Report of the Presbyterian Church Case: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at the suggestion of James Todd and others, vs. Ashbel Green and others [pp. 92-157]

~resbj'terian CiturcA Case. [JANvARY
acknowledge the authority of Colloquies or Synods in matters of discipline and order, and that they settle their dwell
ings in this kingdom, a thing of great and dangerous conse.
quence, if not in time carefully prevented: Now this assembly, fearing lest the contagion of their poison should diffuse
itself insensibly, and bring with it a world of disorders and
confusions upon us; and judging the said sect of IndependenIisn~ not only prejudicial to the ch~~rch of God, (because
as much as in it lieth, it doth usher in confusion, and openeth
a door to all kinds of singularities, irregularities, and extravagances and barreth the use of those means, which wotild
most effectually prevent them,) but also is vei'y dangerous
unto the civil state; for in case it should prevail and gain
grout~d among us, it would form as many religions as there
he parishes and distinct particular assemblies among us:"~
therefore, &c. &c. This is strong language; too strong, we
are persuaded, to be subscribed hy any Presbyterian even of
our harsh communion, hut very decisive as to the histori~al
question, in reference to`which alone we cite it. There
were many points of French Presbyterianism which are not
agreeable to otir views, chiefly those which were caused hy
the political relations of the Huguenot party. But the history of these churches is so rich in suggestions respecting
polity, disci1~line, and doctrine, that we feel surprised at the
neglect into which it has been allowed to fall.
ART. V.-lleporl of Ike Presbyterian Ckztrek Case: t~e
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at I/te sug~esIion of
James Todd and others, vs. ~shbel &reen and otke~~s.
By Samuel ~~~Iiller, Jun., a Member of the Philadelphia
Bar. Philadelphia: William S. Martien, 8vo. pp. 596.t
THE parties that so lately convulsed the Presbyterian
church in the United States now form two distinct and inde
* Quick, ii. 467.
tin publishing the fbliowing article, the conductors of the Princeton Review
have been led to depart from their usual rule of publishing nothing which does
not express in all respects their own opinions. This article, which they have
received from a member of the Bar, embraces the discussion of legal questions,
in relation to some of which there exists much diversity of opinion; and were it
possible so to modify it as to make it express entirely the views of the conductors
of this work, it would not be just to the author thus to destroy the entireness of
his argument and mar the ingenuity and force of his reasoning.