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THE DOCTRINE OF IMPUTATION.

The following short paper from the Christian Observer, it will be perceived, refers to a previous article in that excellent work. What we insert, however, is perfectly intelligible by itself, and is evidently the production of a learned biblical critic, and a man of sound doctrinal sentiments. It deserves to be read with care and attention.

We have Italicised one sentence, which contains the scriptural doctrine of imputation; and shows that those who hold that nothing is imputed till it is actually possessed, deny altogether the doctrine of imputation, as taught in the volume of inspiration, and as held by the Protestant reformers.

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To the Editor of the Christian Observer. Your correspondent J. in your number for June, is perfectly right in calling the attention of your readers to the plural form of the word translated "righteousness" in Rev. xix. 8. I do not, however, think him correct in interpreting the word to mean righteous acts performed. The verb dixaow is to justify, acquit, or declare innocent; and all its derivatives partake of the same meaning. Henee dixaia

is properly the act of acquitting; navn the state of acquittal; and dixaiwa the acquisition of that state, whether by imputacertainly was not what is usually called

eloquent; but his audience were occasionally melted into tears, by the simple pathos of his address. His preaching was eminently doctrinal and didactic, but always with a practical application; and it wore well. To the last, his authority and influence with his people were unusually great. He had formed such high ideas of what a minister of the gospel ought to be, that his own attainments and labours always appeared to him to be of a very inferior kind. Would it not be well if there was more of these views and feelings?

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tion or service; or, secondly, it is any institution which may help us to obtain it. In the first of these two senses the word is used in Rom. v. 16, viii. 4; in the second, in Luke 1. 6, Rom. i. 32, ii. 26, Heb. ix. 1, 10, Rev. xv. 4. In the

passage under consideration it is implied that all the saints have been employed in seeking justification, every one for himself; and the various methods by which they have severally sought and eventually obtained it, are summed

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given them. Thus is the righteousnes of the purest saint a free gift at last. He is invested with the righteousness of his Redeem

in the "fine linen" which is

er.

I also apprehend that J. is inaccurate, in stating that it is the effect (that is, the rewards and honours merited) of the perfect obedience of our blessed Lord, which God imputes, reckons, or accounts to the benefit of all true believers in him. To impute, is one thing; to give, another. God imputes to the believer the spotless purity and innocence of the Redeemer, and therefore gives him the reward which his Redeemer has merited. The whole doctrine of imputation rests on this principle, that something is attributed to the believer in Christ, which, at the time of the imputation, he does not possess. The imputation, therefore, is perfect at once, in his life; whereas the reward and crown of righteousness are not fully bestowed till the next. Both as respects justification, however, and reward, your correspondent and I entirely agree, that the Lord is graciously pleased to treat the faithful disciples of his Son, as if they were entitled to all the privileges and blessings which his gratuitous obedience has earned for them.

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!" D. D.

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE PRESBY

TERIAN CHURCH. No. VII.

There were two powerful excitements which operated on the minds of the New School Presbyterians to rally their forces, with a view to secure a dominant influence in the last General Assembly; the first was the case of Mr. Barnes; the second, the change of the Board of Missions-the former affecting more immediately the doctrines of our church; the latter its ecclesiastical order, or government. On the subject of missions, we have already made some remarks, and reserve it for conside. ration whether we shall hereafter add to them or not. On the case of Mr. Barnes, we have as yet said nothing, except to mention it as connected with other topicks. But the manner in which this case was disposed of, was, we believe, entirely novel-a complete unique, in the proceedings of the Supreme Judicatory of our church, and hence it serves to mark, in no inconsiderable degrée, the present state of that church. We shall therefore devote to its consideration the remainder of our present number, and perhaps the whole of

our next.

We shall, in the first place, lay before our readers all that appears in the printed minutes of the Assembly, relative to the case in question. The dates of the several items of record, are of no material importance, but we shall notice them, that the progress of the business may be seen.

The second day of the session, A. M. "The Permanent Clerk informed the Assembly that there had been put into his hands the following papers, viz. "Complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, against a reference by said Presbytery of the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes;" and "The case of the Rev. Horace Belknap, referred to the General Assembly, by the Presbytery of Harmony." These cases were referred to the Judicial Committee." "The Permanent Clerk reported that there had been put into his

hands a complaint from Thomas Bradford, Jr. Esq. against certain proceedings of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in relation to the Rev. Albert Barnes. This complaint was referred to the Judicial Committee." Second day, P. M.-"The Permanent Clerk reported that there had been put into his hands the following papers [several are specified, one of which is said to be] A complaint by the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, against the proceedings of the said Presbytery, in the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes. These cases were referred to the Judicial Committee." "The Permanent Clerk announced to the Assembly that there had been put into his hands a reference from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, of the whole case of the Rev. Albert Barnes before that Body. This case was referred to the Judicial Committee." Sixth day A. M. (inclusive of the Sabbath, and Wednesday, spent in devotional exercises.) "The Judicial Committee reported the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia in the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes, and recommended an

order to be pursued in hearing their complaint. This report was accepted." Sixth day, P. M." The Assembly resolved to take up the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the case of Mr. Barnes. The Moderator, agreeably to a standing rule, announced that the Assembly was about to pass to the consideration of the business assigned for trial, and enjoined on the members to recollect and regard their high character as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and the solemn duty in which they were about to act. The Assembly united in prayer for direction in this business." Seventh day, A. M." The Assembly resumed the consideration, of the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes. The

whole proceedings of the Presbytery in the case complained of, and the printed sermon of Mr. Barnes, entitled 'The Way of Salvation,' which led to these proceedings were read." Seventh day, P.M.-"The consideration of the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia was resumed; and their complaint was read. The parties then agreed to submit the case to the Assembly without argument; when it was resolved to refer the whole case to a select committee. Dr. Miller, Dr. Matthews, Dr. Lansing, Dr. Fisk, Dr. Spring, Dr. J. McDowell, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Ross, Mr. E. White, Mr. Jessup, and Mr. Napier, were appointed this committee." Tenth day P. M.-" The committee to whom was referred the whole case in relation to the Rev. Albert Barnes, made a report, which being read, was adopted, and is as follows, viz.

"That after bestowing upon the case

the most deliberate and serious consideration, the committee are of the opinion that it is neither necessary nor for edification, to go into the discussion of all the various and minute details which are comprehended in the documents relating to this case. For the purpose, however, of bringing the matter in controversy, as far as possible, to a regular and satisfactory issue, they would recommend to the Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. "1. Resolved, That the General Assemsem bly, while it appreciates the conscientious zeal for the purity of the church, by which the Presbytery of Philadelphia is believed to have been actuated in its proceedings in the case of Mr. Barnes; and while it judges that the sermon by Mr. Barnes, entitled, "The Way of Salvation," contains a number of unguarded and objectionable passages; yet is of the opinion, that, especially after the explanations which were given by him of those passages, the Presbytery ought to have suffered the whole to pass without further notice.

"2. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Assembly, the Presbytery of Philadelphia ought to suspend all further proceedings in the case of Mr. Barnes.

3. Resolved, That it will be expedient, as soon as the regular steps can be taken, to divide the Presbytery in such way, as will be best calculated to promote the peace of the ministers and churches belonging to the Presbytery.

"With respect to the abstract points proposed to the Assembly, for their decision, in the Reference of the Presbytery, the committee are of the opinion that if they be answered, they had better be discussed and decided in thesi, separate from the case of Mr. Barnes.

"The Judicial committee reported that the other complaints, and the reference in relation to the case of Mr. Barnes, they considered 'as merged in the report just adopted. This report was accepted.

"The Assembly having finished the business in relation to Mr. Barnes, united in special prayer, returning thanks to God for the harmonious result to which they have come; and imploring the blessing of God on their decision."

We have now to ask that the following particulars may be well noted. 1. That up to the time when this case was submitted to the Assembly, the whole of the proceedings had been in strict conformity with the order prescribed in our church government, for the conducting of a trial in our ecclesiastical courts. All the papers in the pending cause had been committed to a judicial commit

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tee; that committee had reported on them, and pointed out the order of proceeding; the moderator had solemnly announced that the Assembly was now to sit as a court of Jesus Christ"-and had formally called on the members "to recollect and regard their high character as judges" in such a court; all the papers, containing the evidence in the trial, had been read to the court, and also the protests and responses in the courts below, together with the complaint to the highest court; all which, taken together, contained in substance, the pleadings deemed necessary by the parties on both sides-contained the whole of the evidence, and so much of the arguments pro and con, and this in writing or in print, as to be a strong inducement to waive any enlargement on them, in oral pleadings, before the supreme court; and accordingly the whole cause, as is sometimes done in civil courts, was "submitted to the Assembly without argument." We wish these last quoted words of the record may be marked and remembered. It was to the Supreme Judicatory, or highest court of the Presbyterian church, then formally and solemnly sitting as such, and to no other arbiters whattheir cause without argument. soever, that the parties submitted

2. From the time that the cause was submitted, the prescribed course of judicial proceeding laid down in the constitution was aban

doned; and one of a different kind, and entirely novel in such cases, was adopted in its place. The constitutional course, after parties are heard, is specified in the third section of chapter vii. of the Book of Discipline. The section indeed relates directly to appeals, but since no other prescriptions are contained in the constitution relative to the mode of proceeding in a judicial process, and the 5th and 6th articles of the fourth section, which relates to complaints, dis

tinctly contemplates a judicial proceeding, there can be no doubt that what is said under the section of appeals was intended to be applicable here. It was exactly followed by the Synod of Philadelphia, in disposing of a complaint relating to the case of Mr. Barnes. We find the constitutional order in articles IX. and X. of the section that relates to appeals, which articles are as follows "IX. After all the parties shall have been fully heard, and all the information gained by the members of the superior judicatory from those of the inferior which shall be deemed requisite, the original parties, and all the members of the inferior judicatory shall withdraw; when the clerk shall call the roll, that every member may have an opportunity to express his opinion on the case;* after which the final vote shall be taken. X. The decision may be either to confirm or reverse, in whole or in part, the decision of the inferior judicatory; or to remit the cause for the purpose of amending the record, should it appear to be incorrect or defective; or for a new trial."

From this course of procedure, there was, as we have said, a complete departure; and one entirely new, and of a different character, was substituted for it. The subject submitted to the court was referred to a committee; and when the committee reported, there was no" calling of the roll, that every member might have an opportunity to express his opinion on the case,' before the final vote was taken; and this vote was taken precisely as is done in deciding on ordinary subjects, when the Assembly is not sitting in its judicial capacity. This capacity, as we have seen,

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* Let it be observed that the language here is unequivocally IMPERATIVE. "The clerk shall call the roll, that every member may have an opportunity to express his opinion on the case."

VOL. X.-Ch. Adv.

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it had solemnly assumed, and in this capacity it had acted till the cause was submitted; nor was there ever an intimation that the Assembly had ceased to act, in this case, as a court of judicature, engaged in trying a cause. But thus it did in fact cease to act; and to this hour, therefore, there has been no judicial decision, constitutionally made, on the case submitted to the last Assembly, by the parties in the Presbytery of Philadelphia.

It may be remarked, and it is certainly true, that a proposition to submit this whole cause to a committee had been made, even before the papers relating to it had been read. It is also true, that the motion to submit the entire subject was renewed, as soon as the court had heard the parties. But it is not true that the representatives of the Presbytery of Philadelphia ever consented to give up their right to a regular judicial trial and decision. Had they done so, they would have betrayed their trust. They had been explicitly instructed "to use their best endeavours to obtain a full discussion of the points submitted, and an explicit decision of the Assembly in regard to the same." In waiving their right to plead, it was obvious to reflect that those members of the Assembly whose opinions agreed with their own-and they knew there were present many such members, of high character for knowledge and ability

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would do full justice to the cause, when they should be called to speak in the order of the roll.

The proposition to submit the cause without argument was first agreed to by the complainants, on the express condition, however, that the representatives of the Presbytery would do the same. When the latter were asked if they would accede to such an agreement, there was some hesitation. The present writer, who was one C

of them, requested a little time to reflect, and to consult with his colleagues. This was refused, and a prompt answer was demanded. No more time was allowed or taken, than was barely necessary to ask each of the individuals representing the Presbytery, and who was present (one was, at the moment, out of the house) whether he would consent to waive his right to plead. The answer was affirmative and unanimous. Whether this was the best course that might have been taken, may be, and has been questioned; and we wish not to exempt from merited blame, any party, or any individual, to whom blame ought to attach. One of the brethren who represented the Presbytery, has since told us, that he understood, that opportunity for argument was to be allowed the parties, after the contemplated committee should have made their report. All, it is believed, were impressed with the idea that pleading would consume much time, would probably produce much irritation in a large and deeply interested audience, and ultimately have little if any effect on the decision of the court -in which, as already intimated, there were many able men, prepared, as was believed, to give their opinions, as well as their votes, in favour of orthodoxy and order. In haste, then, whether right or wrong, the representatives of the Presbytery submitted the cause at once-to THE COURT, (we repeat and appeal to the record) and to no other arbitrament whatever.

In the speech which was delivered by the respected member who made the motion for a committee, there were, we are constrained to say, some things that surprised us more and pleased us less, than perhaps any thing else that we ever heard from his lips. We saw that the appointment of such a committee as he moved for was a novel measure, when a cause was

already before judges in a court; and we augured no good from its appointment. We saw that the report of this committee would unavoidably have a great influence on the ultimate decision; and hence our chief objection that a New England delegate should have a vote in the committee, when he was precluded from one on the final award by the court. Yet we could not say then, nor can we say now, that the Assembly, even when sitting as a court, is not constitutionally competent to commit any subject, for the purpose of digesting and giving order to it, when it is complicated; and the case in question was doubtless one not a little complicated. We also thought it possible that the maker of the motion might have in his mind something which did not occur to us, that might be advantageous in presenting the points of most importance, for the ultimate and distinct determination of the court: and we owe it to this brother to mention, that when the committee for which he had moved, and of which he was the chairman, had been canvassing the business committed to them for a considerable time, he called "us out of the house, with a view, as he said, to assure us that when he moved for this committee he had hoped and expected that not a little good would result from it; but intimated, as we understood him, that he was likely to be much disappointed. He did not say, nor did we ask him, either then or since, in what manner he had hoped the committee would be useful. The only reply that. we made, was, that we never expected that the committing of this subject would result in any thing beneficial. Here the conversation ended, and we returned to the Assembly. Let it be distinctly noted then, that if consent of parties to change the constitutional mode of terminating this controversy, might be supposed to authorize such a change, this consent was

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