Sixthly, because it deprives the Pastor, or any aggrieved member of the church, of the privilege and liberty, of appealing to any court of review.

Acts xv, 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

SECTION IV.

[The advantages and claims of the Presbyterian Church. 276. What claims, then, has the Presbyterian church on all her members?

She is scriptural in her character, ordinances, and doctrines-apostolic in her forms, officers, and order of government-adapted to secure the religious liberty and prosperity of all her members-and to extend the blessings of salvation to the ends of the earth.

277. Name some of the advantages possessed by members of the Presbyterian church.

They possess the right of choosing their own Pastors and Elders-they are neither subject to the spiritual despotism of a priesthood, nor to anarchy and misrule-they can bring any matter, whether it be unfaithfulness in Ministers and Elders, or in the other officers and members of the church, or errors in doctrine, before the church courts for investigation and decisionand they have the privilege and power, when their rights as citizens of Zion are assailed, of appealing from one church court to another.

278. Are not the principles of Presbyterian polity in perfect agreement with the principles of civil liberty?

Yes-in the equality of all her members and ministers-in her love of simplicity and orderin her opposition to all unnecessary distinctions -in her regard to the interests and wishes of her members, as well as ministers-in the open publicity of all her doings-in that model she has given of the exercise of the principle of representation-and in that shield which she has thrown around the person and character of the poorest of her members-she displays all the principles and features of true liberty, whether civil or ecclesiastical.

279. Are not Presbyterians, while grateful to God for these advantages, bound to extend them to all their fellow-men, as far as God shall give them ability and opportunity?

Yes it is the unquestionable duty of every member of the church, to assist her in prosecuting missionary and other labors in our own land, and throughout the world; until all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.

Matt. xxviii, 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

280. What is the duty of members of the presbyterian church, toward members of other christian churches?

They should respect their religious opinions and practices-avoid all bigotry and prejudice -abstain from all officious controversy, and underhand proselytism-reciprocate all acts of christian courtesy and kind regard-and co-operate with them in the promotion of every good word and work.

See also ii. 36.

THE END.