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As a Roman Catholic, I venture onto this thread carefully. I think the good Dr. makes a mistake in viewing the gift the Baptists gave him as "sin" and false ordination. Such a denunciation of one's former denomination is not a positive witness for the grace of God one has received to move forward. Would that he could view his previous experience as God's gift, thank those who were with them, explain the leading of the Holy Spirit in his life, and invite those who know his preaching of God's Word to now follow his lead into a Presbyterian understanding. God is working for good in all things all the time for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose, if I may paraphrase a bit, and one should never look at any part of one's life that has drawn a single soul to Jesus as anything but the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit and of the opertation of grace and God's love shed abroad in you, and around you, and through you, and with you.

My two cents on that subject.

Also, as a Roman Catholic, disinterested in the question of internal Protestant schisms, let me offer that John Wesley was among the greatest of God's preaching men in leading souls to Christ who otherwise would have failed to hear the Good News of salvation in Christ because of the sorry and sad state of the Church of England at that time, but because of him those souls did hear, and hearing they did believe, and believing, they were baptised -- and saving souls from the clutches of the devil is worth more than we can possibly even begin to imagine. And for that all should be awestruck and pray that in like way the Holy Ghost will endow us with every gift of grace to do likewise in our own day.

***As a Roman Catholic, I venture onto this thread carefully.***

Don't worry! We blunder on over onto Catholic threads all time!!!

***Such a denunciation of one's former denomination is not a positive witness for the grace of God one has received to move forward.***

I've seen enough people trash where they've been enough to realize that often (but not always) the problem was with the individual and not the group. Ultimately the answer doesn't lie in any denomination but in ones own personal walk with the Lord. It's so easy to stray from that and start looking for other "excuses".

***John Wesley was among the greatest of God's preaching men***

It is very gratifying to hear yor opinion of him. I believe you are correct. The many hymns he and his brother wrote still are leading people to a saving knowlege of Jesus. He claimed his source of strength was from his early morning time of communion with the Lord. He would end his evening at 8:00 pm (IIRC) without exception even for governors and princes explaining that he had an early morning appointment with the King.

May I say also that it is so good to hear from you. I have missed seeing you around here and have had you in my thoughts often.