PRESBYTERIANS PRESBYTERIANS land fifteen, which are composed of the members | in Wall street, founded in 1716. The churches of the several presbyteries within the respective of Newark, New Jersey, and of Jamaica, Newprovinces which give names to the synods. ton, South Hampton, East Hampton, &c. which The highest authority in the church of Scot- are now Presbyterian, were founded several years land is the general assembly, which consists of a prior to the above-mentioned, but were originally certain number of ministers and ruling elders Congregational, and so remained till about the delegated from each presbytery, and of commis- year 1716. The first presbytery was organized sioners from the universities and royal boroughs. in 1704; the first synod in 1716. This was A presbytery in which there are fewer than then composed of four presbyteries, viz. those of twelve parishes sends to the general assembly Philadelphia, Long Island, New Castle, and two ministers and one ruling elder: if it contain Snowhill, and was called the synod of Philadelbetween twelve and eighteen ministers, it sends phia. A division took place in this synod in 1741, three of these, and one ruling elder: if it contain which gave rise to the synod of New York. between eighteen and twenty-four ministers, it These two were again united in 1758, under the sends four ministers, and two ruling elders; and title of the synod of New York and Philadelphia. of twenty-four ministers, when it contains so This synod, soon after its formation, founded the many, it sends five, with two ruling elders. college of New Jersey, now located at Princeton, Every royal borough sends one ruling elder, and and originally denominated Nassau Hall. The Edinburgh two, whose election must be attested general assembly was formed in 1788, at which by the kirk sessions of their respective boroughs. time the body had so far increased as to admit of Every university sends one commissioner from its a farther multiplication of synods, and accordingly own body. The commissioners are chosen an- the whole church was arranged into the four synually six weeks before the meeting of the as- nods .of Philadelphia, Virginia, the Carolinas, sembly; and the ruling elders are often men of and that already existing, the synod of New York the first eminence in the kingdom for rank and and Philadelphia. The first meeting of the genotalents. In this assembly, which meets once a ral assembly was held in 1789. Subsequent to year, the king presides by his commissioner, who that period the Presbyterian church has continued is always a nobleman, but he has no voice in to increase by a steady accession of numbers, their deliberations. The order of their proceed-influence, and respectability, till it ranks among ings is regular, though sometimes the number of the most prominent ecclesiastical bodies in our members creates a confusion; which the mode- country. Its ministers and members are distinrator, who is chosen from among the ministers to guished for their active zeal and their munificent be, as it were, the speaker of the house, has not liberality in the promotion of the great objects of sufficient authority to prevent. Appeals are Christian benevolence of the present day. The brought from all the other ecclesiastical courts in general assembly, the highest judicature of the Scotland to the general assembly; and in ques- church, has under its special care and supervision tions purely religious, no appeal lies from its de- flourishing theological seminaries at Princeton, termination. See Hall's View of a Gospel Church; New Jersey, Auburn, New York, Hampden Encycl. Brit. art. Presbyterians; Brown's Vin- Sydney, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. dication of the Presbyterian Form of Church Others are likely soon to be established. In conGovernment; Scotch Confession and Directory. nexion with the general assembly of the PresbyFor the other side of the question, and against terian church in the United States, there were, Presbyterian church government, see articles by the last statistical reports, (1829) 19 synods; 92 BROWNISTS, CHURCH, CONGREGATIONALISTS, presbyteries; 1392 ordained ministers; 205 licenEPISCOPACY, and INDEPENDENTS. ciates; 2070 churches; and 162,816' communi PRESBYTERIANS, ENGLISH. The cants.* appellation Presbyterian is in England appropri- PRESBYTERIANS, CUMBERLAND; ated to a body of dissenters, who have not any the name given to a body of Presbyterians who attachment to the Scotch mode of church go- seceded from the general Presbyterian church in vernment any more than to episcopacy among the United States in February, 1810. They reus; and therefore the term Presbyterian is here side principally in the states of Kentucky and improperly applied. How this misapplication Tennessee, but have a number of churches in came to pass cannot be easily determined; but it some of the states north of the Ohio river. Their has occasioned many wrong notions, and should secession was owing to a difference of opinion therefore be rectified. English Presbyterians, as with the synod of Kentucky, on the subject of they are called, adopt nearly the same mode of licensing ministers to preach the gospel who had church government with the Independents. Their not enjoyed the benefit of a classical education. chief difference from the Independents is, that At a period of considerable religious excitement, they are less attached to Calvinism. when the labours of clergymen were in great PRESBYTERIANS IN THE UNITED demand, it was proposed by some of the ministers STATES. The first Presbyterians in America who then belonged to that synod, to choose from came from England, Scotland, and Ireland, about among the laity certain persons whose talents, the year 1700. They settled in what is now a gifts, piety, &c. would justify the step, and enpart of New Jersey and Delaware. The first courage them to prepare for the work of the miPresbyterian church formed in the United States nistry, even though they had not gone through was in Philadelphia, now known as the "First the ordinary routine of classical studies required Presbyterian church" in that city, and recently by the standards of the church. Several indiunder the care of the Rev. James P. Wilson, viduals accordingly complied with these suggesD. D. Its first pastor was the Rev. Jedediah tions, and after due preparation were examined Andrews, a graduate of the University of Cam- and licensed to preach by a presbytery, the mabridge, Massachussetts. The first Presbyterian church in the city or state of New York was that Church in the United States, see Appendix, No. 2. *For a more detailed history of the Presbyterian PRESCRIPTION PRESUMPTION jority of whose members were favourable to the they think that truth has no need of such a supmeasure. The synod, however, were unfriendly port. Others, however, think that if it can be to the innovation. The general assembly re- shown that any particular doctrine of Christianity fused to sanction it. The result was, that a new was held in the earliest ages, even approaching the presbytery, called the Cumberland Presbytery, apostolic, it must have very considerable weight; was formed, disclaiming all connexion with the and, indeed, that it has so, appears from the unigeneral assembly's body, except that they still versal appeals of all parties to those early times retained the bulk of the Presbyterian confession in support of their particular opinions. Besides, as the confession of their faith, and still deter- the thing is in itself natural; for if a man finds a mined to adhere to the presbyterian form of variety of opinions in the world upon important church government. The part of the confession passages in Scripture, where shall he be so apt to which they principally object is, "the idea of to get the true sense as from contemporary wrifatality that seems to be taught under the myste-ters or others who lived very near the apostolic rious doctrine of predestination." Their points age? And if such a man shall find any doctrine of dissent from the doctrines supposed to be in- or interpretation to have been universally believed culcated in the confession are the following:- in the first ages, or, as Vicentius Lirinensis words 1. That there are no eternal reprobates. 2. That it, semper ubique et ab omnibus, he will unquesChrist died not for a part only, but for all mankind. tionably be disposed to think such early and uni3. That all infants, dying in infancy, are saved versal consent, or such prescription, of very conthrough Christ and sanctification of the Spirit. siderable weight in determining his opinion. 4. That the Spirit of God operates on the world, or as co-extensively as Christ has made the atonement, in such a manner as to leave all men inex-it cusable. At first there were but nine preachers in the connexion, only four of whom were ordained. They have now a synod consisting of several presbyteries. The ministers in their connexion are not far from 100. The additions to the churches during the year 1829, were nearly 3,500. They have under their control a flourishing college at Princeton, Kentucky, containing nearly 100 students.-B. PRESUMPTION, as it relates to the mind, is a supposition formed before examination. As relates to the conduct or moral action, it implies arrogance and irreverence. As it relates to religion in general, it is a bold and daring confidence in the goodness of God, without obedience to his will. Presumptuous sins must be distinguished from sins of infirmity, or those failings peculiar to human nature, Ecc. vii. 20; 1 John i. 8, 9; from sins done through ignorance, Luke xii. 48; and from sins into which men are hurried by sudden and violent temptation, Gal. vi. 1. The ingredients which render sin presumptuous are, PRESBYTERY, REFORMED. The Re- knowledge, John xv. 22; deliberation and conformed Presbytery in Scotland trace their origin trivance, Prov. vi. 14; Ps. xxxvi. 4; obstinacy, as far back as the Reformation, and consider Jer. xliv. 16; Deut. i. 13; inattention to the rethemselves as the only pure Presbyterians since monstrances of conscience, Acts vii. 51; oppothe revolution. They profess to adhere to the sition to the dispensations of Providence, 2 Chr. solemn league and covenant agreed to by the na- xxviii. 22; and repeated commission of the same tion before the restoration, in which they abjure sin, Ps. lxxviii. 17. Presumptuous sins' are nupopery and prelacy, and resolve to maintain and merous; such as profane swearing, perjury, theft, defend the doctrines, worship, discipline, and go- adultery, drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, &c.— vernment of the church, as approved by the par- These may be more particularly considered as liament and assembly at Westminster, and by presumptuous sins, because they are generally the general assembly of the church and parlia- committed against a known law, and so often rement of Scotland, 1645-9, It seems, they ob-peated. Such sins are most heinous in their naject not so much to a religious establishment, but to the religious establishment as it exists: they object not to an alliance of the church with the state, but to the alliance of the church with an uncovenanted king and government. Their number, it is said, amounts to about four thousand persons. PRESCIENCE OF GOD is foreknowledge, or that knowledge which God has of things to come. The doctrine of predestination is founded on the prescience of God, and on the supposition of all futurity being present to him. Properly speaking, indeed, prescience supposes that of predestination; for if we allow that God from all eternity foresaw all things, he must thus have foreseen them in consequence of his permitting or fore-appointing them. Hence, events are not certain merely because foreknown; but foreknown because antecedently certain on account of predetermining reasons. See FOREKNOWLEDGE, PREDESTINATION. PRESCRIPTION, in theology, was a kind of argument pleaded by Tertullian and others in the third century against erroneous doctors. This mode of arguing has been despised by some, both because it has been used by Papists, and because ture, and most pernicious in their effects. They are said to be a reproach to the Lord, Num. xv. 3; they harden the heart, 1 Tim. iv. 2; draw down judgments from heaven, Num. xv. 31; even when repented of are seldom pardoned without some visible testimony of God's displeasure, 2 Sam. xii. 10.-As respects professors of religion, as one observes, they sin presumptuously, 1. When they take up a profession of religion without principle: 2. When they profess to ask the blessing of God, and yet go on in forbidden courses: 3. When they do not take religion as they find it in the Scriptures: 4. When they make their feelings the test of their religion, without considering the difference between animal passion and the operations of the Spirit of God: 5. When they run into temptation: 6. When they indulge in self-confidence and self-compla cency: 7. When they bring the spirit of the world into the church: 8. When they form apologies for that in some which they condemn in others: 9. When, professing to believe in the doctrines of the Gospel, they live licentiously : 10. When they create, magnify, and pervert their troubles: 11. When they arraign the conduct of God as unkind and unjust. See R. The order in which the several courses were to serve was determined by lot; and each course was, in all succeeding ages, called by the name of its original chief. Walker's Ser. vol. i. ser. 3; South's Ser. vol. vii. | sisted of three orders, the high priests, priests, ser. 10, 11, and 12; Tillotson's Ser. ser. 147; and Levites. The priesthood was made herediSaurin's Ser. ser. 11, vol. i. Robinson's transla-tary in the family of Aaron; and the first-born of tion; Bp. Hopkins on the Nature, Danger, and the oldest branch of that family, if he had no legal Cure of Presumptuous Sins. See his works. blemish, was always the high-priest. This divine Pride is inordinate and unreasonable self-appointment was observed with considerable acesteem, attended with insolence, and rude treat-curacy till the Jews fell under the dominion of ment of others. "It is sometimes," says a good the Romans, and had their faith corrupted by a writer, "confounded with vanity, and sometimes false philosophy. Then, indeed, the high-priestwith dignity; but to the former passion it has no hood was sometimes set up to sale, and, instead resemblance, and in many circumstances it differs of continuing for life, as it ought to have done, it from the latter. Vanity is the parent of loqua- seems from some passages in the New Testacious boasting; and the person subject to it, if ment, to have been nothing more than an annual his pretences be admitted, has no inclination to office. There is sufficient reason, however, to insult the company. The proud man, on the believe, that it was never disposed of but to some other hand, is naturally silent, and, wrapt up in descendant of Aaron capable of filling it, had the his own importance, seldom speaks but to make older branches been extinct. [For the consecrahis audience feel their inferiority." Pride is the tion and offices of the Jewish priesthood, we high opinion that a poor little contracted soul en- refer our readers to the book of Moses.] In the tertains of itself. Dignity consists in just, great, time of David, the inferior priests were divided and uniform actions, and is the opposite to mean- into twenty-four companies, who were to serve ness.-2. Pride manifests itself by praising our-in rotation, each company by itself for a week.— selves, adorning our persons, attempting to appear before others in a superior light to what we are: contempt and slander of others; envy at the excellencies others possess; anxiety to gain applause; distress and rage when slighted; im- It has been much disputed, whether in the patience of contradiction, and opposition to God Christian church, there be any such officer as a himself.-3. The evil effects of pride are beyond priest, in the proper sense of the word. If the computation. It has spread itself universally in word priest be taken to denote a person comall nations, among all characters; and as it was missioned by divine authority to offer up a real the first sin, as some suppose, that entered into sacrifice to God, we may justly deny that there the world, so it seems the last to be conquered. It is a priest upon earth. Under the Gospel, there may be considered as the parent of discontent, is but one priest, which is Christ: and but ingratitude, covetousness, poverty, presumption, one sacrifice, that of the cross. The church of passion, extravagance, bigotry, war, and persecution. In fact, there is hardly an evil perpetrated but what pride is connected with it in a proximate or remote sense.-4. To suppress this evil, we should consider what we are. "If we could trace our descents," says Seneca, "we should find all slaves to come from princes, and all princes from slaves. To be proud of knowledge, is to be blind in the light; to be proud of virtue, is to poison ourselves with the antidote; to be proud of authority is to make our rise our downfall." The imperfection of our nature, our scanty knowledge, contracted powers, narrow conceptions, and moral inability, are strong motives to excite us to humility. We should consider, also, what punishments this sin has brought on mankind. See the cases of Pharaoh, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and others. How particularly it is prohibited, Prov. xvi. 18; 1 Pet. v. 5; James iv. 6; Prov. xxix. 23; what a torment it is to its possessor, Esther v. 13; how soon all things of a sublunary nature will end; how disgraceful it In the church of England, the word priest is renders us in the sight of God, angels, and retained to denote the second order in her hierarmen; what a barrier it is to our felicity and com-chy, but we believe with very different significa. munion with God; how fruitful it is of discord; tions, according to the different opinions enternow it precludes our usefulness, and renders us tained of the Lord's Supper. Some few of her really contemptible. See HUMILITY. divines, of great learning, and of undoubted ProPRIEST, a person set apart for the perform-testantism, maintain that the Lord's Supper is ance of sacrifice, and other offices and ceremonies a commemorative and eucharistical sacrifice.of religion. Before the promulgation of the law These consider all who are authorized to admiof Moses, the first-born of every family, the nister that sacrament as in the strictest sense fathers, the princes, and the kings, were priests. priests. Others hold the Lord's Supper to be a Thus Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Mel- feast upon the one sacrifice, once offered on the chizedec, Job, Isaac, and Jacob, offered them- cross; and these, too, must consider themselves selves their own sacrifices. Among the Israel- as clothed with some kind of priesthood. Great ites after their departure from Egypt, the numbers, however, of the English clergy, perpriesthood was confined to one tribe, and it con-haps the majority, agree with the church of Scot Rome, however, erroneously believe their priests to be empowered to offer up to the Divine Majesty real proper sacrifice, as were the priests under the Old Testament. Ecclesiastical history informs us that, in the second century, some time after the reign of the emperor Adrian, when the Jews, by the second destruction of Jerusalem, were bereaved of all hopes of the restoration of their government to its former lustre, the notion that the ministers of the Christian church succeeded to the character and prerogatives of the Jewish priesthood was industriously propagated by the Christian doctors; and that, in consequence, the bishops claimed a rank and character similar to that of the Jewish-high-priest; the presbyters to that of the priests; and the deacons to that of the Levites. One of the pernicious effects of this groundless comparison and pretension seems to have been, the introduction of the idea of a real sacrifice in the Christian church, and of sacrificing priests. |