The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-21

expression of smazement, feeling conf.
dent your readers would not be misled
by them. But it has become 80 common
In some quarters to assert that one-half
or three-fourths of the ministers and
elders of our church do not accept the
principal doctrines of their Confession OF
Faith, that it demands more serious
treatment.
III should meet these assertions un-
supported by a single proof, by simple
denisl-not simply questioning those
very ,hings which &c" so confidently de-
clsres "cannot be questioned" but abso,
lately denying them, your readers would
SIMPLY have the assertion of one writer
against that OF another. Therefore l will
give my reasons for believing there is no
such widespread rejection of these doc
trines within the Presbyterian Church.
1. Every minister and every elder has
solemnly declared his acceptance OF
these standards, and common honesty re-
quires that when any one no longer be-
lIeves the teachings OF these standards,
he make the fact Known by withdraw
ing from the church. | am not yet pre-
pared to impute lack OF common hon.
esty 10 any considerable portion OF the
ministry and eldership of the church by
believing the charge referred to.
2. 1t is only about six years since the
union of the old and new school branches
OF our church. At that time botn
churches, to prove to each other their un-
impeachable Presbyterisnism, adopted
anew, not only in their General Assem-
bies, but also in their presby-
teries, the Confession of Faith.
I am not prepared to
believe that so great change could
have taken place within 80 sort time.
People who have been raised on the
Shorter Cstechism are not quite so
changeable rs that, nor so easily turned
from their faith.
3. 1t may be thought Our subscription
to the standards is OF such character as
to admit of change of view and the SUBJ
sequent rejection of some OF their doc
trines without our being dishonest IN re-
naming still in the church; and that one
might sincerely believe that many have
since gwen up their acceptance, at least,
of some of the teachings OF the standards,
without at the ssrae time Imputing n
want of common honesty to go many re-
spectacle and upright citizens.
1t Is indeed well understood by all
who subscribe to our standards, that
they do not thereby accept every
phrase and word, or every detached
expression. This would be to exalt the
subordinate standards to place along
side of the Scriptures.
No one questions the right of any min
ister to say, "certain expressions should
be stricken out CT modified, or certain
chapters or sections would be the better
of q complete rewriting" But it was
well understood at the time of the re-
union, because the matter had been
thoroughly discussed and agreed TO by
ali sides, that the doctrines were to be
accepted in the Historical sense" I. c.,
the various PARTICLES Of the Confession
were TO be interpreted in the manner
customary since their adoption in l647,
and that no doctrine essential to the sys-
tenn should be rejected by any one prop
erlv accepting the standards. For ex-
ample, every one who has ever read the
Confession of Faith knows that the
doctrine of predestlnation is an essential
part of the system contained in 1t. 1t Is
stone in the arch, and if it be removed
the system ss such is destroyed. A Pres
byterian who does not believe IN predes-
tination is an ecclesiastical contradiction.
You may rs well think TO omit Hamlet
from the play and yet call it rs good
as new" This was well understood. at
the time of the reunion, and 1t is well
understood tJ.isy throughout the church
in this country and in all countries, that
to be minister or an elder mot men,
ber) in our church involves the accep-
tsnce, in the historical sense OF every
doctrine which constitutes an essential
part OF the system set forth IN the Con-
fession of Faith, and therefore L am not
ready to believe that there is any consider
able number of ministers or elders ia any
country who have ceased to preach and
believe such doctrines, properly under
standing, as eternal predestlnatlon,
election, limited (or defnite) imputation
of righteousness and guilt" etc.
may say, however, in this connection,
and in parenthetic way, that l readily
admit that Presbyterian ministers do not
so frequently discuss IN the pulpit, the
distinctive doctrines of the Church,
chiefly, because the age OF controversy
has passed, and it is felt to be both
wise and Christian that all Evangelical
ministers should unite In preaching the
same great truth, essential to Salvation.
We have about reached the day when
the inquirer, asking the question
What must l do to be ssvedI may,
hear the same answer. into whatever
Evangelical church he may wander on
q Sabbath day. But it is certainly an
unfair inference from this fact, that
these preachers have either ceased to
believe these doctrines, or have come to
regard them with lnditference.
4. Ifsppeal be made to the fact that
some prominent ministers have with
drawn from the church on recount OF
inability to accept all tho doctrines OF
the Confession OF Faith and that others,
here and elsewhere, have publicly ad-
vocsted a change of standards, l reply
that a careful count and examination OF
these will only confirm the position l
have taken, that there is no such wide
spread detection in the church rs
many would have us believe. Your
readers will readily refer 10 the cases
Of Reys. Miller, Swing snd McCune.
But Mr.. Miller stands absolutely alone
in his doctrinsl position. If there is
single minister or elder in the whole
church 10 defend him, he has not yet
lifted up. his voice. Prof. Swing un-
doub,ediy rejects the distinctive doc
trines of Presbyterlsnism, and was de-
Tended by the msjority Of his presoy
tery; but not on on the ground OF sym
psthy with his views, but because they
doubted the sutficiency OF the evidence
AGAINST him. Since Prot. Swing has
more plainly proclaimed his views, his
old friends have publicly repudlated
their supposed sympathy with him. The
case of Mr.. McCune has no relation to
l. -