This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... THE RULING ELDER: BEING A REVIEW OF TWO SPEECHES OF DR. BRECKINRIDGE. IN our review of Dr. Breckinridge's Sermon we were conducted, by the natural order of the subject, to the vexed questions which are elaboratelv discussed in the Speeches before us. Our limits did not allow us to give them then the prominence and attention which their magnitude and importance demanded. We accordingly reserved the remarks which we had excogitated upon them to another opportunity, when we proposed to subject the Speeches to an analysis similar to that to which we had subjected the Sermon. The convenient season has now arrived, and we undertake to redeem the pledge which was implicitly given in our former article, though many of our readers would, perhaps, prefer that the whole subject should be blotted-- the sooner, the better--from the memory of man. We cannot indulge their humour. These great questions ought to be discussed, and we feel that we are only acting in obedience to the hallowed principles on which Truth rallies her friends to her cause, and Wisdom is justified of all her children, when we present our feeble contribution upon the same altar on which Dr. Breckinridge in the Speeches before us has offered his gifts. All that we ask is a patient hearing; and if we shall be able to add nothing to the defence of our doctrines, we hope that we shall detract nothing from the spirit of the Gospel. The precise issue which is involved in the Quorum question, the subject of Dr. Breckinridge's First Speech, has not been distinctly apprehended by all who have written or spoken upon the subject,1 The General Assembly of 1843 decided " that any three Ministers of a Presbytery, being regularly convened, are a quorum competent to the transaction of all...