PRESBYTERIANISM.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2137, 12 March 1870, Page 2

PRESBYTERIANISM.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir—ln the course of reading an article by the Rev. William Arnot, of Free Church, Edinburgh—a minister well known to, and much beloved by, all Scotch Presbyterians— I was struck by the applicability of portions of it to the present state of St. Andrew’s congregation, in which differences have arisen tending, if continued, to utterly ruin one of the moat promising (notwithstanding the many trials it has passed through) of our congregations. With a sincere and earnest prayer that the Great Head of the Cimrch would put it into the hearts of those who differ from a large majority of their brethren to read carefully and prayerfully the quotations which follow, and endeavor to act upon the advice given, in order “ that a better testimony for Christ may be given to the world,” and that, coming from a minister of

such experience, his words may have weight with, and enable them to get out of a position which must be painful to themselves, and which they never ought to have occupied. I shall now give the quotations referred to “Through the weakness incident to humanity, differences will occur from time to time among good men engaged in a good work ; but through the grace of their common Lord it is their privilege to forgive and forget, and renew both their old love, and, when opportunity occurs, their old cooperation. On the other hand, when differences occur, we need not despair as if all were over. When you canuot work together, work in the same cause apart; on the other hand, do not rest contented in a stats of alienation from brethren, but cmbiace the earliest opportunity of reconciliation, that a better testimony for Christ may be given to the world.” “Orthodoxy is maintained where freedom is enjoyed.” “ Trying, sifting times are coming ; every Christian organisation should look well to its position, and its trim.” “ The truth is great and must prevail ” “ But here an old enemy appears, jealousy. The .Jews could not bear to see the Gentiles coming in multitudes, and the Apostles welcoming them into the kingkom. Jealousy is a dreadful passion; it is earthly, sensual, devilish. These Jews would rather want the kingdom than go into it with a crowd of Gentiles. This leaven has not yet cease I to work in the world. There is some disposition yet to drag the class distinctions of human society over the boundary into the kingdom of God. ‘All who enter, enter on equal terms.’ ” I cannot conclude, although I have already trespassed too much on your space and kindness, without entreating the membery of the Dunedin Presbytery carefully to peruse the above quotations, and ask themselves whether it might not be well for them to urge such a course of procedure on the minority alluded to in the foregoing, that peace may be restored in our church, and that the work of the Lord may not be hindered in our midst. I &m, &c., James P. Millar. Dunedin, 9th March, 1870.