Preface to the Book of Church Order

Section 2 : The Preliminary Principles
Paragraph 8 : Of Spiritual Force

8. Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever, but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the Church.

Footnote: Matthew 18:17; I Timothy 5:2; Confession of Faith Chapter 30. [as per M4GA, Appendix J, p. 203]

DIGEST : The current text arose as a recommendation from the Ad Interim Committee on Judicial Procedure (AICJP) which was adopted and sent down to the presbyteries for advice and consent by the Twenty-fourth General Assembly (1996) [M24GA (1996): 72]. The proposed change was then adopted by the Twenty-fifth General Assembly (1997) after forty-four Presbyteries voted in favor of the revised text. Five Prebyteries voted against revision. [M25GA (1997): 112-113]. The adopted change also included the addition of an unnumbered concluding paragraph.

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, page 128
Lastly, that, if the preceding scriptural and rational principles be steadfastly adhered to, the vigor and strictness of its discipline will contribute to the glory and happiness of any church. Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the church universal.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, Preface, Preliminary Principles, paragraph 2
Lastly, that, if the preceding scriptural and rational principles be steadfastly adhered to, the vigor and strictness of its discipline will contribute to the glory and happiness of any church. Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the church universal.

PCUS 1879
PCUS 1869 draft
and
PCUS 1867 draft
[we have not located printed editions of the PCUS Constitution which include the Preliminary Principles. Reportedly the first edition, printed in 1861, did include the Principles, but we have been unable to locate subsequent editions with this material included.]

COMMENTARY:
Hodge, J. Aspinwall, What Is Presbyterian Law? (Philadelphia, 1882, pp. 27) :
VIII. What is the eighth principle?
"The vigor and strictness of its discipline will contribute to the glory and happiness of any Church."
How can this be shown?
"Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever, but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the Church universal." It is not the exercise of human power, but the application of divine laws. It is enforce by appeal to the infallible word of God and to Christ the great Head of the Church. Its object is to secure to the Church sound doctrine, godly living, encouragement to the well-doing and correction to the erring.