Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-09-24

right, and what is wrong must know the viii
| of God aais.a9 9.l-a- - %,
Infants escape condemnation under both CON
ditions the heather under the latter surely
| for they have had no Revelation. st. Pau
says, Sin is not imputed where thereis no law. y
| Ro. v. 49, e7oHi IA
1t IS perfectly plain that Christ sacrifice soo.
not necessary for either OF these too classes. They
cannot be Sinners s'He died for ..sinners'
alone. 1.-The whole need not physician.
am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
| to repentance" Matt. TX. II. Nix. IL, II.
Lu v. 81. ga 81
As In the commission Of sin, even SO in the
acceptance ofsalvation, two conditions are neces-
sarily precedent. .gysg sac'liag gua 81
1st. The person must have discretion
I'd He must have knowledge of the terms
offered by Christ. 6a
Else how can be believe?
As we can be saved only by believing on
Christ, and complying with the offer OF his re-
willfully violating God s law. knowledge and
discretion are in each case presumed to exist.
The choice is offered to us all: we can sin or
not, as we will; we can accept salvation or not
as we will. AS salvation through Christ is not
forced on any one without his knowledge or
consent so sin through Adam is forced on NO
one without his consent,
This view Of our creation and redemption
does away with the necessity for those fctions
of the Fathers of the Church, as that we are
created deserving of Gods wrath the doc
trne of total depravity or original sin its hor-
rible consequent infant damnation, and in turn
It's humane consequent baptismal regeneration.
Man 8 sense of justice reyolted at the dread
full dogma of the condemnation of the inno-
cents, and forced the said Fathers to provide
an easy though absurd method for their saliva
ton, viz: baptisnal regeneration. (See Epis
Prayer Book, infant baptism
Or, if universal condemnation be insisted
upon, then the heterodox view of universal
salvation would seem the most logical, as we'll
as the most agreeable The true Interpretation
of the scriptures discards all such human in
ventions. We would raise no doubt as to the
authenticity or credibility of the Holy Word
God s will is certainly revealed so plainly, that
none need err therein. But the Bible, as we
now have it, has passed through many Ian
guages and many hands,, and consequently
many different versions and renderings exist
The authorized version of the Eogish Church,
known as King James's Bible, the one now in
general use with Protestants, was not made till
the 18th century. In it there are many recog-
nlzed mistakes, inaccuracies and interpretations; !;
many passages regarded as by no means sin
spired -
In Timothy, III. 16., the translation is,
'All scripture is given by inspiration of God. I"
There is preponderance of authority in favor
of the rendering-'E7 writing, which is
inspired, is also profitable, &c. An assertion
which no one could doubt. (Vid. Smiths
Bible Dict. Scripture, Bible, Version, &c.)-
1t must be borne in mind that st. Paul wrote
that passage long before the 'canonical'' scrip
lures were separated from the ''apcchryphal,n
VOC hofapo oP tbo
written. He could not have either included
the whole of one Bible, or excluded every 9th
er writing The Jewish apochryphal books
are still received by the Roman Catholic
Church as canonical, but not by the Protes-
tants While the Protestants agree generally
as to what books are canonical they differ rad
ically as to the Interpretation of many passa-
ges Which interpre tation is inspired2 Is it
contended that the collection, translation, Sc
lection, and compilation of the authorized YER
sion alone we're all inspired? However, the
fundamental truths of the Gospel are plain !;
and all other inspired writings will adapt them
that the man should be alone. Gen. IT. Is.
Paul says, 1t is good for man not to touch
woman. III Cor. VII. l. God commands
US to multiply and replenish the earth. David
says that he was ''shapen in iniduity and con-
ceiyed in SIM" Now shall We yield obedience
to Gods express authority, and to the demands
of our very nature or defy both and cease to
propagate our kind, through some fanciful In
depreciation of the opinions of our fellow men
Plainly these opinions, if inspired, have been
grossly misinterpreted and the doctrine usual
y taught from them is anything but inspired.
They must be made to conform to the order of
God and nature, or they must be set aside as
uninspired. 1t is difficult to understand how
nh tcf1ov nh Ga d 4
as taught In the TX Article of Religion of the
P. Episcopal Church. can conscientiously do
otherwise than follow his example also, and
lead life of celibacy. If David s writings are
all inspired one would suppose his deeds were
also, for actions speak louder than Words
And while we admit that instruction may be
gained from both, surely we are not taught to
initiate his conduct in all things. Examples of
vice are given for our avoidance, as we'll as ex-
amples of virtue for our guidance. The Ii
Psalm which contains the words referred to,
was written by David just after he had COM
mitted his great crime, and Nathan had con-
demned him therefor SO pointedy by parable.
Hence David s deep contrition and ardent tenn
permanent would naturally seek relief in extrav-
agant poetlcal expressions. IF we will under
stand bin to assert that he inherited disposi-
ton or liability to sun, all apparent contradic-
tion to our theory is reconciled. The Jews
drew from this beautiful Psalm no such dogma
as the crime of conception the corruption of
the mysterious Holy of Holes Of our nature
There is ample ground for the explanation OF
the expressions of David's remorse or oi
Pauls asceticism.
The germ of good and the germ of evil are
Unborn with every one. And the strife between
the two for development is made in every ones
life. w hen | would do good, evil is present
with me- Yes and when l would do evil
good lin the form of conscience) is present with
me. There is original virtue as well as origi
nal vice.
Christ says Of those who have not already
developed this original germ of sin, that they
are of the Kingdom of Heaven, and he as
sures US that we can in no wise enter therein
except we become as innocent as those little
ones. INQUIRER,
Kanawha G. e., w. Va.
SANDER