INDUCED the pleasing hope tha
. henceforth the churches would have rest
: Nor was this an unreasonable expectation
q though it has been disappointed.


E The following analysis of the votes o


Presbyteries was made by the editor of tn
, Christian Observer, aud published in his pa
Z per of May 14sh, 1873. l do not remembe
= ever to have seen hint that it was not sub


stantially correct. always have so regard
4 ed it. The same paper contained the eVi
q dence on which this summary view rested
r. The editor says:


"a very general disposition to commen


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