, 1874-05-17

Olcrk] believe that?
ANOTHER HERETO.
Brother Barrett remarked that he did,
[Laughter.l
Prof. Patton said be WIS not eound, as that
WIS not what P1esbyterians believed. II the
view OF Prof. Swing Of justification By Faith was
accepted, the whole fabric Of the doctrines OF
Grace wou1d be capsized. His sermons on
" Faith and " Good Works were no more ia
harmony With the Confession Of Faith, that was
the theology Of the Council OF Trent, or the the
ology OF Or. Horace Bushnell. which was that
Jesus Christ came into the world to show his
sympathy for men.
1SBPIRAr1oN.
=. He was not satisfied with Prof. Swings posi-
ton on the subject OF the Inspiration Of the
Scriptures. They did not believe that
God in some way inspired Moses and
David and others, but that the Bible
Was tha infalhble word Of God-the only rule OF
faith and practice, and that it MAS infa1hble be-
cause God spoke through the mouths OF those
who wrote tho books-that what they sud God
said; 30 that they could say with equal propriety
God wrote tho 10oth Psalm or David wrote it.
But once let the people bcliere that they could
Bible, and say that this is not inspired set up
standard ns to what was atu what waB not in
spired-the Bible was to all intents and purposes
thrown to the winds, and Rationalism estab-
liehed a. the baels OF faith.
It WAS to be expected that men would differ In
respect to some Of the minor doctrines of the
Church, but they ehould not differ as to the car
dinal doctrines-the authority OF Gods word.
He maintained that Prof. Swing had made ut
terances in his sermon8 which he contra
the faith Of the people in the authority and in
falible inspiration Of the Bible He had said
that he believed in the - Inspiration OF the
Scriptures. that God could make q bad law,
and that He did make bad psalm. If they
believed that, ho would not give fig for their
inspiration. They lost confidence in God when
they imputed to Him the idea that He m.de a
bad law and bad psalm. Prof. Swing had not
answered the question, *'Do you believe in tho
Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures?" and had
had made no such avowa!, and, until
he did, he (patton) would bold that
he had uttered statements and entertained views
respecting the Bible which were not in keeping
with his ordination vows.
A motion to adj djourn WAS lost.
4 WORD OF WARNING.
Prot. Patton went on, He did not 500 how the
Presbytery, having promised to defend tie
truth Of God, whatever prosecutions might arise
on account Of it, could be loyal to the Church II
which, to say the least. was dangerous. II he
(Sw1pg) said he did believe in the doctrines, Is
they we're taught in the Confession Of Filth, the
acknowledged symbol OF the Presbyterian
Church. tho second charge would be disproved,
but it still remained that he had taught false
doctrine, and it was tue duty Of the Presbytery to
express its decided disapproGal Of that teaching,
and to require Of him q retraction OF those
statements. d dsatowat OF the eIrors which it
WAS alleged they contained, and Ell ayovnl Of
the Court also to express it's sentiments on the
Bnbject OF his past unfathfulness.
LET HIN LEAVE.
There was no Old School theology or New
School theology, but there WAS the theology OF
the Confession of Faith. The distinction be-
was distinction which the Presbytery, or at all
events the Presbyterian Church. would never
recognize even il there we're such distinction.
Prof. Swing had no right to call him.
self a New School Presbyterian, because the
New School Presbyterian Church never beloved
the doctrines which he hold, and never omitted
to believe the doctrines which lie had repudiated.
Prof. Swing. having departed from the doctrines
which differentiated the Presbyterian Church
from other churches, would in logical consist
ency find better home where his theology MAS
moro in harmony with his company. That was
frank, honorable position for him to take, and
there could bo no other.
Another motion to adjourn WAS lost.
Mr.. Young hoped that Ell Prof. Patton's wife
and his friends were anxious lest he should break
down that the Court would cousentto sn adjourn
ment.
BoE.;p TO FINISH.
Prof Patton said he had talked eleven hours,
and could hardly stand up, but as his friends
had desired an adjournment on account Of biz
health, and it had been denied, he would not
take it now, but would close his argument before
he sat down. He had been brought up
Old School Presbyterian [smiles and - "Ah!' OH
the leftl but he had been pastor OF New School
church, and the theology Of the people he
preached to was hts theology. lSniles aud ''Ah!'
on the 1ight.J The issue now on trial had never
before existed III the Presbyterian Church, aud
to assort the contrary was TO assert what
Was untrue. He would admit that the
PrsHbytorian t Church ,.;n was mot not &C commit ahs
Confession of Faith. but the question was
whether Prof. Swing held o theology which WAS
consistent with the Calvinistio system. Could
he be considered as holding to that system
when he had distinctly told them that he had left
behind him some Of its leading doctrines,
md his teaching showed that he bad departed
from Justification By Faith, which was tbs
foundation Of tho system II SO, an atheist
could be considered IS in good aud regular
standing IN the Christian Church. He did not
wish it understood that he was saying that the
Presbyterian Church would not tolerate any
body who would not admit the federal headshlp
Of Adam. The Presbyterian Church would not
and could not live as organization il its min
listers did not love her doctrines enough to stand
by them aud require one another to adhere to
them and love them
The case WAS typical one, and, in settling it,
the Prcsbytery must gire it's judgment upon the
issue whether the Presbyterian Church had =
creed or whether broad-churchism without limit
was to be the policy Of tho future. In deter
mining it, they should leavo Prof. Swing. aud
Prof. Patton out, and view the evidence alone
The eyes OF the Presbyterian Church were
upon them. Never had there been q time in her
history when men looked more anxious'y, upon
Judicial proceeding than they did upon this one.
PrcBbyterians throughout the land we're asking
whether, when the trial came, tic Church would
be true to her standards whether the flag OF
would 3e kept at the Inasth head,
and not brought to the deck. Every man in tho
Presbytery was expected to 10 his duty. and
whatever pain it might cost them, md however
great might be the struggle il they found that
Prot. Swing did not belleye the doctrines OF the
Confession Of Faith, it would be their duty to
say, though they said it in grief. tat be could
not be a minister of the Presbyterian Church.
Prof Patton having concluded, the presbytory
nd jom ned till Monday morning at $780,
Thc Origin OF Some of Longfc11oW's
Poetry.
From Lertn7e by .}dntes r. Fft1d..
It is always interesting to know under what |