PAGE 318: CHAPTER VII
cannot be ready in May next, nor do I see any
necessity of hurrying ourselves in such a manner as
to produce an unfinished or undigested work. If
such an idea should be adopted, as I have now mentioned, there would be no necessity for adding
explanatory notes, and blotting our page with things
which, perhaps, the people would not understand;
but the whole that is local would appear in one
intelligible act of organization: — But I submit the
idea to you, and wish you would please to drop a
line as soon as you can."
The work was arranged in conformity to the
plan here suggested, presenting the practice of
the Church, or the manner in which the Rules of
Church Government of the National Synod of
Dordrecht, are applied and executed in this country, in a set of explanatory articles which were
solemnly ratified in the General Synod held at
New-York, the 10th day of October, 1792; and it
was afterwards published under the title of
THE CONSTITUTION OP THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH,
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The adoption of this constitution is a most
memorable event, as it established that consolidation of the union, without which, it was much to be
feared, the union would be but of temporary
|
PAGE 319: CHAPTER VII
duration, and placed the Church in a position to maintain
her character, to make herself known and respected
among other denominations, and to prosecute with
life and energy, any enterprise, the successful accomphshment of which might be deemed essential
to her future prosperity. And of the Constitution,
it may be averred, without fear of contradiction,
that it has proved the Palladium (if the term be
allowable) of the Church, or rather the great safeguard next to the Bible, under the divine blessing,
of her government, peace, and purity. — It is a good
caution. Remove not the ancient landmark which thy
fathers have set; [Prov. xxii. 28] and the writer trusts that he will
not be charged with a want of modesty, or give any
offence, for taking the liberty here to express his
hope, that a work which imbodies the results of
our fathers' wisdom and experience, and which has
hitherto been attended with such an happy influence in the Church, may be preserved inviolate.
It would be ungenerous, and by no means accord
with the impartiality of true history, to ascribe the
whole of this performance to Dr. Livingston; but
to all, nevertheless, who are acquainted with its
contents, the fact must be too evident to be disputed, after perusing his correspondence, that not a
|