The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-19
THE PROPOSED PURITAN
REVIEW.

vision with which they are threatened, by
the proposal to publish Theological Re-
view, as the representative and advocate of
the old Puritan Standards. And it seems
to us very manifest that no such appeal
would have been made were there not evil
dences of increasing dissatisfaction with the
present type of New England Theology.
The commencement of the article intimates
that there is no difference between the Old
and the New, save only in relation to seer
tain minute metaphysical distinctions in de-
fning the grand essential doctrines of the
gospel and as an argumentum ad inUidiam,
it states that 'the movement" for the pub
LEGATION of such Review els movement in
the interest of Presbyterianism of the strait
est sect, and the parties most active in it,
would go over to the Old School Presbyte
rian church, if they could hope to carry any
of the people with them" To show how
deeply the Independent feels this "move-
ment" and how much he deprecates it, we
will give the conclusion of his appeal.
"Do we then need a new Theological
Review for any purpose whateYer2 Must
( it not organize parties and foment divisionsl
We are sure that just as far as this whole
movement is understood, the New England
churches will frown upon it as reprOach
to Christianity and a special 'affiiction to
themselves.
Fathers and Brethren in New England,
do not the Orthodox Congregational church
es throughout the land stand together in
the faith of the Gospel? Do they not all
hold that mankind are utterly depraved and
lost in sin? that there is no possibility of
salvation for any human being save through
the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus
Christ the co-equal Son Of God? and that
none will come to Christ save by the re-
generating power of the Holy Spirit2 Do
not these churches all agree in the doctrines
of justification by faith, the resurrection of
the dead, the general Judgment the future
eternal punishment of the wicked? And
now, just as there are special indications of
the presence Of Gods Spirit in the church
es, just as the country, depressed in its COM
mercial affairs and threatened with fresh
deluge of political wickedness, seems also
upon the eve of general revival of rell-
gion,-at such time as this shall there be
divisions and alterations for no cause but to
crafty the constitutional propensity of a
few men for theological warfare? Does not
Christ call upon the Congregational minis
try, already one in faith, to be one in heart
in higher, holier work."
We have recently perused Bangs life Of
Arminius, and we venture the assertion that
if this be the creed of the New England
churches-if this be the ground on which
they "stand together in the faith of the
gosper'-if this be the only test of their
orthodoxy-then the platform is one upon
which he, as well as they could stand; and
we will go still further and affirm that neither
Presbyterans of the stratest or loosest sect
would object to such creed, except upon
the ground that it is altogether too meageI
and too indefinite to serve as test of true
orthodoxy.
As illustrations of the kind of theology
which is thought to be in harmony with this
creed, We will give the following specimens
l. The Boston Congregationalist, Dec
14th, 1649, speaking of the answer in the
Catechism to the question-"Is any MAJ
able perfectly to keep the commandments
of God?" says, "It cannot be true that We
are not able to keep that law. We need ne
better proof that we Gun keep it, than the
simple fact that God requires us to do so
We have always regarded the above answer
in the Catechism as conveying an idea which
either is not intended, or if intended is alto.
gether false and unsound in theology. That
no man can possibly keep the divine law III
this life, is by no means true"
2. DR.. Emmons, says, ''unrenewed men
can love God, repent of sin, and believe in
Christ and perform every religious duty, as
well as they can think, or speak, or walk
8. The New England Doctrinal Book
and Tract Society, in Tract No. s, says. A
sinful man can become holy, the non-elect
can comply with the terms Of the gospel
they are just as able to repent and believe
the gospel as the elect-as capable of doing
right as wrong"
4. DR.. Tyler in one of his sermons, says
at will not avail the sinner to plead he has
no power to obey. He has power. If he
has power to sin, he has power to cease
from sinning-if he has power to rebel
against God, he has power to submit to
God. He has all the power he needs, all
indeed which he can possess. If God were
to renew his heart this moment, his power
would not be increased, he would only be
willing to use Alright the power which he now
abuses, and persists"
An indefinite number of examples might
be given to the same effect-in which it is
maintained that ''the ability of man is COM
mensurate with his esponsibility" and that
''there is nothing to hinder his loving God,
and obeying him perfectly, but his own I'M
willingness"
So also in relation to the atoning sacri-
flee of Christ and the regen Grating power
of the Spirit, multitude of examples might
be given illustrative of the fact that the