"1st. We object to the TERM tribunal, when applied to the church. We not only regard it unscriptural, but in the general acceptation of the term it implies too much. It carries with it not only the authority to constitute a judgment seat, but the power to _reward_ and _punish_; the church has no such power. God is a sovereign. His government is monarchical--he has given his Son all authority in his church, and the whole government is upon his shoulder. The church has no authority to alter one of Christ's institutions, nor make the least law for the government of his spiritual body. The business of the church is to learn of Christ, to know his laws and institutions, and to walk by them; to fear God and keep his commandments is the whole duty of man. The church has no power to bestow rewards nor to inflict punishments; this alone is the prerogative of the Great Head of the church. Christians on earth have less authority over each other than some imagine. We have little to do with each other's private opinions: in these matters each stands or falls, or is accountable to his own master. To be sure, we are authorized to form an opinion of men from the fruits they bring forth--from the spirit they manifest; and we have power to fellowship or disfellowship according to the fruits brought forth; but we can inflict no other punishment, and this should be regarded as a Christian duty rather than in the light of punishment. As far as the church can exert a Christian influence in reclaiming men from the error of their ways, and as long as they, under guidance of the spirit of Christ, can labor for each other's advancement in the divine life, so long they can be useful. But the moment they feel that they have authority to punish, and begin to labor under that impression, they do mischief in the flock of Christ. Thus we object to the application of the term '_tribunal_' to the church, and the anti-Christian authority it seems to impart.