Theories of the Eldership [pp. 449-472]

Theories of the Eldership.
the spiritual interests of the people, preserve their rights, and
secure their prosperity, peace and purity, and the godly upbringing of the children of the church-all this pertains to the
eldership, and is expected from them, according to their several
ability and opportunity.
This view gives to the eldership the power of the church in a
very large measure, and to the church itself its popular representative character. This view gives to the church also its
spiritual character. As elders are, the church will be; and as
elders are, the ministry itself will, in all ordinary cases be;
and either be as greatly hindered in what they would be,
or helped in all they would accomplish. Elders can vitalize and
popularize the church. There are no limits to their usefulness.
They are the palladiums of the church's liberty and rights,
and the preservers of its purity, both of doctrine and of life.
Such then is the Presbyterian theory of the eldership, as
found in its standards, and in the history and practice of every
Presbyterian church. The question, therefore, between this
and the new theory is not, what ought to be, but what is constitutional-not what might be constitutionally altered, if a
better is pointed out; nor even what is most scriptural, and
most authoritatively maintained; but simply what is the Presbyterian system as it regards ruling elders? and are Presbyterian ministers and officers under solemn and covenant engagement bound to maintain and preserve it?
Is this then, we ask, the theory of the Presbyterian church
in these United States on the subject of the eldership? The
answer can be definitely given. That our church does not
hold the theory propounded by Dr. Breckinridge, Dr. Thornwell, Dr. Adger and others, is admitted. "The ruling elder,"
says Dr. Thornwell,* "even in the decisions of the General
Assembly occupies a very anomalous position, and it is still
disputedt....whether he belongs to the same order with
the minister, or whether the minister alone is the presbyter of
Scripture, and the ruling elder a subordinate assistant. It is
still disputed whether he sits in Presbytery as the deputy of
* Southern Presbyterian Review, October 1859, p. 615.
t What is not at all disputed by the church, is here omitted.
[JULY
470