_Mr. C._ I confess, I like Br. R.'s views and proposition. If, by
calling the offspring of believers, "the children of the church," we, by
implication, abridged any of their privileges, or if, by calling them
church-members, we believed that they acquired rights and privileges not
otherwise appertaining to them, we ought to prefer the words member and
membership; but it is not so. No one of the writers cited,--and the
proofs we all know could be extended by quoting from other
authors,--claims the right of a child to full communion, except upon
evidence, in his "trial and examination," that he is regenerate. Indeed,
the only use to which the terms member and membership seem to be
applied, is, in furnishing some ground for urging the discipline and
excommunication of the child. This, though urged by some, is urged in
vain.
_Mr. R._ Other terms, in connection with members and membership, have
been proposed, such as members in minority, members in suspension,
future members; but all in vain. The children of believers are certainly
the children of the church, and such I devoutly hope and pray they may
come to be called.
_Mr. A._ Seeing that the use of the term _member_ keeps before our minds
a theoretical, hard necessity, from which every one shrinks, I think I
will alter my sermon so far as to dismiss the term, and, with it, all
sense of inconsistency in neglected obligations as to disciplining these
young "members."
"Well, Br. A.," said Mr. B., "I will join you in submission."
"So will I," said Mr. C. "How good it is to be convinced, and to give up
one's own will; is it not?"
"It ought to be," said Mr. A., "to those whose great business it is to
preach submission. But I think we did not differ at first, except as to
the use of terms."
_Mr. T._ I wish to make a confession. Though I have always been of Br.
R.'s opinion, I have felt it to be invidious, and, for several reasons,
disagreeable, to call a meeting of "the children of the church,"--making
a distinction between them and the other children of my pastoral charge.
Am I correct in such views and feelings?
"Come, Mr. Chairman," said Mr. A., "we have not paid you sufficient
deference, I fear; for we have hardly kept order, in addressing one
another, and not through you. Now, please to speak for us, and tell us
what you think of Br. T.'s difficulty."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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