Southern Presbyterian Review 1859

Excerpt from The Southern Presbyterian Review, 1859, Vol. 11: Conducted by an Association of Ministers, in Columbia, South Carolina That all the Protestant Churches Of the Reformation that have practised infant baptism, (which is for the greater part Of the time since the Reformation, the whole Of these churches, with but trifling exceptions); and that the Romish Church, through all times and periods Of her history, have considered baptized children' as church members as much as any body else, is a thing easily made to appear. What other points Of difference may, from time to time, have arisen between these various churches, and they are points numerous and important, they have still continued all Of one mind and of one heart in making their baptized children members of their churches. That this is true of the romish church is plain to all who know any thing Of her history or constitution. This church we may consider as having had her first beginnings in the fifth or sixth century, or some time shortly after; and, as continuing to grow more and more Romish, or in other words more and more corrupt, till the sixteenth century, from which time till the present she has protracted her existence in a somewhat modified form, and with great diminution of power and influence. There is one thing, however, in which this church has never changed, but, in reference to which, she has been one and the same church, and has had one and the same opinion and that is the regarding of her baptized children, or indeed all her children baptized or unbaptized, as church members. The sacrament Of baptism she treats as strictly a church ordinance, and as to be administered only to such as actually are, or are entitled to be church members. The same rite she also regards as a regenerating ordinance, and as procuring forgiveness of sin and introduction into a state of grace and salvation to all to whom it is properly administered. Baptized children, there fore. And all other baptized persons, must needs be, in the estimation of Romanists, members of the visible, as they are members Of the invisible church; especially, as with them, the two things are identical. And so they always treat such per sons. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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Excerpt from The Southern Presbyterian Review, 1858, Vol. 10 The distinguishing characteristic of Hierarchy is, that it attributes to the clergy the primary and sole possession of all the rights and prerogatives of ecclesiastical authority and grace; assertin that every sacred function is vested immediately in them by the iiead of the church. If it be true that church power exists essential] in the clergy and not in the church at larve, it follows that the (iivine prerogatives thus arrogated can onlytiie vested in any by the interposition of such as are already endowed; and so at each antecedent step back to the investiture of the apostles by the Son of God. It further results that none are members of the church of Christ, or entitled to appropriate the promises of the Gospel, except such as submit themselves to the guidance of these divinely commissioned officers; and that no degree of depravity in morals, or heresy in their doctrines, would justify the people of God in withdrawing from their communion, or in the least Slighting their teachings or authority. Nor do such conclusions attach exclusively to the prelatic system, although in that they find their normal organization. They cleave alike to any and every theory which rests church power primarily in the ministry. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.