Publication
S.l.: s.n., [1892]
Physical description
146 p.; 24 cm
Notes
A digital edition of this title, in various formats, is available at https://archive.org/details/presbyterianchur00pres_71
OPENING WORDS—
Mr. Moderator and Brethren:
We all feel the pressure of Christian work and the responsibility of caring for the spiritual interests of the Church and of seeking the salvation of immortal souls so keenly, that we cannot fail to regard a trial for heresy as a great evil, an evil so great as to amount well-nigh to a calamity.
We all deeply deplore the state of things which confronts us.
But, however great the evil, and much to be deplored, trials for heresy may become a necessity. As in the family, so also in the Church, discipline may not only be necessary, but become the supreme duty of the hour; and it would surely be greatly to the discredit of the Church if, when that hour has come, it should have neither the grace nor the courage to be equal to the responsibility.
The inception of this trial was not left to the decision of any one individual. After a calm and prayerful investigation, the Presbytery itself decided that the emergency had arisen for the commencement of judicial process.
The Presbytery of New York, in view of the widespread disturbance which Dr. Brigg's utterances were creating in the Church, was obliged to do something to vindicate its own good name, and to prove its fidelity. Under such circumstances it is more than ever our solemn duty to examine all matters coming before us with the utmost thoroughness, candor and impartiality.
In a case like this, impartial examination is difficult. It is characteristic of our times to claim the utmost freedom of utterance and belief. Every one of us demands the largest liberty as man's natural birthright, and denounces intolerance as one of the greatest evils.
But lovers of truth have ever thought it a privilege to sacrifice their liberty for her preservation, and intolerance itself, in defence of truth, has become a virtue. It was in the defence of truth that an Apostle of Christ, with rare courage, declared "If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."*
[* Galatians 1:9]
OPENING WORDS—
Mr. Moderator and Brethren:
We all feel the pressure of Christian work and the responsibility of caring for the spiritual interests of the Church and of seeking the salvation of immortal souls so keenly, that we cannot fail to regard a trial for heresy as a great evil, an evil so great as to amount well-nigh to a calamity.
We all deeply deplore the state of things which confronts us.
But, however great the evil, and much to be deplored, trials for heresy may become a necessity. As in the family, so also in the Church, discipline may not only be necessary, but become the supreme duty of the hour; and it would surely be greatly to the discredit of the Church if, when that hour has come, it should have neither the grace nor the courage to be equal to the responsibility.
The inception of this trial was not left to the decision of any one individual. After a calm and prayerful investigation, the Presbytery itself decided that the emergency had arisen for the commencement of judicial process.
The Presbytery of New York, in view of the widespread disturbance which Dr. Brigg's utterances were creating in the Church, was obliged to do something to vindicate its own good name, and to prove its fidelity. Under such circumstances it is more than ever our solemn duty to examine all matters coming before us with the utmost thoroughness, candor and impartiality.
In a case like this, impartial examination is difficult. It is characteristic of our times to claim the utmost freedom of utterance and belief. Every one of us demands the largest liberty as man's natural birthright, and denounces intolerance as one of the greatest evils.
But lovers of truth have ever thought it a privilege to sacrifice their liberty for her preservation, and intolerance itself, in defence of truth, has become a virtue. It was in the defence of truth that an Apostle of Christ, with rare courage, declared "If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."*
[* Galatians 1:9]