Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

6. CHEISIIAN NATION. Volume 18.T h e GhFistiaD flatioDWEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1898.P. O. Box 2633, New Yobk.John W. Pritchard, - Editor and Manageb.Associate Editors :Rev. W. J. Ooleman,Rev. O. D. Trumbull, D. D.,Prof, J. M. Ooleman.Department Editors :Departmentof Missions,'Rqy. F. M. Foster.Sabbath School Lesson, Rev. T^ P. Robb.Primary S. S. Lesson, Grace Hamilton George.Prayermeeting Topic, Rev. T. H. Aoheson.Christian Endeavor, Rev. T. Holmes Walker.TTie Week in Beview, Prof. J. M. Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet S. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Rev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Corner:Mrs. Rev. R. J. George, Mrs. M. S. Gibson,Beaver Falls, Pa.New Castle, Pa.great system of morals, of which political principlesform orly a part." ( Vindiciae Gallicae,215.) This is the foundation principle uponwhich covenanting rests. Social bodies areRATES TO SYNOD.moral beings, and as such they are under moralOnaccount of R. R rules and Columbian Eiposition law. The formulation and recognition of thatrates, it has been very difficult to secure further reducmoral law over and above them becomes thetions. Ministers cannot do better than use their halfiares. D. Boyd of Kansas Oity, Mo., has secured halfbasis of church covenants and national covenants." A covenant proceeds upon the sup­fares from Kansas Oity via St. Louis. We hope for atwo third fare over Pittsburgh & Western, Baltimore position of something being obligatory, and& Ohio, aud Lake Erie R. R. O ertificates will be sent here is the idea of law. It implies an engagementto perform what is admitted to possessor notice given. As yet nothing can be secured fromNew York.D. 0. Maetin,the obligation, and here is the idea of a vow.D. BoTD,W. T. Miller,It supposes the coveni nter to appeal to GodJ. W. Cavan. with regard to the sincerity of his intentions,The Editor of the Christian Nation tookit upon and here is ihe idea of an oath." Social cov­himself to see that every minister of our churoh wouldbe provided with half-fare permits over the B. & O.E. K., and with such a purpose in mind, he sent alist of our ministers to the General Passenger Agentat Baltimore, requesting this kindness. He has receivedthe following reply:Baltimore, May 10, 1893.Mb. j. W. Pritohabd, Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledgereceipt of yours of the 26th, enclosing list ofdelegates to the meeting of the Beformed PresbyterianOhurcb at New Castle, Pa , in the latter part ofthis month. I have today forwarded to the partiesnamed therein, clerical permits for the year 1893.Please accept my thanks for your kindness in therather with the view of calling attention to thesubject that is so intimately associated with ourchurch's existence. Mr. Wylie rightly rejectsthe old-time doctrine of the social compact, asa theory that tries to account for the origin ofthe state. And yet, although the social body,in church and state, is not the result of such acompact, but an organization provided for in perpetuated in the succession of generationsthe social nature of man ; the idea of contract every generation sustaining the same moralcannot be entirely eliminated, for as Professor relation to God as the moral Head of the universe.Huxley says, " Much as the notion of a socialThere is a practical and essential iden­contract has been ridiculed, it nevertheless tity in the corporate body beoause thia socialseems to be clear enough that all social organizationwhatever, depends upon what is substantiallya contract, whether expressed or implied,between the members of the society. No societyever was, or ever can be held together reallybody never at any single moment changes itsconstitution entirely, the constant changes affectingthe individual members that go to makeup the composition of the social organism.Covenanting stands confirmed not only upon aby force." (Administrative Nihilism, p. 72.) theoretical or a priori chain of reasoning, butThe foundation of the existence of a social bodyis the moral order as it findsits ultimate andfinal revelation in the moral law. This is universallyrecognized in reference to the churchof Ohrist, Christ himself who is the cornerstone being the finalityof, the finalfulfilmentand expression of the law iu respect of righteousness.It is the same in the civil-politicalsphere. The nation is a moral organism.Hence Sir Jas. MacKintosh speaks of " theenanting is a solemn joint transaction in whichmen express their acceptance of God end hislaw, engaging in all the relations of life to obeyHim and ts fulfil the obligations resting uponthem in these relations, believing that in suchcovenant relations with God, they are broughtso close to Himself that His promises vouchsafedto them form the reward of their morallives. Covenants possess a special obligatoryforce, unique in respect of the voluntary submissionof him who covenants. It cannot beput better than in the oft-quoted words of Dr.Wm. Symington, " The covenant does not bindmatter. Yours truly,J. M. SOHRYVEB, A. a. P. A. to anything additional to what the law of GodUpon receipt of this letter the Editor wrote again to contains, but it additionally binds." The continuousand perpetual obligation of moral cov­Mr. Schryver requesting a concession in rates for laydelegates. IfSOCIALa favorableCOVENANTING.reply is received, word willbe sent at once to the ministers, that they may oommunioateAn article the same appeared to the in elders. the last two numbers forcement. In the regular civil and secular must our great and lasting prosperity beenants is the one great truth that requires en­expressed in the words of Paxton, " To whatfrom the pen of an esteemed brother, who has relations of life the principle is enforced, otherwisewith the birth of every new citizen a com­tothe covenants of our fathers, to which aowing? We believe it has been greatly owingalready done signal service to the cause ofCovenanterism. We wish to call special attentionto the subject, not by way of supplement­bond that unites man in social life would be spect. It was not the ocean that surroundsmon statehood would be dissolved, and every faithful and gracious God has hitherto had reingthe statements of the writer, for the topic broken with every individual death. Eepudi-us ; it was not the number and prowess of ouris dealt with in an exhaustive manner ; butate the obligation of a covenant, and in a momentbusiness and government become impossible,honest morality flees away from the world,and all national deeds become only dead lettersto the man or group of men who have not personallybeen parties to the particular transactions.Churches and nations are continuoussocial bodies having their continued existence*history fully bears out the witness of theory.Covenanting on the social principle had itsorigin in the first man, the head of the humanfamily, who was placed upon his probation andwho therein sinned and fell, upon the covenantprinciple of representation. The civil-ecclesiasticalhistory of Israel ia a standing testimonyto the worth and special excellence ofcovenanting in the social condition. The historyof the Eeformed Eeligion of Ohristianity,transmitted through the Ohristian fathers, theWaldensian refugees, the Puritans of pre-reformationdays, and the Covenants of the reformation,is ample testimony to the historicalvalue of the principle. The National Covenantof Scotland and the Solemn League and Covenantof Great Britain and Ireland, banding togethertrue Christians in " the preservation ofthe reformed leligion," in " defence of the libertiesof the kingdom," and to " preserve thecivil ruler's just power and authority," havegiven to Covenanterism an imperishable memoryin the struggle for religious and civil liberty." The problem which neither Locke norPaley could solve, was solved at once andsolved for ever, by the poor lone wanderers onthe mountains and moors of Scotland," as theycombined together in covenant under the leadershipof KING JESUS to assert the natureand limits of civil allegiance, and to point outthe duty of dissent from immorally constitutedcivil governments, as a corollary of the principleof covenanting. The device that wasborne on the banner of Free Frisian independencein Holland—" Free as the wind as longas it blew"—led the victors on through Alva'sblood to freedom that triumphed over the Armidaof Phihp of Spain, and set the patternto those free-loving souls that devised " Ohrist'sCrown and Covenant" as their signal watchword,that has already given to the world animperishable liberty. Our conclusion may befleets and armies, nor the wisdom of our councils; but the sword of the Lord and the bucklerof his favor that saved us. Thus has God conferreda moral sublimity and wondrous proeperityupon the nations that bound themselvesin these sacred bonds—THE COVENANTSNOT TO BE FOEGOTTEN."