The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-06-15

The spark or the stone IS not more neeeSsa-
rily determined either to rise or to fall, than
the man is TO sin. TO commit that rape, or
adultery, or murder. For "God did, before
all time, determine and direct TO some par
tieular end, every person or thing, TO which
he has given, or is yet 10 give, being. :
God himself diu "piedeslimate them TO hi
10 the measure of their iniquilies;' such was
his sovereign, irresistible decree, before the
foundation ofthe world. TO M up tie meas
ure OF their iAigtties: that Is, 10 commit
every act which they committed. So "God
Iccrted the Jews to be the crucihers Of
Christ, and Judas 10 betray him." (Chap.
Az Whose fault WAS it then? You plainly
say, IL was not his fault, but Gods. For
what was Judas or Ten thousand reprobatgs
beside? Could they resist his dtcree?-
No more than they could pull the sun out
Of the hrmamenJ OF heaven. And would
God punish them with everlasting destruc-
tiou, for not pulling the sun out ofthe frma-
ment? He might as. well do it for this, as
lortheir not doing what ION this supPosion)
WAS equally impossible"
This is no representation of old
school Calyinism. Calvin says himself:
Neither shall we find any other cause
but the lgW Of Col for the reprobalion
OF others," that is, the non elect. First
Book III, chap. 22, see. IT,. II Is tie will
Of God and not their sin that causes their
damnaiion according to Calvin. EczR says,
'iGod hath predestnated whomsocver he
saw meet no: only unto damnat;on but also
unto the cause ofit" Beza bib de propid.-
Zurng bibs says "God moyelh the robber to
kill. lie killeih, God forcing him then to
curing, bib, de provid c. 5. And who ever
reads Toplady'S works on predestination
will say that Mr.. Wesley has miere2re-
sented him. And we have the same ism
now, but it is mysiiGed and covered up.
| thought you were scholar, and sOme-
what acquainted with church history, but in
| this l was mistaken. Your remarks on
Methodist Episcopacy clearly reveals that
matter. l Thought you knew that Bishop
and Superintendent were both from EplScO-
pGcy and meant the same thing; and that
| Wesley and all the Methodist church held
that Bishop was not an oytler aJooe a pres
bytcr or elder but in this | was mistaken.
Mr.. Wesley did prefer the Episcopal mode
of church government and also the name
Superintendent to that of Bishop, because
of the pride and superiority claimed by the
English Bishop. Hence Coke was set apart
to The cfice OF Superintendent Of the Soce-
ties in America. But when those societies
in l784 organized themselves into the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and as the name
Bishop was not so offensive an authorizations
as in ENGLAND the called the supeflntendants
or oyerseers bishops, but they have never
been considered by any writer OF the NJ. Z.
Church to be an order above presbyter.-
So your ammunition on thiS subject is all lost.
For the definition of EPiacopaS see Robinson S
and Groves Greek and English Dictionary.
For the views OF the NJ. E. Church on the
officer of Bishop see the speeches Of Gen
eral conference OF 1874.
Your representation of Arminianism as
quoted from tie Doctriaal Tracts is about
like saying that labored for the Doctrine
contained in CaIvn's institutes, when
had not said one p0rd about Plesbyterians
or PreshyteriaDism in my articles. How
YOU aimed at this conclusion ! cannot tell
You quote from the 9TH page Of the Doc
Tracts, which reads thus, i believe the
eternal decree concerning both (the cIcct
aud reprobate) are expressed IN these words;
HE that beieyeth Shall be saved; lie that
5e.ieye;h not shall be damned" And this
decree without doubt God viii not change
and man cannot resist" And yet You Sc
extored a part this sentence from its true
meaning and putin some OF your own as tc
make the reprobate's damnatlon condition
III. And yet ys0 talk about misrepresenta-
non. Your quotation from the l38th .. Is
all of piece. All ask, IS, for the reader
10 lcok at the book.
But finally YOU tel us that the Presbyte-
rians ncr any other branch OF the CalynistiC
church in America ever endorsed Calyin's
Institutes; that they were never claps,
book in your Theological Semlnarles; anc
that TO part Of it is embodied In the con!es
sion Of Faith. Then why do you blame
me for nDtbelieVingin his "horrlbc decree,
when th. Presbyterlans and ''a!l tie rest Of
mankind" refuse to endorse it.
| Iou first denied that Calvin caused the
death OF Servetus, but when proved it,
you then said he was no worse than the
church OF Rome! That they were as pur-
scouting and bloodthirsty as he WAS. Iou
then said, 1t was the ism of Calvin, and
with This 7 admitted that if was his nersn.
cntino Spirit and ..HorribIe decree" that
onnosed The former had proved. and
ouo,ed n li,tlc from the latter. which scared