Required reading
Discussions (Vol 2) by Robert L. Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Fraternal correspondence'.
My summary
Today Dabney continues to speak about the divisions caused by the war.
This time he defends the actions of his State of Virginia and condemns the charges placed on them by the Presbyterian General Assembly in Philadelphia.
What grabbed me
I was interested by the problems that the form Presbyterian church government continued to bring to these churches: 'Of course, all of that Assembly, except the ignoramuses, knew better. They knew that, ecclesiastically and spiritually, they had nothing to do with the question, unless they had had the righteousness and moral courage, in the exercise of their pastoral function, to speak up for the rights of conscience, and advise moderation and conciliation to their own aggressive people. Even Dr. Hodge instructed them, timidly, of their usurpation. But they would not hearken. What was their motive? It was to grasp that influence which, they supposed, the edicts of a powerful spiritual court so long venerated would exert over the consciences of Presbyterians, to aid and strengthen the greedy political faction to which these usurping ecclesiastics happened to be attached by their passions and supposed interests. Such was the real nature of the war legislation from 1861 to 1866.'
Presbyterian government gives power to others outside the church.
Give me congregational church government any day.
Next week's reading
Read 'Fraternal relations'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment