The Van Buren press., 1877-06-05
Structures.

per, an editorial, which, it seems to me,
may we'll call for criticism, and | feel as
sured that the editor is too much lover
Of free discussion to be piqued or offend
ed ut it.
The article was an account of the trial
of Dir. Jno. Miller by a" Council" pres
bytery y of New Jersey, on charge of
heresy, and comments upon it. | per-
fectly agree with the editor that if the
Doctor has been long known to entertain
and disseminate the opinions for which
he is on trial, the Presbytery or Church
has been remiss in not calling him to ac-
count heretofore. On this point we do
not differ. | now quote from the article ::
"The opinions pronounced heretical by
the Council are as follows First-Is the
soul immortal? Second--Are there three
distinct persons in the Godhcad 3D.
Was Christ in Adam?' He that is
DIR. Miller insisted, first, that the correct
Bible teaching is, that the soul dies with
the body, and both are resurrccted at the
same time.' Upon this, the editor of
the Argus remarks: " A doctrine rather
difficult to overthrow by those who ad-
vocate general resurrection, and deny
an intermediate life like the Purgatory
of the Roman Catholics" Now the cdi-
tor has Inexperienced or misstated the
effect of the difference between Protest
ants and Catholics upon the doctrine of
Purgatory. The Immortality Of the soul
is not in dispute in that difference, but
the immortality Of the punishment is.
Both Protestants and Catholics believe
that the untorgiven sinner Immediately
after death, enters into punishment but
the Catholics teach that those guilty only
of certain sins, can be released by GER
tain lnstrumentalities such as masses and
prayers, while Protestants believe that
those who enter into it once must forev-
en- endure it. So that it is perfectly plain
that one may be dsbeliever in the
Catholic doctrine OF Purgatory, and yet,
by no means a believer in the death of
the SOUL until the resurrection as taught
by DR.. Miller.
| proceed with the quotation !" See
ond-That the Godhead is not three, b 1t
is one with various attributes. Third
That Christ was descendant of Adam,
and born in sin like all other human be-
ings, and wiped out such sin in his pro-
pitiatory death, as He did that of 9TH
crs." Commenting upon the trial of DR..
Miller, for teaching these opinions, the
editor remarks, What fate awaits Dr.
Miller, at the hands of the Presbyterian
Synod, is not known, but may be sunni
sed.' We perfectly agree with the edi-
tor that DR.. Miller's fate may be surmis-
ed. The three doctrines held by Dir. NJ
arc directly contrary to those taught by
the Holy Scriptures, as understood and
eXpounued by frcsbyterians, Mcthodists
and Baptists Of all names, by Episcopa-
lians, Rctormers, the Free Church OF
Scotland, and, | will venture to say, by
Moravians and Lutherans. A Prcsbyte-
ry or council of either of these demon.
nations, sitting in trial upon the three
doctrines mentioned above, could not
fail, acting consistently, to exclude any
one teaching them, from their pulpits
Z" The moral and Intellectual world will
watch this trial with interest" 1t may
be SO. 1t may be that that portion OF
the moral and intellectual world, who
follow the teachings of Darwin, Huxley
and others like them, are watching this
trial, in eager hope that Dr. Miller hold
ing such hcretical opinions, may still be
permitted to occupy the pulpits Of or
thodox denominations, and, by this glar
ing Inconsistency, give them comfort in
their attempt to overthrow the Bible
, but is it not, also, true that the mora
and intellectual world, represented by
: the no less scholarly attainments, the va
, ried accomplishments, the deep research
and the solid piety of the numerous min
listers of these denominations in the Uni
ted States, England, and elsewhere, are
watching with interest, while they sor
row that DR.. NJ has fallen into these er.
rors, to see the New Jersey Synod faith.
fully perform its duty in purifying her
pulpits from such heresies /?
| quote the closing remarks "The
fiery winding sheet can no longer be
rendered rs an alternative to the indie
, pendent thinker in religious matters but
1t will be curious to sec whether the
spirit that formerly tended it, still lives"
Is not this strange language? Is it not
plainly implied in the former part of the
sentence that if they had the power, this
New Jersey Synod, and virtually these
Protestant denominations that | have
mentioned, for they all stand upon the
same platform, in that they totally rcpu-
date these doctrines of DR.. NJ, would
burn him for their utterance Is il not