What do Presbyterians call Heresy?
THE following paragraph is important as showing the views of Presbyterians relative to the Old Testament Scriptures, and to the law of God as embodied in the decalogue. A minister of that denomination in Scotland, it appears, like many no-law men in this country, questions the decalogue as being a “law of God binding upon Christians, and comprehensive of all moral duty;” and he is forthwith arraigned for heresy. We will not here raise the question, how many Presbyterians, should the claims of the fourth commandment be urged upon them, would take the ground of the now-arraigned heretic, rather than obey it, but leave that for time to determine. “The Scotsman” says:— “A PRESBYTERIAN HERETIC.—The case of the Rev. Walter Chalmers Smith, minister of the Free Tron church, Glasgow—well known in literary circles as the author of “Poems by Orwell,” and a popular lecturer on literary subjects—which has been under investigation by a committee of the Free Presbytery of Glasgow for some months past, came up on Wednesday for consideration, on the report of the committee, before a special meeting of the Presbytery. Though the case has not at present taken the form of a libel for heresy, it involves very serious issues, the committee having reported yesterday that two sermons preached by Mr. Smith, in the beginning of the present year, “contain statements respecting the moral law and Old Testament Scriptures, at variance with the language of the Confession of Faith and the teaching of Scripture,” and ought therefore to be disapproved and censured; and further, that two explanatory statements, since read by Mr. Smith to the Presbytery, “can not be received as satisfactory explanations of the statements contained in the discourses on the points in question.” This deliverance was unanimously adopted by the Presbytery; and it was also resolved to ask from Mr. Smith a distinct answer to two questions, namely: whether he accepts the decalogue “as a revelation of the law of God binding upon Christians, and that is comprehensive of all moral duty?” and whether he regards the Scriptures of the Old Testament (with certain allowances indicated) “as still an authority of themselves for the establishment of doctrine and the inculcation of moral duty, irrespective of any fresh sanction or enforcement of them in New Testament Scripture?” Mr. Smith professed himself prepared and anxious to give a reply to these questions on the spot; but, being strongly urged by various members of Presbytery to consider them till next ordinary meeting, he accepted the delay, and the further hearing of the case was accordingly adjourned till the first Wednesday of October.”