Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-22
PREsBYTERIANIsM VS.. UALyINIsa.


EDITOR JoURNALi--I afiiK the above
title to this article for the benefit of your
correspondent, "Laymnn," who lie no doubt
respected member of the Presbyterian
family, but an opposer Of Calvinism. /
will not quarrel with him upon either
point. But he tells your readers that he
"dses not want 10 be drawn into an extend
ed controversy !" however, his two re-
cent articles do not compare favorobly
with this assertion, and | would not spend
the time to reply to his last oommunica-
ton we're it not for what seems to he "for
the public good"
As the authentic and genuine doctrines
of the Presbyterian Church have appeared
in the JOURNAL, it is unnecessary for me
o'go over the same ground, in same form,
but will add, for the benefit Of your numer-
Gus readers, that when Calvin published
his system in his "Christian Institutes" ," in
1886, 1t received the title OF "Calvinism"
by its supporters at the Conference of
Poissy, in 1861. The great and leading
principles OF this system are and ever have
been, "The Absolute DEGREES of God"
Calvinsm was irst exempiied by its sup.
porters at Slrasburg and manifested in all
its vigor at Geneva, aud from thence It
spread into France, Germany, Prussia,
England, Scotland and the United
Provinces. The Confession of Faith,
ratified in the year 1860, declares that
"God by his mere grace elected n por-
ton Of the race of mankind, in Christ
Jesus, His Son, before the foundation OF
the world was laid, and that by Gods eter-
nal and immutable dccrees nll our saliva
ton springs and depends" This same
teaching, which is adhered to by the whole
leading Presbyterian fraternity of the
United States, is found in the Westminster
Confession of Faith and in the larger and
shorter Catechisms, and are the standard
doctrines of said Church; and il any man
should avow himself opposed to the doe
trines / here subjOin, he could not obtain
ordination among them, in either Scotland
or America. The doctrines referred to are
as follows:
lst. They believe that God ordained
fren all eternity, whatsoever comes to pass.
ID. That some men, like angels, are pre-
destinated 10 everlasting life, and others to
everlasting death.
Sd. That the number OF the elect and
reprobate is so certain and definite that it
can neither be increased nor diminished.
4th. That those predestnated to eternal
life, are thus chosen in Christ without any
foresight of faith and good works, or per.
severence in either of them, or anything
-. tl, lsf
moving God thereto.
9TH. That none others nre redeemed bv
Christ, effectually called, justified, adopt
ed, sanctilied ard saved, but the elect only.
9th. That the rest of mankind God was
pleased to pass by, and to ordain TO dis
honor and wrath for their SIN.
9TH That to all for whom Christ died,
he will efectually communicate Iedemp-
tion.
Sth. That elect infants dying in infancy
are saved and the elect only.
9th. That those who are redeemed and
sanctiffed can neither totally fall away,
but shall certainly persevere unto the end
and be eternally saved.
Indeed, no other branch Of the Christian
Church has maintained Calvanism or Cal.
whistle doctrines with so much tenacious
ness as Presbyterians, and "Layman" need
not deny it, II synopsis of which is given
| above. There were those Presbyters about
the year l744 who became lax in disci-
pline, and which resulted in a sclIism, but
afterward reunion was effected. About
the year 1888 another rupture occurred
| which rent the Church in twain, one party
being called "Old School" and the other
the "New School," and after separation
Of Mt least thirty years both parties met
at 81. Louis nnd afterward 1T New York
| and reported plans OF reunion, and at
Pittsbnrg, Nov. 10Th, 1859, these parties
| came together in one body. This reunion,
however, never would have been effected
had not the "New School Presbyterians"
settled down upon the old do;trinal and
ecclesiastical basis and accepted and adopt
ed the Confession Of Faith" as the system
of doctrines taught in the Holy Scriptures.
As soon as this plan OF reunion was accept
ed by the "New School," they returned at
once to the "old paths" and were as verify
Calvanistic as the "Old School" members,
and every article OF doctrines promulgated
| in the Confession became the standard
doctrine to which every Preshyter had to
subscribe.
"Laymau" may not accept these Calvin
istic articles as his standard of faith;
but he never could be ordained as n
minister OF the Presbyterian Church, if the
Church knew he discarded them, aud he
no doubt knows it. lie may call the doc
trines "abSurdities" and protest against
them as much a. he pleases, and | will let
him but the doctrines OF the Church will
remain all the same, Notwithstanding.
| "Layman' seems TO protest most against
| the Article which refers 10 the elect in
iants being saved, and the elect in
fants only. Well, | will allow him
to enter all the protests against such
doctrines lie wants to, but it is Useless
for him to say that the Confession" does
not teach such doctrines. 1t is clear from
Article 8, in this issue, that God has or
dained some men TO be saved, and others
to be damned and inasmuch rs the word
select" is used in the Article referring to
infants, it is fair conclusion 10 come to
TINT as all infants are not among the elect,
therefore all who do not come under this
head must be damned. ANY one can see
this, and that it is exactly in keeping with
the teachings of Presbyterians, in the old
colonial days.
| "Layman" says the doctrines are not
pronounced or promulgated. They may not
be pronounced orally, but they are GER
tainly promulgated in every book ca lied
the Westminster Confession of Faith, and
used to he pronounced orally until they
became 50 unpopular that the clergy
"dried up"
If it is thought best I Will carry this
subject forward, but it is neither topic
| desire to discuss or take time to write
upon, and will leave the who lie matter Ia
the discretion Of "Lryman."
Pro BoNo PUBLICo.
/