The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-11
FOR THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAN.
1.-THE SAVED AMONG THE NATIONS. -


Mr.. -EditOr,-Please allow me word il
reply to P. B. P, who attempts vicariout
battle against my communication in your
paper Of May 3Oth on this subject. He
asks: "Can anything be more unfair than
to argue that because Gtalics my own) wise
and experienced theologian uses scriptural
expression, 'co-workers with Christ, he is
assuming for man the functions of the blessed
Spirit 2" l say, no; such an absurd argu-
ment is not found in my criticism which he
criticises. What | wrote was this "The
speaker says, We are co workers with Christ
in effecting those glorious ends for which the
world stands, for which the universe was cre-
ated. What are these ends? They may be
all summed up in single phrase-the glory
of God in the salvation of sinners. We are
sent to work spiritual miracles" Why did
not P. B. T reply to my objections against
this phraseology, if he would show my un-
fairness I said "There is not a single
passage in the New Testament containing
the declaration or intimation that we are
co-workers with Christ for the glory of God
and the salvation of Sinners" and gave the
reason. To show the contrary, he quotes as
follows: "The works that do shall he do
also, and greater works than these shall he
do," &C.; "He that converteth a sinner"
Why did not P. B. P. quote both passages
IN full? Had he done so, he would have
only confuted himself, for greater nors-se-
quitur never was penned. Paul said "I
thank God that ye were the servants of SINS"
By stopping there, I would prove, after the
same manner, that to be sinner was mat.
ter of thankfulness.
Your correspondent says: "The remain
der of W. R. G.'s communication is well,
thoug undesignedly, answered in the Gen.
trail of the 9th inst.;" but his opinion is
quite aStray, if we may judge from the
specimen he quotes to support it: "The idea
that Christians are not to pray and labor for
the conversion of the whole world is unscrip-
tural, and its prevalence in the Curch would
paralyze its energy and efficiency" This is
both an "unscriptural statement and an
other non sequitur. Christ himself thus
prayed-consider it well-"I I pray not for
the world, but for them which thou hast giveas
me-" Was this prayer "unscriptural?" Has
it paralyzed the energy and efficiency Of His
Church? When Paul was laboring for the
conversion of the Corinthian Jews amid much
opposition, he was about to depart, though
" many of the Corinthian Gentiles hearing,
believed" but the Lord prevented, by say
ing in vision to him, 81 have much people
in this city, Vas HE energy paralyzed or
his efficiency crippled because the Lord did
not assure him that the whole city should be
converted? The whole world shall indeed
be converted to Christ, but not "this present
evil world; aion; out of which Christ's
"much people" must be taken, "the election
of grace" | think the servant should not
assume to be wiser than the Master. If His
prayers and example be our model, We must
take care not to contradict either by our
teaching. In no place are We said to be CO.
workers with Christ in the salvation of sin
ners. The only passages that can be quoted
in favor of such a sentiment are, l Cor. iii
9; and 2 Cor. vi; l; neither of which has
any alluSon to such co.effcency. By the
first, it is shown that we are "laborers to-
gether with Coo" in planting and watering.
The second thus reads: "We then, workers
together paul and Sosthenes), beseech also
that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain" What now becomes of the sentiment
as Ga scriptural expression, - coworkers
with Christ in the salvation of sinners
And what becomes of P. B. P.'s "indignant
protest against the perversions of the critic? :"
Is it not an INDECENT protest begging for an
excuse? Must we take the interlarded.ital-
les of the translators to prove it, in this last
passage? l will believe anything shown to
be warranted by the word of God, but not
by. any passages of it carved out to suit the
exigences of a mere traditional theology.
w. R. G.