obey the instructions of the Presbytery, is to put the Session under discipline for contumacy."* What penalties can church courts inflict? "But the highest punishment to which their authority extends is to exclude the contumacious and impenitent from the congregation of believers." They may administer admonition, rebuke, deposition from office, suspension from church privileges and excommunication. † The penalty must be determined by the offence and the circumstances under which it was committed. Excommunication is the most severe penalty, and is inflicted only when all other methods have failed to reclaim the offender. By it he is cut off from the visible Church “as a heathen man and a publican" (Matt. 18: 15-20; 1 Cor. 5: 4, 5). ‡ How are penalties to be inflicted? "The sentence shall be published only in the church or churches which have been offended. Or, if the offence be of small importance, and such as it shall appear most for edification not to publish, the sentence may pass only in the judicatory."§ The sentence "can derive no force whatever but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the Church universal," "since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects." || In the case of a Minister the sentence of suspension, deposition or excommunication is generally published in the congrega*Minutes G. A. 1877, p. 531. † Book of Discipline, ch. iv., sects. xvii. and xx. ; ch. v., sects. xi., xii., xiv.; Form of Government, ch. ix., sect. vi. Presbyterian Digest, p. 496. Book of Discipline, ch. iv., sect. xix. For the form see Directory for Worship, ch. x. Form of Government, ch. i., sect. viii. See p. 27. tion and Presbytery, and in some way (as by the public papers) to the whole Church and the public. If he confesses his crime," however penitent he may appear to the satisfaction of all, the Presbytery must without delay suspend him from the exercise of his office or depose him from the ministry; and, if the way be clear for the purpose, appoint him a due time to confess publicly before the congregation offended and to profess his penitence."* How can these penalties be removed? (1) By the court which inflicted the penalty, on receiving satisfactory evidence of the repentance of the offender. In the case of a Minister he "shall not be restored, even on the deepest sorrow for his sin, until after some time of eminent and exemplary, humble and edifying conversation, to heal the wound made by his scandal. And he ought in no case to be restored, until it shall appear, that the sentiments of the religious public are strongly in his favor and demand his restoration." + (2) By a superior court reversing the decision when the case has been orderly brought before it on review or by appeal or complaint. § What other powers have church courts? They have power to administer oaths to witnesses, to interpret laws, to review the records and decisions of the lower courts; to receive members; "to concert the best measures for promoting the spiritual interests of the congregation; to appoint delegates to the higher judicatories of the Church;" to examine and license and ordain Can *Book of Discipline, ch. v., sect. x. † Ibid., ch. iv., sect. xvii. For the form see Directory for Worship, ch. x., sect. viii. Book of Discipline, ch. v., sect. xvi. ? Ibid., ch. vii. didates for the ministry; to install and dismiss Pastors; to resolve questions of doctrine or discipline; to condemn erroneous opinions; to visit churches, redress evils, unite or divide congregations or form new ones; "to order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under their care; to erect, unite or divide Presbyteries;" to see that Presbyteries observe the constitution of the Church; "to propose such measures as may be of common advantage to the whole Church;" to decide all controversies respecting doctrine or discipline; to bear testimony against error and immorality; to erect new Synods; to superintend the concerns of the whole Church, correspond with foreign churches; to suppress schismatical disputations; to recommend "reformation of manners and the promotion of charity, truth and holiness through all the churches under our care.' For what object is church authority to be used? To secure proper instruction to the people, to uphold sound doctrine, maintain peace, to remove offences, to vindicate the honor of Christ, the promotion of the purity and general edification of the Church and to reclaim offenders (1 Cor. 5: 4; 14: 26; Tit. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5: 12, 13; Heb. 13: 17).† In what spirit is this authority to be exercised? In the spirit of Jesus Christ, with humility, meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, firmness, and without fear or partiality (Gal. 6:1; 2 Cor. 10: 1, 8-10; 1 Tim. 51; Tit. 1: 13; James 2: 4, 9; 3: 19; 2 Tim. 4:2). "The exercise of discipline in such a manner as to edify the Church requires not only much of the spirit of piety, but also much prudence and discretion." "Tak *Form of Government, ch. ix., sect. vi.; ch. x., sect. viii.; ch. xi., sect. iv.; ch. xii., sect. v. † Book of Discipline, ch. i., sect. ii. ing up charges on this ground" (on rumor or common fame) requires great caution and the exercise of much Christian prudence.”* How many church courts are there? "The Church (should) be governed by congregational, presbyterial and synodical assemblies.” The congregational assembly is called the church Session, and "consists of the Pastor or Pastors and Ruling Elders of a particular congregation.”† "The Presbytery consists of all the Ministers, in number not less than five, and one Ruling Elder from each congregation, within a certain district." Until 1716 this was the highest church judicatory in this country, and that Presbytery is now often referred to as the General Presbytery. § "The Synod is a convention of the Bishops and Elders within a larger district, including at least three Presbyteries." From 1716 to 1788 the Synod was the highest judicatory.§ "The General Assembly is the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian Church. It shall represent in one body all the particular churches of this denomination." "It shall consist of an equal delegation of Bishops and Elders from each Presbytery."¶ What courts have the right to testify against erroneous and injurious publications? In the opinion of the General Assembly any of our church courts have the right and responsibility to bear witness against any printed publication which is circulated within *Book of Discipline, ch. i., sect. v.; ch. iii., sect. v. Form of Government, ch. ix., sect. i. Ibid., ch. x., sect. ii. ? See p. 16. || Form of Government, ch. xi., sect. i. ¶ Ibid., ch. xii., sects. i. and ii. See p. 17. their bounds, which in its judgment inculcates injurious opinions, whether the author be dead or living, or whether in our denomination or not. Any church court may warn its Church against any erroneous book, even when it is not thought necessary to arraign the author as a heretic. This right is regarded as one of the most precious and powerful means of bearing testimony and of guarding the Church from error.* CHAPTER IX. OF THE CHURCH SESSION. I. Of whom does the church Session consist? "The church Session consists of the Pastor or Pastors, and Ruling Elders of a particular congregation." Can a special Session be appointed? Ruling Elders have jurisdiction only over those whom they represent.† The Presbytery cannot therefore authorize them to serve in other churches. The appointment by Presbytery of a "special Session" that is "composed of Elders belonging to different congregations," even to try a case of discipline, "is entirely unconstitutional." So the Assembly decided in 1823 and 1824. The O. S. Assembly in 1860 refused "to make provision for the calling of special Sessions of Ruling Elders from neighboring churches to obviate delays in cases of discipline for want of quorums of church Sessions."‡ In the decision of 1824 it is stated that "no Presby† Ibid., p. 124. See p. 57. * Presbyterian Digest, p. 122. Ibid., pp. 123, 124. |