The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-21
AN INTERESTING CRITICISM OF
PROF. SWINGS REMARKS.
Something Everybody Should Read.
o the Editors of Tbe ROCK leland Argus:

To the Editors of The Rock Island Argus:
In your issue of the 10th inst, you. say:
DIR. Swing foresees the passing away Of
Calvinism and thus discourses about it:
So numerous are the names OF those who are thus
attacking the standards and so high is the position
OF the speakers, that 1t is obvious that the Calvin
i-tlc theology has passed Its zenith, and Is now
entering new and rapid decline.
Truth is immortal and IL Calvinism is
expiring it is because it is false theology
not taught in the Bible.
Since the controversy, between Pro-
fessors Patten and Swing, on Calvinism,
have watched closely to see the latter land
10 Univorsalism, the theological antagonist
Of both Calvinism and Arminianism, but
if Prof. Swings sermons are key to his
theological views he is, at best, like all
other Arminials, a modified Calvinist
He surely believes that the human will
is free in contradistintion TO the doctrine
Of predestination. It is impossible that
both these theories can be true. If Cal
vinism is true, then men and women are
machines, and perform the work and fill
the designs of their all wise creator And
let me ask, 10 the words of Paul Shall
the thing formed say to him who formed
it; why hast thou made me thus?" On
the other hand, if the human will is free
TO do good or evil, what necessarily follows ?
If Prof. Swings will is free" to do good
or evil, has not the will Of all his fellow
beings, from Adam until to-day, been
free to do good or evil? And if this posi-
ton be true, what, let me ask, would have
become of Gods plan of salvation had the
Jews exercised free will, " released Jesus
and crucifed Barablas, as Plate urged
them to do2 The above question | have
repeatedly asked anti. Calvinistic clergy
men, aud have received only an ingenius
bubble, or an ambiguous reply: Great
is the mystery Of Goodness.
1t seems TO me that Peter aud Paul oc.
cupied as high position as the speakers
TO whom Prof. Irving refers as the demol-
ishors Of Calvinsm. Peter, to whom the
keys were delivered, said: Acts il 23)
Him by the determinate counsel aud
forekn0wledge of God have We taken and
by wicked hands cruci6ed and slain. u
Paul said rom. will For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestnate to. bC
cOnformed to the image of his Son, that hi
might be the first born among many breth
rem" These texts are not 1.-THE of those
that prove the doctrine of Calvinism.
Burgon Inspiration and Interpretation
p. 9S) says: The Bible is none other thar
the voice Of Him that stitch upon the
Throne! Every book Of it-eyery word OF
it-every syllable of it-Cvery letter of it
is the direct utterance Of the.Most High" !!
Prof. Swing is no better authority thar
this learned English theologian, and if the
numerous Bible texts which prove the
CalvinistIc creed are spurious then thu
entire Bible is not THE direct utterance o.
the Most High" as the Right Reverend
Burgon believes it to be.
Prof Swing knows how to strike thu
popular keynote in his sermons. In
late sermon he said: THE Presbyterian
church was a part of the mighty revol
against ROmanism, and came affirming tn,
rights of the people to education and lib
erty aud free study of the scriptures
Ii came with a reputation of popish vic
and idlcness and bondage, the champion o
a religion not Of money, not of relics ant
bells, aud incense, and indulgences. hut o
spiritual faith aud righteousness. Whel
you remember the rigid simplicity of tina
religion as compared with the old Roma
forms, how it announced the doctrine of
deep and universal education, and how
insisted upon a holy Sabbath and a hol
lite aud made the mountains and wood
ring with its prayers and its hymns, 70
no more need Calvinism 10 explain tn
success OF the church than you need it t
account for the progress of America as til
achievements of the Saxon race"
Does the Catholic church lack thes
virtues and this Protestant piety2 i,
impatient history answer.
INVFSTTG AToR