Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-08-18
For the Telegraph.
REMARKS

For the Telegraph.
REMARKS
Upon the 9Th Article Of FattA adapted by
the Union D0ctrinaL Conference.
Mr. EDITOR:
have no relish for newspaper con-
troversy, and no intention by the subjoin-
! ed remar ks, to throw the gauntlet for a
battle. The state of my health, and the
number and nature of my official duties,
forbid me to enter such a field, If l were
disposed. | say this, that if any are in
, clined to reply to what shall say, a re-
joinder may not be anticipated, though |
will not promise it shall not be given.
! With the Conference hitherto | have
never meddled, as deemed it fruitIess for
Christians to aim at union, when they dis
agree in the fundamental doctrines of the
gospel. had concluded in the onset that
unless one Of the parties of that Confer
ence were converted during their discus
sion, they would finally separate, with
views and sentiments as entirely different
as they entertained at the commencement
of their meetings. At least they must do
this unless they concealed their real senti-
ments under a mist of words, which both
parties should construc to suit themselves.
Those who have hitherto been known as
Orthodox or Calvinist Baptists, and those
! who have been known as Free-wilI Bap-
lists, can never agree to one set of articles
ifthey continue to maintain what is the
doctrine of these differing Christians. II
they do agree, one or the other must be
converted, or have been deplorably ignor-
ant ofthe sentiments of their church.
have not leisure to notice all the art-
cles to which we are now told aUth Bap-
lists in Caledonia county have subscribed.
The one on which we had anticipated
there would be wide separation, is num-
bered Art. 6, in your last paper. am
both surprised and astonished that all the
PARTICULAR Baptists IN Caledonia County
should agree in this article. But ] am
we'll convinced that all the Baptists in
Rutland County will never subscribe to it,
and hope for the honor of the denomina-
ton, there is not one minister who will
agree with what is there asserted. have
supposed all who joined Baptist churches
were able to apprehend the articles of our
faith, and that those Christians who did
not believe them would join with other
Christians whose sentiments corresponded
with their own.
The Article afirms that the choice of
God is made on his forcseeingman' CON-
pliance with the conditions of salvation,
under the influence of the Spirit, &C.
| Now in the 5th Article it is said that the
posterity Of Adam possess a bias to SIM
| The word bias do not think the most ex-
plicit to express humandepravity, but will
not take offence with it if it be understood
to mean all that is expressed in the next
paragraph, ian entire, voluntary and wick
ed love of sin, and an entire aversion to
God and holiness"
Now if these things can be made to "a
gree, we shall be disappointed. That is,
totally depraved creatures, it is foreseen
by God, will yield to the influences of his
Spirit, and other means of grace, and so he
chooses them to be his people; but totally
depraved creatures he perceives will not
yield to the same influences of his Spirit,
and the other means of grace, and so he
does not choose them for his people
Now had really supposed that all Bap-
fists believed that God elected his people
to make them holy. That he had not
chosen them for obedience or good works
but to good works. And the question
may properly be asked, how could God
foresee that entire aversion to him would
be changed into affection for him, unless
/ he had decreed to change the moral pa.
ture of that intelligence in whom it takes
place?
t Again, hope the Baptists in Vermont
have more Biblical knowledge and more
) logical acuteness, than to admit that the
f doctrine of the article is proved by the
Scripture which is quoted to support it.
? Article-All Christians are chosen, OF
: were chosen in Christ before the founda-
E ton of the world, and this choice is based
= on their foreseen compliance, &C. Proof
= Eph. j. 4, 5; He hath chosen US in him
, before the foundation of the world" [if the
z argument be sound one it would follow
because he foresaw that we should be
S obedient;- the apostle says, 'tbat we
e should be holy and without blame before
: him in love" The declaration of the
l. Apostle here evidently is, that God chose
If us to make Us holy and b4ameless.
l. Romans viii: %. 80, is also brought a
e proof that the article of the Conference /
d Biblical The clause of these verse
e which we suppose is especially depende'
d upon, rs, 'For whom he did forekrow h
l. also didpredestinate to be conformed to tn
p image Of bis Son, that he might be tn
ID first-born among many brethren" Ths
Is is, according to the Article, whom Go
Of foresaw would comply with the condition