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 ^ PRINCETON, N. J. ^ 
 
 Presented by O^^ . (5\ . Cj ^ytacS VOrA 7^\-^ -"D , 
 
 Division ".. 
 
 Section 
 
 
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 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 LECTURE IV. 
 
 Delivered on the Evening of the 22d January, 1822, by the 
 Rev. Alexander JSrFarlane, of Carlisle. 
 
 OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. — 
 1 Cor. V. 13. 
 
 A man that is an licrctic, after tlic first and second admonition, reject — 
 Tit. iii. 10. 
 
 The Church of God is a regularly constituted society, 
 possessing laws and government, adapted to secure her purity 
 and permanence, and to manifest and vindicate the honour 
 of her Lord. The glorious Mediator, being exalted to the 
 right hand of the Majesty on high, and having received all 
 power in heaven and on earth, promulgates laws and in- 
 stitutes ordinances, establishes government in his Church, 
 and appoints officers for its administration. " And he gave 
 some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; 
 and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the 
 saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the 
 body of Christ." The language of the Lord Jesus, ad- 
 dressed at first to his apostles, applies in a subordinate 
 sense to all the ministers and rulers of the Church; " What- 
 15 
 
106 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 soever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: 
 and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in 
 heaven." The pastors and elders were authorized and re- 
 quired, by divine institution, to teach and to rule in the 
 Churches, "Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves," says 
 the apostle Paul to the elders of Ephesus, "and to all the 
 flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you over- 
 seers." "The elders which are among you I exhort," says 
 the apostle Peter, "feed the flock of God which is among 
 you, taking the oversight thereof." On the other hand, 
 the people were required to render obedience and honour, 
 to those appointed to rule over them. "Obey them that 
 have the rule over you, and submit yourselves." "Let 
 the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double hon- 
 our, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." 
 In every society, government of some kind is indispens- 
 able. No community can exist among men without laws, 
 and an adequate power to put them in execution. What 
 would become of the family circle, sacred to order and 
 harmony, if the parental authority were prostrated ? How 
 could public tranquillity, or private security, be maintained, 
 if none were empowered to assert the inajesty of the laws? 
 The Church is distinguished from other societies, not by 
 being without law and government, but by possessing them 
 from divine appointment. The Lord Jesus has ordained 
 ofiicers in his Church, whose duty it is to teach and to rule; 
 to make known the laws of his kingdom, and to secure 
 their observance by all its subjects. The government of 
 the Church, therefore, is established by the wisdom and 
 authority of her glorious head; and whatever acts are done 
 according to the instructions which he has given, receive 
 his sanction and ratification. 
 
OF CHLTRCII DISCIPLINE. IO7 
 
 But here perhaps it may be inquired, is there no uncer- 
 tainty about the laws of Scripture? Do not dillcrent de- 
 nominations of Christians understand the doctrines and in- 
 stitutions of revelation very dillerently? Does not this 
 fact prove our liability to mistake in this matter? Is it not 
 possible, that whilst we arc claiming to be administering the 
 laws of Christ, we are in reality enforcing nothing better 
 than the inventions of men? 
 
 To these inquiries we reply, the Holy Scriptures give no 
 intimation that the laws of God arc ambiguous or uncer- 
 tain. If they were so, the Church would be left without 
 laws; for Jaws that are doubtful or incomprehensible, are 
 of no validity where rigliteousness directs the administra- 
 tion. On the contrary, it is invariably assumed, that the 
 doctrines and ordinances of the Bible are, to the humble 
 and teachable, easy of comprehension, and remote from all 
 unccrtaint}'. It is true, Christians differ in their intrepreta- 
 tion of Scripture; but where is the denomination of Chris- 
 tians wlio will impute this diversity, in matters of import- 
 ance, to the ambiguity or uncertainty of the sacred record, 
 or will admit that there is no fault in those who difl'cr from 
 their interpretation? We arc not entitled to the name of 
 Christians, if \\c be not prepared to affirm the perfect plain- 
 ness of Scripture, in all things essential to faith and godli- 
 ness; and the obligation resting upon all, to understand 
 aright its doctrines and precepts, its commands and institu- 
 tions. No man can be innocent, whilst pretending to de- 
 duce from the inspired volume a system of error; or whilst 
 maintaining opinions in opposition to the pure doctrines of 
 Divine revelation. It is absurd to object that the Bible is 
 a communication from heaven, and yet unintelligible; that 
 the laws of God are so obscure or ambiguous, that they 
 
108 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 may be misunderstood or disregarded with impunity. We 
 therefore consider ourselves as chargeable with neither pre- 
 sumption nor usurpation, whilst interpreting the doctrines 
 and institutions of the Gospel, and applying them for the 
 perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body of 
 Christ. 
 
 The officers appointed by the Lord Jesus in his Church, 
 are invested with authority to prevent the entrance of the 
 unworthy; to exercise salutary discipline upon offending 
 members; and to exclude the contumacious and impenitent. 
 
 I. It belongs to the officers of the Church, to prevent the 
 admission of unworthy persons to her fellowship. 
 
 We cheerfully and readily recognize the obligation of our 
 Saviour's command, '<Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of 
 all nations." We acknowledge it to be the sacred duty of 
 the Christian ministry to preach the Gospel to all, to incul- 
 cate upon men universally, the duty of believing in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and to make known to them the encour- 
 aging and gracious promise, " He that believeth and is bap- 
 tized shall be saved." We rejoice in the new and animating 
 prospects furnished by the favour of Providence, for the 
 promulgation of the glad tidings of salvation, to the remote 
 and destitute. We rejoice to hear of multitudes, who hav- 
 ing received Christian instruction, and having given credi- 
 ble evidence of faith and piety, are admitted into the bosom 
 of the Church. We take pleasure in believing that exer- 
 tions to evangelize the world will not cease, or be relaxed, 
 whilst any portion of the human family remains estranged 
 from the household of God. It is our joyful anticipation, 
 as it is our constant prayer, that the righteous and benignant 
 reign of Immanuel will soon extend over the whole earth, 
 bless all the nations, and continue to the end of time. 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLII^. 109 
 
 It is lamentable, however, to observe how many, to whom 
 the Gospel is publislietl, remain unfiualified for membership 
 in the Church. Look upoii the population of our cities, 
 towns, and country at large; you will And immense num- 
 bers, who think so little of Christ and his salvation, that 
 they have never been baptized in his name. They give 
 no evidence that the message of heavenly grace has ever 
 engaged their serious attention. They hear the Gospel, 
 at leLt occasionally, and witness the solemnities of our 
 holy religion; yet they show an utter aversion to the sa- 
 cred obligations and duties of the Christian profession. We 
 deeply deplore, whilst we state, the melancholy fact. We 
 lament. the insensibility, and criminal apathy, of so many 
 who hear the Gospel; and we pray that the Holy Spirit, by 
 his efficacious influence, may incline the hearts of men uni- 
 versally to hear, believe, and obey the words of eternal life. 
 But arc the doors of the Church to be opened wide for 
 the reception of all who, for any reason, may seek to enter? 
 Is every restriction, upon the indiscriminate and unlimited 
 admission of members, to be removed? INIost assuredly not. 
 In every age, and in every condition of the Church, some 
 corrupt and vicious men have been willing to assume the 
 name and profession of Christianity; and even to undertake 
 the sacred functions of the Christian ministry. To the 
 officers of Christ's kingdom it belongs to judge of the quali- 
 fications of applicants for admission; and fidelity to their 
 Lord requires them to prevent the entrance of the ignorant, 
 the profane and licentious. To admit the wicked and irre- 
 ligious to the privileges of Church membcrsliip, would be 
 a grievous violation of the command of Christ, *' Give not 
 that which is holy unto the dogs." <« Except a man be 
 born again he cannot see the kingdom of God:" he cannot 
 16 
 
110 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 understand the nature, perform the duties_, or participate in 
 the enjoyments, of the kingdom of grace upon earth, or of 
 the kingdom of glory in heaven. ^' For the kingdom of God 
 is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and 
 joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serveth 
 Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men." Un- 
 der every dispensation of the Church, God commands his 
 ministers to "put a difference between holy and unholy, 
 between unclean and clean." 
 
 The existence and purity of the Church require this dis- 
 crimination. The promiscuous introduction of men of 
 every character would destroy its essential and appropriate 
 nature. Of whom does the Church consist? of them cer- 
 tainly who know and believe the truth j who give evidence 
 of repentance for sin, union to Christ, and conformity to 
 his image; who, being delivered from the delusions and 
 corruptions of this world, manifest by a life of holiness that 
 they are partakers of the divine nature, and of the righte- 
 ousness of our Lord Jesus; who, by a diligent obedience to 
 the commands and institutions of Christ, and by the sanc- 
 tifying operations of his Spirit, are made meet for the in- 
 heritance of the saints in glory. Are the ignorant and er- 
 roneous, the profligate and profane, to be received into such 
 a society as this? Nothing so incongruous would be toler- 
 ated in any other case. Would you aamit tne aeclared 
 enemies of your country, and of all tne iioeral and equit- 
 able institutions, to the rights and privileges of citizens? 
 Would any society receive to its fellowship men whose 
 opinions and conduct are in manifest hostility to its pri- 
 mary design and fundamental principles? It surely re- 
 quires no labour to prove, that the unholy and profane are 
 not qualified for membership in a community whose grand 
 
OF CHURCII DISCIPLINE. 1 1 1 
 
 characteristic is holiness to the Lord; that the enemies of 
 truth and righteousness ought not to i)c admitted into the 
 Church, to dishonour tlie doctrine of Christ, and tlie pro- 
 fession of his name. 
 
 The officers of the Church arc required to guard with as- 
 siduous care against the admission of the ignorant and un- 
 sanctified. From- the desire prevalent, in most Christian 
 communities, to increase their numhcrs, to extend their in- 
 fluence, and to gratify those who evince a prepossession in 
 their favour, there is reason to fear that sufficient caution 
 will not he employed to exclude the unworthy; and espe- 
 cially to prevent the sacred ministry from heing profaned, 
 by the. conceited novice, the corrupt worldling, and the 
 equivocating heretic. Hence the danger of filling the 
 Church with men who neither know nor obey the truth, 
 and of admitting to the sacred office those who have never 
 learned the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity. There 
 is cause for apprehension, where large numbers are hurried 
 into the Church, upon the feeling and impulse of a mo- 
 ment; and many are added to its ministry, who are not at 
 the pains of concealing their hostility to its peculiar and ac- 
 knowledged principles. 
 
 It is undeniable, that within a few years a great change 
 has taken place in the theological opinions of many of the 
 teachers of our denomination. Are we expected to find, 
 in every Presbyterian minister, a lover and defender of the 
 venerable standards of our Church; one who zealously in- 
 culcates upon the people the doctrines which they contain, 
 and which we believe to be faithfully derived from the 
 Holy Scriptures. Now it has become no uncommon thing 
 to hear of Presbyterian ministers sneering at the Confession 
 and Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church; pronouncing 
 
112 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 the very idea of a creed an absurdity; and, as might be 
 expected, industriously setting forth a system of opinions 
 as different from that of our standards as darkness from 
 day. This state of things the revered fathers of our 
 Church could scarcely have anticipated. The language of 
 the standards which they adopted, is remarkable for pre- 
 cision and perspicuity. It is not possible to mistake the 
 system of doctrine which they were designed to teach. 
 Could it be thought, therefore, that any would seek a con- 
 nexion with a Church, without believing her articles of 
 faith? Might it not have been supposed, that every feeling 
 of candour, honour, and uprightness, would deter men 
 from solemnly professing to receive and adopt a system of 
 doctrine which they do not believe, and which they con- 
 sider themselves required to contradict and repudiate? 
 
 Our Presbyteries are bound to watch, with vigilance and 
 fidelity, against the entrance of unsound men into the min- 
 istry. Whatever might have been anticipated, the history 
 of the Church abundantly shows, that the matter cannot be 
 safely left to the honour and conscience of the applicants 
 themselves. If permitted, every kind and degree of error 
 will gain admission into the Church. The doctrines of 
 our standards will be forgotten, or calumniated; and puri- 
 ty and peace will be estranged from our borders. A tide 
 of innovation and error, will sweep away all the landmarks 
 of truth and order, erected in the early and purer times of 
 the Church. As watchmen on the walls of Zion, it belongs 
 to us to see that no enemy, whatever disguise he may put 
 on, be permitted to enter our gates; as constituted guar- 
 dians of the public welfare, we must beware of committing 
 the direction of affairs to men who are hostile to our best 
 interests. A man who is not cordially and thoroughly at- 
 
OF CIIURCII DISCIPLINE. 113 
 
 tached to our system, ouglit not to obtrude himself upon 
 us; and if he should attempt it, the Presbytery must abhor 
 the thought of participating in the guilt of his prevarication 
 and falsehood. _ 
 
 The present distracted state of the Presbyterian Church 
 is owing, in a great degree, to the fiicility with which men 
 of almost every shade of opinion have been admitted to 
 preach among us. Some Presbyteries, it is said, have dis- 
 pensed with the Constitutional questions required to be 
 proposed to every candidate at his ordination; and others 
 have not considered opinions, the most remote from our 
 standards, a sufllcient cause for rejection. Perhaps I may 
 say with truth, that none have been duly alert in guarding 
 the entrance to the holy ministry. We are now suffering 
 the deplorable consequences of such unconstitutional and 
 culpable remissness. 
 
 Some departures from truth are far more pernicious in 
 their nature and tendency than others: against such it be- 
 comes us to guard with special care and diligence. An er- 
 ror may be of such a nature, and lead to such consequences, 
 as to be incompatible with a sound and scriptural system of 
 divinity. Any material error in respect to the all impor- 
 tant doctrine of atonement, is of this character. Such an 
 error, we hesitate not to say, is committed, whenever the 
 atonement of Christ is represented as indefinite in regard 
 to its objects; and as not insuring the salvation of those for 
 whom it was made. Indeed it is nothing better than 
 an abuse of language, to denominate any thing an atonC' 
 menty which does not make an effectual satisfaction for the 
 offences of him or them, in behalf of whom it is offered; 
 and insure, as its consequence, the reconciliation of the 
 parties previously at variance. The inconceivable suffer- 
 
114 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 ings of our Lord Jesus Christ may be called an exhibition, 
 or a display, or a symbolical representation, or whatever 
 else you please, except an atonement ; but an atonement 
 they can with no propriety be denominated, if they did not 
 fully satisfy the divine justice for the sins of men, and 
 make certain the reconciliation with God, of all those for 
 whom the atoning Redeemer became the substitute and 
 surety. 
 
 An error here never remains solitary; it will soon be 
 found in company with a denial of the doctrine of original 
 sin, of the vicarious nature, altogether, of the sufferings of 
 Christ, of the imputation of his righteousness to believers 
 for justification, and of the necessity and reality of the 
 Spirit's operations, in regenerating and sanctifying the soul. 
 Did time permit, it would be easy to show how all these 
 pernicious errors are naturally, and almost unavoidably, con- 
 nected with each other; but it is enough to know that in 
 fact they are usually seen associated. How extremely haz- 
 ardous is it then, to admit any man who holds one of them, 
 to be a teacher in the Presbyterian Church? One of these 
 errors admitted, we must expect to find a host of others 
 following in its train. 
 
 Let those, then, who are appointed to guard the avenues 
 to Church membership, and to the office of the ministry, 
 justly appreciate the high and responsible trust reposed in 
 them. Let them beware of receiving into the Church of 
 Christ the ignorant, the scandalous and irreligious; let them 
 beware of admitting to the office of teaching and ruling in 
 the Church, men who, they have reason to believe, do not 
 accord in judgment or practice with its authorized princi- 
 ples. An increase of numbers will be a poor compensation 
 for the introduction of unsoundness and irreligion into the 
 Church. 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 115 
 
 2. The oflicers of tlie Church arc required to exercise 
 discipline upon ofleiuliiio; members. la every society, 
 whose mcmhcrs are imperfect, discipline is necessary. If 
 one of your children do wrong, you admonish, reprove, or 
 chasten him, as the case may require. In seats of learning, 
 from the village school to the dignified university, the dis- 
 orderly are reclaimed, and a healthful state of the institu- 
 tion maintained, by the application of suitable discipline. 
 The Lord Jesus has appointed discipline as the means of 
 restoring his erring children, and of promoting the purity 
 and welfare of his Church. Warnings, admonitions, re- 
 bukes, and even separation from the communion of the 
 saints, are to be employed for these purposes. 
 
 In the reception of men>bers to the Church, the ministers 
 and elders are not exempt from mistake. Notwithstanding 
 the utmost caution, some unworthy persons gain admission; 
 and even the real disciples of Christ are imperfect, and lia- 
 ble to error and transgression. In what manner then shall 
 the honour of Christ, and the authority of his laws, be vin- 
 dicated? How shall the erring disciple be restored, and 
 the Church preserved from the contamination of the wick- 
 ed? The Scriptures point out discipline as the proper 
 means. No discredit can be incurred by the Church from 
 the misconduct of its members, if the salutary rules of dis- 
 cipline be promptly applied. No encouragement is given 
 to transgress, if there be reason to expect that transgression 
 will be followed by adequate correction. 
 
 3. The rules of the Church possess the power to exclude 
 the contumacious and impenitent. If every means em- 
 ployed to reclaim an offending member be found insuffi- 
 cient, he must be separated from the communion of the 
 Church. The Scriptures prefixed to this discourse leave 
 
116 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 no room for doubt on this subject: " Put away from among 
 yourselves that wicked person." "A man that is an here- 
 tic after the first and second admonition reject." Other 
 quotations might be made to the same purpose. "If he 
 neglect to hear the Church, says our Saviour, let him be 
 unto thee as a heathen man and a publican;" an apostle 
 commands the Thessalonians to ''withdraw themselves from 
 every brother that walketh disorderly." Every society 
 must possess power to exclude those whose membership is 
 found incompatible with the chief design of the institution. 
 The Church can be no exception to this. Its members asso- 
 ciate upon the basis of certain recognized principles, and 
 for the attainment of certain important ends. If the con- 
 nexion of any one be found to infringe these principles, 
 and to frustrate these ends, it is within the province of the 
 constituted authorities of the Church to declare him to be 
 no longer in its fellowship. The exercise of this power, 
 when a proper occasion calls for it, is an indispensable and 
 very important duty. However unpleasant to our feelings, 
 a due regard to the command and glory of God, to the puri- 
 ty, peace and welfare of the Church, requires that we 
 should not shrink from the performance of it. 
 
 But here the question will arise, by whom is the disci- 
 pline of the church to be administered? Who are author- 
 ized to judge of the qualifications of members, to apply the 
 laws of Christ for the correction of what is wrong in them, 
 and to exclude the scandalous and contumacious offender? 
 I have no disposition to enter into an argument in relation 
 to ecclesiastical polity; whether the government of the 
 Church belongs, by divine right, to pastors in conjunction 
 with ruling elders, or to the congregation at large. You 
 are satisfied with the doctrine and practice of the Presby- 
 
/ 
 
 OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 117 
 
 lerian Church on this subject. You have no disposition to 
 renounce the system approved by Calvin and Knox, and 
 by the able and pious founders of our religious community. 
 The Walclcnscs, those famous witnesses for God and truth, 
 retained the simple and scriptural form of Presbyterianism, 
 when all the world was corrupted by the abominations of 
 the Romish hierarchy. Under the influence of this sys- 
 tem, the most glorious triumphs of the Reformation were 
 achieved. When strictly maintained, it has ever been 
 found most effectual in checking the aberrations of heretics; 
 in purifying the Church from error and licentiousness j 
 and in promoting sound doctrine and pure religion. 
 
 Shall, the degenerate Church of Geneva, the corrupted 
 Presbyterian Churches of England, or even the present 
 condition of our own Church, be adduced to prove that 
 Presbyterianism is not adequate to prevent the entrance of 
 baneful error, or the prevalence of pernicious practices? 
 We deeply lament the degeneracy of churches planted and 
 watered by the labours of Calvin, and Beza, and Turretin. 
 We are grieved to learn that places of worship, dedicated 
 to the honour of the Son of God, by the pious and ortho- 
 dox Presbyterians of England, are polluted by the blas- 
 phemies of Socinianism. And we are no less grieved to 
 learn that, in our own beloved community, opinions have 
 gained a currency, which are more in harmony with the 
 creed of Pelagius, than with that of the excellent men who 
 founded our Church, or framed its standards. 
 
 Whilst we admit and lament these departures from the 
 purity of the Gospel, we arc far from conceding that they 
 can be fairly imputed to any defect in the Presbyterian form 
 of church government: or that the rules and discipline of 
 Presbyterianism, if faithfully applied, would have been 
 17 
 
lie SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 found insufficient to prevent them. The noblest ship 
 that ever floated on the bosom of the deep, must have 
 her efficient commander, her able and faithful crew; if these 
 be wanting, the ill-fated vessel will soon run upon the 
 shoals, or be dashed against the rocks. The constitution 
 and laws of the country may be wise and excellent; but if 
 the administration become corrupt, and the execution of 
 the laws be neglected, it is preposterous to suppose that the 
 commonwealth can escape detriment. 
 
 If the discipline of the Church be relaxed, or wholly ne- 
 glected; if no pains be taken to pi'event the entrance of men 
 whose adverse propensities and foreign attachments are no- 
 torious; if public teachers be permitted to declare them- 
 selves in opposition to the acknowledged doctrine and or- 
 der of the Church, whilst the appointed guardians of her 
 purity and peace make no effort to repress their presump- 
 tion, and punish their treachery; ought it to be looked 
 upon as a matter of astonishment, that the floodgates of 
 error and delusion should be opened upon us, that ortho- 
 doxy should become a term of reproach, and a strict ad- 
 herence to our standards be branded as illiberal and secta- 
 rian? If the majority of pastors and elders become corrupt 
 or remiss, it cannot be expected that care will be taken to 
 preserve inviolate the pure and scriptural doctrines of the 
 Church, or to inflict deserved censure upon treachery 
 and licentiousness. In such a state of things, corruption 
 and error of every kind will not be slow in making their 
 appearance. 
 
 But if, whilst the Church is substantially sound, whilst 
 the pure doctrines of the Gospel are venerated, and the du- 
 ties it enjoins generally practised, heresy and immorality 
 show their hated front, there is no system of government 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 119 
 
 which possesses superior facilities for checking and extir- 
 pating them. A church session can act with incomparably- 
 greater promptness, decision, and energy, than the entire 
 body of the congregation. Its members are, in general, 
 more exempt from the influence of passions and prejudices, 
 adverse to the right discharge of duty; they are less likely 
 to be deceived by the wily arts of heresy, or the imposing 
 pretensions of specious iniquity; and from their superior 
 intelligence, and deeper sense of responsiblcness, they are 
 better qualified, as well as more anxious, to do what is just 
 and right. 
 
 The advantages of the Presbyterian organization for the 
 support and defence of truth, and for the suppression of 
 error, are great and obvious. The members of the Pres- 
 bytery, after full examination, judge of the qualifications of 
 the candidate for the ministry, and if they find him defi- 
 cient in ability, soundness, or piety, they have the power, 
 as it is their duty, to reject him. The avenue to the sacred 
 office is, by this arrangement, guarded in the best possible 
 manner. 
 
 To the Presbytery it also belongs to watch with solici- 
 tude over the reputation and conduct of all its members; 
 to arrest those who abandon the safe course marked out by 
 our standards, and launch into the sea of novelty and error; 
 and to preserve the churches under their care from the con- 
 tagion of wickedness and false doctrine. The happiest ef- 
 fects, it may be expected, will follow from a faithful ad- 
 herence to our ecclesiastical standards, and a firm determi- 
 nation to assert their authority. It will be found that a 
 decided movement in condemnation of erroneous opinions, 
 will operate effectually to cool the ardour of heretical en- 
 thusiasts, and to check their presumptuous career into the 
 wild regions of delusion and fanaticism. 
 
120 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 To the higher judicatories, to our Synods and General 
 Assembly, it pertains, to superintend the concerns of the 
 Church more at large, to correct what is amiss in the lower 
 courts, to defend the sacred cause of evangelical truth and 
 piety, to guard the churches against the approaches of pesti- 
 lent error and to devise and execute measures, for the more 
 general prevalence of truth and holiness in the world. 
 
 Here, then, is a system of ecclesiastical government, 
 harmonious, compact, energetic. According to it, the 
 united wisdom and piety of the Church may be exerted for 
 the correction of what is wrong in any part; and on the other 
 hand, whatever is judged useful can, in an orderly and 
 authoritative manner, be established for the common benefit 
 of the whole. Whether we contemplate this system in 
 theory or practice, or in regard to scriptural evidence 
 and authority, we can see no reason why it may not com- 
 pare to advantage with any other. 
 
 When the Lord Jesus organized his Church, he imparted 
 the keys of the kingdom, not to all the people, but to the 
 apostles whom he had chosen. And the apostles, acting by 
 the authority of their Master, committed the power of gov- 
 ernment and discipline to the elders, wdiom they ordained 
 in every city. The people having exercised their right of 
 choosing, in the case of the seven deacons, were afterwards 
 to obey, not to rule. The administration of ecclesiastical 
 authority by the people at large, is an assumption, not coun- 
 tenanced in the New Testament. 
 
 The uses of discipline are various and important. 
 
 1. It is necessary to prevent the anger of God from 
 resting on his Church; which must be the case, if sin be al- 
 lowed in its members. The ancient Church were com- 
 manded to put a difference between the clean and unclean. 
 
OF CIRTRCII DISCIPLINE. 121 
 
 between the holy and unholy; and to remove far from 
 them every cause of pollution and guilt. When they ne- 
 glected to do so, they were soon visited with the manifes- 
 tations of God's displeasure. The same obligation rests 
 upon the New Testament Church. "Be yc holy; for I am 
 holy." Sin, at all times, and wherever found, is offensive 
 to the Divine Majesty. The wicked he reserves to the 
 day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. lie will 
 then make it evident, that his forbearance is by no means in- 
 consistent with the strongest disapprobation of sin, and an 
 unchangeable determination to punish it. His chosen and 
 redeemed people are, indeed, delivered from condemna- 
 tion and the wrath to come. Yet, whilst in this life, they 
 are liable to faults and imperfections. If, therefore, sin be 
 allowed in them without admonition or correction, Christ 
 will rebuke and chasten them; and if corrupt doctrines and 
 practices be tolerated in the Church, he will come and fight 
 against it, and remove its candlestick out of his place, ex- 
 cept they repent. To avoid, therefore, or remove the Di- 
 vine displeasure, discipline must be faithfully applied. The 
 faults of God's children must be corrected, and the hereti- 
 cal and abominable must be excluded from the communion 
 of the faithful. 
 
 2. Discipline is necessary to promote the sanctification 
 of believers, and to reclaim them from what is offensive and 
 sinful. For these important purposes, the ordinary dispen- 
 sation of the word and ordinances are of great and indis- 
 pensable utility. The ambassador of Christ must show unto 
 the people their transgressions and sins; and by a faithful 
 exhibition of the admonitions and reproofs of the Divine 
 word, as well as by the sweet accents of the Gospel, he 
 must call them to repentance and amendment. But if an 
 
128 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 offending member be not reclaimed by the common minis- 
 trations of the Gospel, and if the private means enjoined by 
 our Saviour have been used without effect, the Church 
 must have recourse to discipline, properly so called. Pub- 
 lic admonition, rebuke, suspension, or separation, must be 
 employed as the case may require. If milder remedies be 
 found insufficient, we must not neglect the use of the more 
 severe. There is hope that the erring brother will be 
 brought to wise reflection, and humble penitence. "In the 
 name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered to- 
 gether, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruc- 
 tion of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the 
 day of the Lord Jesus." "And if any man obey not our 
 word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company 
 with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as 
 an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." Discipline, 
 among its other uses, ought to be regarded as a means, 
 appointed by our Lord for the recovery of his straying 
 children. When, therefore, the conduct of any of the 
 members requires the salutary correction of discipline, the 
 rulers of the Church ought not to permit an ill-judged ten- 
 derness to lead them to withhold it. 
 
 3. Discipline is necessary to preserve the purity and 
 peace of the Church. The greatest defections which have 
 taken place, from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel, 
 have proceeded from small beginnings; from deviations, 
 slight at first, from the authorized language and approved 
 customs of the Church. These, under the notion of imjwove- 
 ments, the young and unstable are too often ready to adopt. 
 If permitted to pass without animadversion, or rebuke, 
 something more decisive, and still more dangerous, will 
 soon follow. The standard doctrines of the Church will be 
 
OF CHURCH discipline. 133 
 
 assailed; pernicious errors will be embraced and propagated; 
 and licentiousness, and every enormity, will come in like a 
 flood. Look at the degenerate Churches of the old and the 
 new world; you will find that such has been the progress of 
 things among them. No sound community becomes wholly 
 corrupt at once. From slight beginnings, and by little and 
 little, the most dreadful and ruinous apostacies have been 
 brought about. We ought not, therefore, to account any de- 
 parture from sound doctrine and evangelical practice, as void 
 of danger. Some may, perhaps, in judging from the supposed 
 greater liglit of the present age, and from the apparent piety 
 of those who arc given to change, consider our Church se- 
 cure from the catastrophe which has befallen others. To 
 such I would say, in the language of the apostle, "Your 
 glorying is not good. Know ye not, that a little leaven 
 leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out, therefore, the old 
 leaven, that ye may be a new lump." 
 
 The peace of the Church will be endangered and destroy- 
 ed, if discipline be neglected. Unless unscriptural innova- 
 tions be discountenanced and suppressed by the judicial acts 
 of the Church, disputes and distractions must be perpetual; 
 at least, as long as there remains in the community any re- 
 gard to truth and piety. Are we charged with disturbing 
 the peace of the Church ? There is no good reason why 
 we should be discomposed under such an accusation. The 
 charge applies with much more propriety to those who 
 have given us suflicient cause to sound the alarm of dan- 
 ger; who have brought into jeopardy the doctrines and in- 
 stitutions which we are under the most solemn obligations to 
 cherish and defend. Disturbers of the peace of the Church ! 
 Sweet peace ! heavenly peace ! much as we love thee, we 
 are willing to dispense with thy presence, whilst a hostile 
 banner waves over our Zion, and her bulw^ks are assailed by 
 
124 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 an invading foe. Whilst opinions and practices, unknown to 
 our standards, and abhorrent to the judgment of the Church 
 in every age, possess credit and currency within our eccle- 
 siastical limits, we neither expect nor desire peace. Changes 
 cannot be introduced into any religious community without 
 producing disturbances and contentions. The evil, if these 
 changes be unscriptural, must be charged upon those who 
 attempt to introduce them. Opposition to them is matter 
 of praise, not of censure. To preserve the tranquillity of the 
 Church, therefore, and to promote its highest permanent 
 welfare, the correction of errors and abuses by discipline is 
 often indispensable. 
 
 4. Discipline is necessary to vindicate the honour of 
 Christ and of religion, by separating from the Church what- 
 ever is offensive and scandalous. "Now, I beseech you, 
 brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, 
 contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned, and avoid 
 them." "Now, we command you brethren, in the name 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from 
 every brother that walketh disorderly. " What will become 
 of the honour of Christ, the sacredness of the Christian pro- 
 fession, and the veneration due to the holy institutions of 
 the Gospel, if the ignorant and heretical, the vicious and 
 profane, be allowed to participate in the sacramental solem- 
 nities, and still more, in the functions of the sacred minis- 
 try? Before the world, the Church must put a difference 
 between truth and error, between holiness and sin. By the 
 authority of Christ, for the glory of his name, for the repu- 
 tation of religion in the world, the licentious and disorderly, 
 the blasphemer and the heretic, must be excluded from the 
 fellowship of the saints. 
 
 Discipline, to accomplish its purposes, must be exercised 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 186 
 
 with tenderness, impartiality, and solemnity; and, when 
 the case demands it, with promptness and vigour. The 
 rules laid down in the constitution of the Church, in con- 
 formity with Scripture, must be scrupulously followed. 
 There must be no appearance of personal hostility, or pri- 
 vate revenge, or a disposition to seek an occasion for discip- 
 line. It must be evident that the officers of the Church, 
 are influenced by upright intentions, and conscientious 
 motives; by a solemn regard to the authority of Christ, 
 and a sincere desire to promote the welfare of the Church, 
 and of the offender himself. If the case be otherwise, if 
 there be a manifest exhibition of passion and prejudice, of 
 partiality and injustice, it would be vain to expect that dis- 
 cipline should produce a favourable impression upon the 
 Churcli, or upon the world. 
 
 In this age of aflccted liberality, but of real licentiousness 
 in religious belief, the ordinance of discipline is divested of 
 much of the weight and solemnity whicli it ought to pos- 
 sess. It is not unfrcquently contemned and set at de- 
 fiance, by men who justly incur its inflictions. Tiiis can- 
 not be done, however, without extreme peril. He that 
 despises the discipline of the Church, despises the institu- 
 tion and authority of the Son of God. The impenitent and 
 presumptuous oflender, will find the sentence of the Church 
 confirmed by the Supreme Judge, at the day of final ac- 
 count. ''Whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. " 
 The man wlio has fallen under the righteous censures of 
 the Church, is bound to practise submission, humiliation, 
 repentance, and amendment. If lie do not, his abuse 
 and contempt of this Divine institution, will aggravate his 
 condemnation and punishment, when Christ shall judge the 
 world. 
 
 18 
 
126 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 It is not possible, perhaps, nor is it of importance, to 
 mention every occasion upon which the exercise of disci- 
 pline is proper and necessary. Whatever is proved to be 
 wrong by the sacred Scriptures, and by the authorized 
 standards of the Church, may, in certain circumstances, re- 
 quire the correction which discipline alone can furnish. It 
 is the intention of discipline to encourage and promote 
 every thing that is pure, and lovely, and of good report; 
 to remove every slain and imperfection from the Christian 
 character; and to banish from the Church every cause of 
 offence, dishonour, and guilt. If any professor of religion 
 be guilty of neglecting the worship of God, of profaneness, 
 or Sabbath breaking; if he be grossly deficient in the per- 
 formance of relative duties, if he be chargeable with fraud, 
 falsehood, covetousness, malignity, or licentiousness; if he 
 be intemperate, or a promoter of intemperance in others; he 
 is certainly a proper subject for discipline. The private 
 means for reclaiming offenders having been found insuffi- 
 cient, the Church must resort to public censure, or excom- 
 munication. The command and honour of God, the purity 
 and tranquillity of the Church, the welfare of the offender 
 himself, render the employment of discipline, in such cases, 
 an imperative duty. 
 
 The discipline of the Church must be used, when oc- 
 casion requires, to maintain and vindicate the truths of the 
 Gospel, and to suppress heretical innovations. 
 
 The maintenance of evangelical doctrine, is of the highest 
 possible importance. It is by the manifestation of the 
 truth that God is glorified, the Church preserved and ex- 
 tended, sinners converted, and believers prepared for celes- 
 tial blessedness. On the contrary, false doctrine tends ne- 
 cessarily to dishonour the divine perfections, to corrupt the 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 127 
 
 Church, and to ruin the souls of men. It is possible that 
 error may be employed successfully in catching the atten- 
 tion and exciting the feelings of the ignorant; but after all, 
 a counterfeit Gospel can produce nothing better than a 
 counterfeit religion. We must be able to furnish more 
 authentic proofs of the correctness of our opinions, than that 
 they are adapted to arrest the attention, to alarm the fears, 
 and to agitate the passions of the hearers. "To the law 
 and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this 
 word, it is because there is no lio;ht in them." The trans- 
 cendent value of truth will be in some measure appreci- 
 ated, if we remember that it is only in connexion with it 
 that God is pleased to exert his power, for the conversion, 
 sanctification, and salvation of men. Beyond the limits of 
 Christian instruction, there is no indication of divine influ- 
 ence descending to renew the nature of man, and to quali- 
 fy him for the holiness of heaven. The l>story of the 
 Church also shows, that a perversion or abandonment of the 
 truth, is soon followed by an interruption of the refreshing 
 showers of heavenly mercy. Surely, then, the Churches 
 redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, have the highest 
 interest in the preservation of the truths of the blessed 
 Gospel; and no zeal, however ardent, no exertions, however 
 strenuous, directed to this object, can be considered dispro- 
 portionate to its importance. 
 
 It might perhaps have been thought that the exercise of 
 discipline would, on no occasion, be necessary for the de- 
 fence of the truth; that no man would seek to obtrude him- 
 self upon a community, whose religious faith was not in 
 harmony with his own; and that no minister, of any de- 
 nomination, would venture to contradict the established 
 principles of the Society of which he is a member. But 
 
128 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 these anticipations, however reasonable, are contradicted 
 by ample experience, both of the past and the present. 
 Too often has the Church been surprised and outraged, by- 
 finding her ministers acting in direct contravention to the 
 obligations they assumed, and the professions which they 
 made, at the time of their ordination. 
 
 Most of the communities into which the Church of God 
 is divided, have published to the world a Confession of 
 Faith, exhibiting the doctrines believed, and the rules 
 practised among them. The design of this exhibition is to 
 give information to all whom it may concern, of the princi- 
 ples upon which any particular association of professed 
 Christians is founded; and to provide a common ground of 
 agreement among the members of the same society. This 
 conduct is frank, upright, and honourable. The world has 
 a right to know the principles upon which any religious 
 society is constituted. Concealment is disingenuous, illibe- 
 ral, and a just ground of suspicion. How indeed can any 
 thing deserving the name of a society exist, unless there be 
 some basis of agreement, some principles which are recog- 
 nized by all as true and important? In this there is no en- 
 croachment upon the rights of others. We have unques- 
 tionably the right of choosing our associates; of settling the 
 rules of our intercourse, and the terms upon which we are 
 willing to admit others to our fellowship. 
 
 Some professed Christians have indeed opposed all creeds 
 and confessions of human composition. The Bible, say 
 they, is our creed: and they speak, in no measured terms, 
 of the presumption, folly, and danger, of introducing any 
 other creed into the Church. The plan which they propose 
 would answer every purpose, if all who profess to believe 
 the Scriptures concurred in the same interpretation of 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. IJ^g 
 
 them. The profession of faith in the Bihlc would then se- 
 cure an agreement, about the (rullis contained in the Bible. 
 But this is so far from being the case, that we find every 
 shade and variety of opinion, among men who equally pro- 
 fess to believe the Bible — from the pure doctrines of salva- 
 tion, down to the rejection of all that, is peculiar and essen- 
 tial to revealed religion. It is evident therefore, that this 
 profession alone cannot secure sound doctrine in any 
 Church, nor exclude the most destructive errors; that 
 there can be no agreement, no harmony, among men dif- 
 fering so widely as they do, who are equally ready to make 
 this profession. 
 
 In fact, every religious denomination have some standard 
 of belief among them, besides the Bible; some creed, avow- 
 ed or understood, which expresses their judgment respect- 
 ing the chief articles of faith. Perceiving tliis to be the 
 case, some object, not so much to a creed or confession, as 
 to one so extended and particular as those are, which the 
 churches have thought proper to adopt. The creed of the 
 Church, say they, ought to be confined to a few simple 
 principles, in which all Christians can unite. But here it 
 is obvious to inquire, who shall ascertain these few simple 
 principles, in which all Christians can unite? or rather how 
 shall we settle the preliminary question, Who are Chris- 
 tians? Is there no difficulty in answering these inquiries, 
 to the satisfaction of all who may be interested in them? 
 
 What remains, then, but that men, agreeing about the 
 chief principles of religion, form themselves into a society 
 upon the basis of this agreement, upon the profession of 
 their common faith; and that they commit their principles 
 to writing, for the information and satisfaction of all con- 
 cerned. Heretical departures from the truths of the Gos- 
 pel, gave occasion to the formation of creeds and confes- 
 
130 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 sions; and the number of articles to which they are extend- 
 ed is regulated, in a great measure, by the number of er- 
 rors to which men are exposed. 
 
 A few simple principles, however, do in reality deter- 
 mine the whole extent of the theological creed of every 
 denomination of Christians. The details which fill up the 
 volume, are either held in common by all, or are logically 
 deduced from the cardinal principles of the system. The 
 opposers of our Confession of Faith object, not so much to 
 its details, as to its fundamental doctrines. They may pro- 
 fess to find fault with it as too minute, too particular, too 
 far extended; but when they come to explain themselves, 
 it is soon discovered that their hostility is directed against 
 lis prmcipal doctrines, its essential characteristics. This 
 will be apparent from an enumeration of some of the 
 grand principles of our theological standards. 
 
 These venerable instruments teach the doctrines of di- 
 vine predestination and eternal decrees, that " God hath 
 foreordained whatsoever comes to pass," and in particular, 
 that " some men and angels are predestinated unto ever- 
 lasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death." 
 " Yet, so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is 
 violence ofiered to the will of the creatures, nor is the 
 liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but 
 rather established." See Confession of Faith, chap. iii. 
 sec. i. iii. vii. Larg. Cat. 12. 
 
 They teach the complete representative character of 
 Adam, "that the covenant being made with Adam, not 
 only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind de- 
 scending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in 
 him and fell with him, in his first transgression;" that in 
 consequence of the imputation of Adam's sin, all men are 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 18| 
 
 by nature in a state of condemnation, depravity, and help- 
 lessness, "utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite 
 unto all that is spiritually good: so that having wholly lost 
 all ability of will to any spiritual good, and being dead 
 in sin, man is not able by his own strength to convert 
 himself." 
 
 They teach that <' the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, 
 was made the Substitute and Surety of his people; that by 
 his vicai-ious obedience and sufferings, he hath fully satis- 
 fied the justice of his Father, and purchased not only re- 
 conciliation, but an everlasting inheritance, for all those 
 whom the Father hath given unto him. Neither are 
 any other redeemed by Christ, efrectually called, justified, 
 adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only." 
 
 They teach that believers are justified on account of the 
 satisfaction and righteousness of Christ, imputed to them, 
 and received by faith alone. 
 
 They instruct us to believe that cfiTcctual calling, or re- 
 generation, is the work of God's almighty power and grace, 
 in which man is altogether passive; and that by the imme- 
 diate, internal-, and effectual operations of the Holy Spirit, 
 believers arc enlightened, sanctified, and sealed, to eternal 
 redemption. 
 
 They show that holiness and good works are the proper 
 fruit and evidence of eternal election, and that without 
 them there can be no well-founded hope of everlasting life. 
 
 They instruct us, that all who arc brought into a state of 
 acceptance and sanctification shall, from the unchangeable 
 love of God, the efllcacy of tlic death and intercession of 
 Christ, and the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit, certainly 
 persevere to the end and be eternally saved. 
 
 These are some of the essential and characteristic princi- 
 
132 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 pies of our religious system. If any man believe them, 
 there is no danger of his quarrelling with our Confession of 
 Faith; of his objecting to its extent, or the minuteness 
 of its details. It is against what we deem the essential 
 truths of Divine revelation, the very basis of our religious 
 system, that the enemies of our Confession take exception. 
 Before satisfaction could be given to them, we must cast 
 away what we consider the chief excellence and glory of 
 scriptural Divinity; we must change our system to a form 
 as remote from pure Christianity, as the wanderings of the 
 human imagination are from the infallible dictates of Divine 
 inspiration. 
 
 In framing the standards of the Church, every reason- 
 able allowance ought to be made for the weakness of the 
 human understanding; and for the diversities of opinion 
 which are unavoidable among men of independent minds. 
 A determination ought not to be attempted of questions of 
 no importance, or of doubtful disputation, concerning 
 which there may be a difference among men who agree 
 in the main points of Christianty. It is highly expedient, 
 however, that every religious society should furnish an ex- 
 hibition of the principal articles of their faith, and of the 
 rules and practices prevalent among them. By these sym- 
 bols of the Church, a bond of association, a basis of agree- 
 ment and communion, is provided among the members; 
 a fair and liberal disclosure is made to the world; and use- 
 ful aids are furnished in subserviency to the Scriptures, 
 for the instruction of believers and of their children. 
 
 But the most important ends of a Confession of Faith are 
 not to be attained, unless it be strictly regarded by the 
 community in which it is adopted. Will the creed of a 
 Church indicate to the world the opinions of its members, 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 133 
 
 if every man allow himself an unlimited license in the re- 
 ception and interpretation of theological doctrines? Can 
 any harmony of judgment or sentiment exist in such a com- 
 munity? Is not the bond of union and fellowship virtually 
 and necessarily broken, by such unwarrantable liberties? 
 
 We have often heard of such a state of things in the secu- 
 larized Church establishments of Europe; of men embrac- 
 ing every opportunity to impugn the very doctrines which 
 theslandardsof their Church pronounced true and sacred: and 
 we have heard of it with amazement. We never considered 
 it short of insincerity and treachery of the most malignant 
 kind. What judgment, then, shall we form of the same 
 conduct when found among ourselves? Shall we pronounce 
 it a flagrant breach of faith, a scandalous dishonesty in the 
 Churches of Europe, but quite innocent and reputable in 
 the Presbyterian Church of America? It is not to be de- 
 nied, that there are among us men who have embraced a 
 scheme subversive of the known and established profession 
 of the community to which they belong; who do not hesi- 
 tate to use the language of disapprobation and contempt, 
 when speaking of the doctrines, which, at their ordination, 
 they solemnly declared to be agreeable to the Holy Scrip- 
 tures. However this conduct may appear to others, to 
 me, it seems an outrage upon the rights and feelings of their 
 fellow members, a violation of the fundamental principle 
 of the association, and a gross imposition upon the world. 
 
 It may indeed be alleged by these men, that the system 
 of doctrine which they once professed to believe, has fallen 
 far behind the improvements of the age; that new light has 
 lately burst upon their astonished minds; and tiiat it is un- 
 reasonable and impossible to cramp the expansive energies 
 19 
 
134 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 of their original and powerful genius, by the framework of 
 creeds and confessions. 
 
 If it be true, that the new light, of which they boast, has 
 enabled them to detect the errors of all former times, and 
 to make improvements in divinity far beyond the attain- 
 ments of their fathers; if it be admitted, that their masterly 
 intellects have proved the old system to be essentially erro- 
 neous, and that some new schem.e is alone worthy of their 
 high approbation, what is the consequence? What course 
 of conduct would a due regard to sincerity and integrity 
 dictate? A continuance in the Church, to contradict and vilify 
 its acknowledged doctrines? Certainly not. Every manly 
 and honourable sentiment, every principle of consistency 
 and duty, requires them to withdraw from a community 
 whose doctrines they think proper to repudiate, and at- 
 tempt to bring into reproach. They may advance high 
 pretensions to new light, and an improved system of theo- 
 logy; but these claims cannot be made whilst they retain 
 their connexion with the Church, whose doctrines they 
 reject, except at the expense of every title to fairness and 
 honesty. We admire the ingenuousness of a man who, at 
 every hazard, separates himself from a community, when 
 dissatisfied with its principles; we detest the baseness 
 which can convert office and standing, in any society, to the 
 destruction of its vital interests. Such a course deserves 
 the indignant rebuke of an offended community, and the 
 severe disapprobation of all honourable men. Every reli- 
 gious denomination has an interest in stamping the m.ark 
 of condemnation upon a procedure so remote from all fair 
 and honourable dealing. The common sentiments of man- 
 kind pronounce it uncandid, offensive, and wrong. If any 
 man disapprove the constitution of his Church, let him, be- 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 136 
 
 fore he permits himself to impugn it, renounce a profession 
 which lie knows to be neither cordial nor sincere. 
 
 It is well known that opinions are entertained in some 
 portions of our Church, very different from what we are 
 taught in our sound and scriptural standards. These dif- 
 ferencesare neither few nor unimportant. If adopted-, they 
 would be fatal to the venerable system of truth, which we 
 have received from our fathers, and which we believe to be 
 founded on the word of God. The covenant made with 
 Adam, is exploded. The doctrines of redemption and justi- 
 fication are moulded into a form, in which we can discern 
 scarcely a lineament of their former perfection and glory. 
 The ability of fallen, sinful man, is maintained to be ample 
 and universal; whilst the agency of the Holy Spirit is 
 limited to the presentation of truth to the mind, by the ex- 
 ternal instrumentalities of the Gospel. These are some of 
 the changes, which are so zealously recommended to our 
 acceptance, and which are so confidently pronounced im- 
 provements in theology. When such innovations arc at- 
 tempted, the duty of all who know and love the truth, can- 
 not be a matter of uncertainty. Has the Lord Jesus made 
 us acquainted with the glorious and precious doctrines of 
 his word? and can we be indifferent about their reception 
 and success in the world? Shall we have no zeal for the sup- 
 pression of baleful error? Shall we do nothing to discoun- 
 tenance a presumptuous and dishonest departure from the 
 acknowledged doctrines of the Church to which we belong, 
 by those, who, above all others, are bound to be faithful? 
 
 The attachment of the Presbyterian Churches of Scot- 
 land and Ireland to the genuine doctrines of their eccle- 
 siastical standards, has proved to be powerful and most 
 salutary. It has done much to purify these communities 
 
136 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 from the pestilent influence of heresy. The former un-' 
 soundness of some of their ministers is well known: and 
 nothing has contributed more to preserve those churches 
 from total corruption and apostacy, than their firm adher- 
 ence to their excellent and scriptural standards. A deter- 
 mination has been evinced, to assert the authority of the 
 doctrines of the Church, and to compel the patrons of dif- 
 ferent schemes to seek their sphere of action elsewhere. 
 
 American Presbyterians! Here are examples worthy of 
 your imitation. It is becoming and right to emulate the 
 commendable fidelity and zeal of others, in behalf of the 
 truth; and the happy success which has crowned the efforts 
 of your transatlantic brethren, may well serve to stimulate 
 your exertions. It is animating, it is delightful, to behold 
 the noble stand taken by some of the British churches, in 
 defence of truth, and in opposition to error and delusion. 
 May we not hope, that at length the same spirit will be 
 awakened in our Church; that a determination will be 
 manifested to preserve inviolate the pure doctrines of Scrip- 
 ture and of our Confession; and that a state of things will 
 soon exist, in which heresies, whether old or new, can no 
 longer be avowed and propagated with impunity by men, 
 who, to the sin of disseminating false doctrine, superadd 
 that of contradicting their profession, and -infringing their 
 solemn engagements. 
 
 Nothing operates more powerfully to destroy the peaqe 
 and prosperity of the Church, and to excite wrath, and 
 strife, and every evil work, than heretical departure from 
 the truths of the Gospel. Would it not be strange, if the 
 guardians of the purity and welfare of the Church had no 
 authority to arrest an evil so formidable and ruinous? The 
 Scriptures recognize this authority; and not only so, they 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 137 
 
 enjoin its exercise as an indispensable duty. We are com- 
 manded to avoid, to reject, to cut od", those who corrupt 
 and trouble the Church, by the propagation of false doctrine. 
 We are not permitted to bestow upon them the least coun- 
 tenance, mucli less to receive them to our fellowship, or to 
 retain them in it. "If there come any unto you, and bring 
 not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither 
 bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is 
 partaker of his evil deeds. " 
 
 In tlie infliction of discipline, on account of error, the 
 judicatories of the Church must be regulated by her estab- 
 lished standards. Wc maintain, indeed, that the Scrip- 
 tures are .the supreme and ultimate rule of truth and duty, 
 and that the subordinate standards of the Church ought to 
 be framed in >trict accordance with the suggestions of In- 
 spiration. If they be not, they ought to be thrown aside, 
 or corrected. But whilst the Confession of Faith retains 
 its authority, no member of our community is permitted to 
 appeal from its decision. It is the proper and immediate 
 criterion of truth and error, in the Presbyterian Church. 
 No man has a riglit to complain, if he be judged by the 
 law under wliicli he has placed himself. If he become dis- 
 satisfied with it, he is at perfect liberty to withdraw beyond 
 the reach of its jurisdiction. We must pronounce that to 
 be truth which accords with our standards, and that to be 
 error which contradicts them. 
 
 The most consummate address has always been em- 
 ployed by the advocates of error, to cover their advance, 
 and to screen themselves from deserved rebuke. At 
 one time, you will find them attempting to bring for- 
 ward their new divinity, during the heat and tumult of a 
 religious awakening; at another time, they are seen 
 
138 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 labouring to recommend it, by subtle argument and meta- 
 physical reasoning. If one of these men be called to an ac- 
 count for his heretical opinions, he is found ready to de- 
 fend himself with a world of explanations. He positively 
 asserts, that he differs from you only in words, or in points 
 not essential. He declares that he believes the same doc- 
 trines which others believe, and that he differs only in his 
 explanation of them : although it is evident, that what he calls 
 his explanation, is a flat contradiction of the doctrine. 
 Much is heard of the spirit and improvements of the 
 age, of new light, and more liberal ideas in religion; of 
 the importance of being divested of prejudice and a servile 
 dependence upon authority. It is enough to excite our 
 amazement, if not our indignation, to see a youth whose 
 attention has been directed to religious subjects only a few 
 years, perhaps m.onths, undertaking to depreciate the at- 
 tainments of the Church in all former times; and to set 
 himself in advance of the most learned and able divines 
 which the world has ever known. But surely to talk about 
 the improvements of the age, will not cover the arrogance 
 and absurdity of such pretensions. Improvements of the age! 
 Improvements in divinity! Has any new revelation been 
 received from heaven? Can any important truth be named, 
 to which the Church, in former ages, has been a stranger? 
 Nothing of the kind. In what, then, consist the boasted im- 
 provements in divinity, of which we hear so much? I an- 
 swer, in the revival of old and exploded errors, upon which 
 the Church has long since, and repeatedly, placed the mark 
 of reprobation. Our modern discoveries are derived, not 
 from the lively oracles, but from the graves of Pelagius, 
 Socinus, and other heretics. 
 
 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon all 
 
OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. jSg 
 
 the members of our Church, deeply and solemnly to con- 
 sider the present slate of things among us. At no time in 
 the liistory of our community, has the aspect of affairs ap- 
 peared so dark and appalling. The tide of delusion and 
 innovation has been advancing upon us with portentous im- 
 petuosity, threatening to sweep away all tliat we venerate 
 as excellent, and Ijvely, and scriptural, in our doctrines and 
 institutions. We beseech every Presbyterian, therefore, to 
 awake to the dangers which threaten the purity, the peace, 
 and the highest welfare of our denomination; and to repel 
 every attempt which may be made, to sot aside, or mutilate, 
 the genuine and approved system which we at present enjoy. 
 We ought to, and I hope we do, love and revere the establish- 
 ed principles of our standards. We know that under their 
 influence, our society has greatly prospered; and it should be 
 our ardent wish, that they may be transmitted unimpaired to 
 our children. How then can any be unconcerned, whilst 
 many among us are labouring to bring them into disrepute, 
 and to substitute another, and, in many essential respects, an 
 opposite system, in their place? We entreat you, then, for 
 your own sakcs, for the sake of your children, for the regard 
 you have for the honour of Christ, the advancement of truth, 
 and the prosperity of the Church, to beware of giving encour- 
 agement, in any way, to the promulgation of notions unknown 
 to our orthodox and scriptural Confession of Faith. The 
 indignant rebukes of the churches, ought to meet every at- 
 tempt to introduce another Gospel, in the place of that 
 which you have learned from the revelation of Jesus Christ. 
 We call upon the ruling elders, the guardians of the pu- 
 rity and welfare of our churches, duly to reflect upon ihe 
 high obligations which devolve upon them at this eventful 
 juncture. Beloved brethren, it is your province and duty 
 
140 SPRUCE STREET LECTURES. 
 
 to see that the people under your care be instructed in the 
 pure doctrines of the word of God, and that the acknow- 
 ledged principles of our Church be respected and maintain- 
 ed. It belongs to you to prevent, so far as your authority 
 extends, the propagation of a system of opinions unknown 
 to our standards, disowned by the Church of God in all past 
 ages, essentially repugnant to the Holy Scriptures, and de- 
 structive to all true and scriptural religion. Much is expected 
 from your firmness, your soundness in the faith, and your just 
 sense of the duties which belong to your station. We look 
 to you as most likely, under God, to sustain the cause of 
 evangelical truth, and to arrest the tide of novelty and de- 
 lusion, which, for some time past, has been advancing within 
 our limits. 
 
 Ministers of the everlasting Gospel, we call upon you to 
 exert the authority, which you have received from the 
 Lord Jesus, in defence of the truth, and for the prevention 
 of error, delusion, and discord, in the Churches. To you, 
 especially, it pertains to provide that the people be fed with 
 knowledge and understanding; and to see that the poison of 
 heresy be not administered to them, instead of the bread of 
 life. When men corrupt the Gospel, and distract the 
 Church by their pernicious innovations, you are under ob- 
 ligation to stay the plague, and to restore the body to a 
 sound state, by the use of discipline, the remedy which Di- 
 vine wisdom has appointed. In the discharge of this high 
 obligation, you are required, it is true, to act in the ex- 
 ercise of Christian meekness, forbearance, and kindness: 
 but you must not permit a feeling of tenderness, or a dread 
 of opposition and censure, to deter you from the perform- 
 ance of an indispensable, although an unpleasant duty. 
 You may expect to incur odium, suspicion and reproach. 
 
OF CirURCII DISCIPLINE. 
 
 141 
 
 But, being actuated by a pure regard to the honour and 
 command of God, the glorious truths of the Gospel, and tlie 
 best interests of the Church, you can well endure them. 
 To the sincerity and uprightness of your intentions, you 
 will have a witness in your own hearts — you will have a 
 witness in heaven. JSIay the great Head of the Church give 
 you light and direction in all things; and enable you, with 
 fidelity and firmness, to stand for God and truth; and to 
 resist the progress of unscriptural novelties, and the en- 
 croachment of mischievous errors. 
 
 And let us all, my beloved hearers, be assured that we 
 possess a spiritual discernment of the excellence and glory 
 of divine "truth; and that the truth has made us free from 
 the predominance of corrupt desires and affections. Unless 
 we have come to Christ, in consequence of our having heard 
 and learned of the Father; unless we are sanctified by the 
 Holy Spirit through the truth, a mere speculative under- 
 standing of tlic doctrines of religion will not accomplish our 
 salvation. Let us endeavour, by a life and conversation 
 becoming the Gospel, to adorn the doctrine of God our 
 Saviour in all things, that when he shall appear, we may 
 also appear with him in glory. 
 
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