This Day in Presbyterian History

An excerpt from Selected Works of John Calvin: Tracts and Letters, edited by Henry Beveridge and Jules Bonnet (Baker, 1983), vol. 7, p. 183.

“There exists but a small number of letters exchanged between Knox and Calvin. Those of the Scotch Reformer alluded to [earlier in this letter] in Calvin’s answer, have been lost and the letters of the Reformer of Geneva have not had a better fate. Dr. McCrie, the learned historian of Knox, affords no explanation of the loss of this precious correspondence, which leaves in history a void so much to be regretted.”

Geneva, 23d April 1561.
“. . . I come now to your letter, which was lately brought to me by a pious brother who has come here to pursue his studies. I rejoice exceedingly, as you may easily suppose, that the gospel has made such rapid and happy progress among you. That they should have stirred up violent opposition against you is nothing new. But the power of God is the more conspicuously displayed in this, that no attacks either of Satan or of the ungodly have hitherto prevented you from advancing with triumphant constancy in the right course, though you could never have been equal to the task of resistance, unless He who is superior to all the world had held out to you from heaven a helping hand. With regard to ceremonies, I trust, even should you displease many, that you will moderate your rigor. Of course it is your duty to see that the church be purged of all defilements which flow from error and superstition. For it behooves us to strive sedulously that the mysteries of God be not polluted by the admixture of ludicrous or disgusting rites. But with this exception, you are well aware that certain things should be tolerated even if you do not quite approve of them. I am deeply afflicted, as you may well believe, that the nobles of your nation are split into factions, and it is not without reason that you are more distressed and tormented, because Satan is now plotting in the bosom of your church, than you were formerly by the commotions stirred up by the French. But God is to be intreated that he may heal this evil also. Here we are exposed to many dangers. Nothing but our confidence in the divine protection exempts us from trepidation, though we are not free from fears.

Farewell, distinguished sir and honored brother. May the Lord always stand by you, govern, protect, and sustain you by his power. Your distress for the loss of your wife justly commands my deepest sympathy. Persons of her merit are not often to be met with. But as you have well learned from what source consolation for your sorrow is to be sought, I doubt not but you endure with patience this calamity. You will salute very courteously all your pious brethren. My colleagues also beg me to present to you their best respects.”

Words to Live By:
In my younger years in the ministry, this verse never failed to temper my agitated feelings against those who were my opponents in doctrine and life:
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness, God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” — (2 Timothy 2:24-26, ESV)

It seems that some were proposing a plan for a smaller General Assembly for the PCUSA as recently as back in the 1930’s. I had not previously paid attention to such efforts in any of the old line Presbyterian denominations, but this was a surprise. Compare this with some of the various plans for a delegated Assembly that have been suggested for the PCA. In what follows, we read of how some thought a smaller general assembly might be accomplished in the PCUSA:

HOW TO DRAW A SMALLER ASSEMBLY
[The Presbyterian 107.13 (22 April 1937): 6.]

A General Assembly of approximately 470 commissioners can be composed so as to equalize the membership as between elders and ministers and to present adequately the communicant strength of the various areas of the Church on the following basis :

(1) One commissioner from each presbytery each year, alternating minister and elder (presbyteries to be listed according to Roll of Assembly, first, third, fifth, etc., to send minister first year, second, fourth, sixth, etc., to send elder), and then alternate.

(2) One additional pair of commissioners from each presbytery having 10,000 to 19,999 communicants; two elder-minister units (i.e., four commissioners) from presbyteries having 20,000 to 29,999 communicants; three, etc., from presbyteries having 30,000 to 39,999 communicants, and so on.

Checking this by the 1936 Minutes, it is found that we have a basic delegation of 279 commissioners (the number of presbyteries);
42 presbyteries in the 10,000 class, i.e., 84 additional commissioners;
9 presbyteries in the 20,000 class, i.e., 36 additional commissioners;
6 presbyteries in the 30,000 class, i.e., 36 additional commissioners;
no presbyteries in the 40,000 class;
2 presbyteries in the 50,000 class, i.e., 20 additional commissioners;
and one in the 60,000 class, i.e., 12 additional commissioners.
The additional commissioners total 188, which, with the basic group, make up 467 commissioners.

This is under 500 by 33 commissioners, but annual growth will soon begin to increase the delegations. This scheme is easy to figure, because the tabulation reveals the status of a presbytery by simply glancing at the digit in the 10,000 column. The elder-minister balance is maintained without elaborate explanation or computation.

Words to Live By:
As most of our readers probably now know, the PCA’s 48th General Assembly has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It will instead meet in St. Louis in June of 2021. Let’s make opportunity of this turn of events and covenant to pray regularly for the PCA and for all the planning and preparation that will be required for the Assembly as it prepares to meet in St. Louis. May we be found faithful in our prayers and may we see the Lord’s leading and provision for the Church.

A Pastor’s Covenant

One venerable Christian practice, now largely forgotten, is that of personal covenanting. You might think of this practice as akin to New Year’s resolutions, but that would slight the practice, for it is of course so much more. A personal covenant is a solemn vow before the Lord, and so it is nothing to lightly enter into. Personal covenanting typically addresses sins in one’s life, recognizes duties before the Lord, and aspires to greater service, to the glory of God. Today’s post is in effect a form of a personal covenant.

Thomas Creigh was born in Landisburg, PA, on September 9, 1808, the seventh child in a family of ten. He was later educated at Dickinson College, and came to faith in Christ at about the time he graduated, in 1828. Providentially hindered from attending seminary, he studied theology privately under the tutelage of Dr. George Duffield. It is noted in Rev. Creigh’s autobiography that the theological text-book used by Dr. Duffield was the Scriptures in the original tongues. “The recitations were always begun with prayer to God for the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Creigh was at last able to attend Princeton Seminary in the 1829-30 academic year, after which he returned to study yet another year with Dr. Duffield. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, on November 16, 1831. Rev. Creigh served this church nearly fifty years,until his death on April 21, 1880.

Too often, in our own times, the responsibilities of a Christian pastor are lightly assumed and as lightly cast aside. The spirit with which Thomas Creigh entered upon his ministry may be best seen in a paper which he wrote on the day preceding his ordination and installation. It is headed “Desires”

DESIRES:—

“As a creature, I would desire to feel my entire dependence on God continually for life, health, food, raiment, friends, reason, and every other blessing. ‘In God we live and move and have our being.’

“As a sinner, I would desire to feel that my salvation is freely of grace; that I have no righteousness of my own; that I have no other friend than Christ. And in view of these things, I desire ever to feel those sacred obligations pressing upon me that ‘being bought with a price, even the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,’ I am in duty bound to present myself, ‘body, soul, and spirit, a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable.’

“As a minister of Jesus Christ, I would desire to feel how unworthy I am to be allowed to be put in trust with the Gospel; I would desire ever to look unto Thee for grace and strength to discharge its sacred functions; I would ever feel my entire dependence on the Spirit to own and apply my messages and my labors; I would desire to be faithful and to feel intensely for the souls of my fellow-beings, who are perishing around me and through the world; I would desire to have an eye single to Thy glory in their conversion; and I would desire to consecrate my time, my talents, and my abilities to the service of my Master; that His Kingdom may come with power among the children of men, and Thy Church, which Thou hast bought with Thy blood, may be universally established. And especially would I desire to be made instrumental in this congregation over which Thou hast called me to watch, in turning many sinners from death to life, and in building up Thy children in holiness.

“All these, O Lord, if my heart deceive me not, do I desire. All these do I seek for, and for all these things, through Thy grace, will I labor. Crown them with success, and ‘not unto me, not unto me, but unto Thy name,’ shall rebound all the honor and the glory. And now, Thou Great Head of the Church, I would pray, that on the coming day, Thou wouldst sustain and support me. O make ‘perfect Thy strength in my weakness.’ Give clear discoveries of the truth, and correct and proper views of the duties devolving upon me as a member of Christ. The Lord be with me according to His promise, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even to the ends of the earth.’ And may these, my desires, be granted for Thy Son’s sake. And to Thy name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, my God in covenant, be ascribed eternal praise. Amen.

“November 16, 1831.”

Words to Live By:
Happy the people to whom God sends such a consecrated servant of His to be their minister. He is no heartless hireling bargaining for wages, for a comfortable living, for accumulating wealth, or for human applause. He is an ambassador of Christ, coming to deliver His message to do His work. It was with a true consecration of heart that Thomas Creigh entered upon the duties of his holy office. The sacredness and solemnity of the step most deeply impressed him. One desire filled his soul: To make Christ known, and promote Christ’s glory.

Sources:
Today’s post is drawn from In Memoriam: Thomas Creigh, 1808-1880. (Harrisburg, PA: Lane S. Hart, Printer and Binder, 1880.), pp. 31-33.

Prepare to meet thy God.
Old church records are often quite scarce; recently the PCA Historical Center was able to acquire a copy of the 1868 Minutes of the Synod of Alabama. Within that record, we found a brief obituary for a fallen pastor, a man whose death reminds us all of life’s greatest duty. In trying times like these, wisdom says “Get your house in order.” And without doubt, first on that list we must make sure we are ready to meet the Lord.

Minutes of the Synod of Alabama, Oct’r 21st to 24th, 1868, pages 13-14.

“The Committee of Synod, appointed for the purpose, having failed in preparing an obituary of Rev. R.D. Russell, on motion, a minute was adopted, extracted from the minutes of the Presbytery of South Alabama, as follows:

In the providence of God, we are called upon to record the death of our beloved brother in Christ, the Rev. Robert D. Russell, a member of this Synod. He departed this life very suddenly, probably without a moment’s warning, on the 17th of April, 1867, in Geneva congregation.

He was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in the year 1793. He made a profession of faith in Christ, when about 27 or 28 years old.

Believing it to be his duty to preach the gospel, he commenced at once to prepare himself for the work.

He pursued his literary and scientific studies in Greensboro’, North Carolina, and Chapel Hill. He pursued his theological studies at Prince Edward, Va. And was licensed to preach by Orange Presbytery. He removed to Alabama, and supplied the pulpit of Nanafalia [aka Nanapolia] church, now Geneva.

He was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the Presbytery of South Alabama.

He was afflicted, for many years, with a disease of the throat; and for the last few years he was prevented from preaching regularly, owing to general debility. At the time of his death he was preparing a sermon on the text, “Prepare to meet thy God.” He was thus called away from his labors meditating upon the great necessity of preparing for eternity.

Words to Live By:
By his sudden death we are forcibly reminded—to be also ready. So the Scripture says, “Prepare to meet thy God.” The verse is found in Amos 4:12.
Truly we are sinners, in great need of a great Savior. And praise God for this promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Praise God, that all who are found in union with Christ as Savior and Lord will undeniably be found ready to meet Him on that day.


Searching further, though the record is sparse, we did find a bit more about Rev. Russell’s life, ministry and death:


Rev. A.J. Witherspoon, of Linden, Ala., wrote:

He was an honest  and true man, thoroughly attached to his Church, somewhat singular in his mode of life, living most of his time like a hermit, with not a living soul on the place but himself. [he had never married]. Some time before he died he went to live with a nephew, A.D. Ross, Esq., at the latter’s earnest solicitation; here he was kindly received and well cared for.

The circumstances connected with his death were sad. The family with whom he lived were all absent but two daughters. On the day of his death they had promised to spend the day with a neighbor, and as no one would be left with him, he promised to dine with them. But he did not come, and on their return in the afternoon he was not at home, They supposed he had gone over to one of the neighbors, but on the next day, as he did not return, they feared that all was not right, and got some friends to search for him.

They found his body by the roadside some distance from the house. He had fallen in a fit, and from appearances had died instantly.

At the time of his death he was preparing a sermon for the next Sabbath, on the text, “Prepare to meet thy God.”

The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Remembrancer, volume 10, pp. 368-369.

THE SCHOOL & FAMILY CATECHIST
by Rev .William Smith (1834)
“An Explication of the Westminster Shorter Catechism”

Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, but the infants of such are as members of the visible church are to be baptized.

EXPLICATION.

Administered to any. –Performed, given, or dispensed, to any one.

Visible church. –The church on earth, as seen by men, which comprehends, or contains within its bounds, all those who openly profess the true religion with their lips, and who practise the outward duties thereof, in their lives. This is called the visible church, not only because it is seen by men, but also to distinguish it from the church invisible, of which those only are members, who have true religion in heart as well as in life, and who can only be seen and known by God himself.

Till they profess their faith in Christ. –Till those who are out of the visible church, such as Jews and heathens, &c. openly acknowledge Jesus Christ to be the only Saviour of sinners, and declare their belief of the whole of the doctrines of his religion.

Till they profess obedience to him. –That is, till they show an outward subjection to all his ordinances, and leave off the practice of those sins which his Word and Gospel forbid.

ANALYSIS.

There are, in this answer, three things taught:

1. That baptism ought not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church. –Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.

2. That all those who process their faith in Christ, and declare their obedience or subjection to him, may be baptized. –Acts viii. 36, 37. And the Eunuch said, –What  doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest. Acts ii. 33. Repent and be baptized. 3. That the infants of members of the visible church are to be baptized. –Gen. xvii. 10. This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you, and thy seed after thee; Every man-child among you shall be circumcised. Acts ii. 39. The promise is unto you and to your children. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.