The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-26
SUNDAY READING.
Z" THE NEW ALARM
pY RonEnr AnkMAN. D. D.

eidCt. f1tIc dni III tht olnOu VI lcW
Jersey, and in one Of Its largest pres
byteries, with other recognized New
School men, holding TO the most unlin :
tied views of the extent of Christs
atonement, IN familiar association with
brethren who hold the strictly limited
view; yet neither side is afraid, with
any amazcment. ln Fafi9
During the nine years OF tile existence
Of the Presbytery of Morrisa aud Orange,
on various occasions, when declara-
tion of views became appropriate {as
sometimes in connection with the exam
ination of candidates), | have stated my
own vicws of the extent of the atone
ment virtually in the four following
propositions: Un.f
/. That there is not single passage
in the Bible which declares that Christ
made Precipitation for the sins of lhc
elect only. . tv rs.f
2. That there are many passages of
Gods Word which assert an unlimited
Precipitation in terms as unqualified and
unmistakable as language is capable. OF
doing. ....... .,.s.
3. That there is, at least, one passage
in the Word which distinctly and in set
terms denies a limited Precipitation and
asserts an unlimited one.
4. That the Word of God in, at least,
one passage declares in plain language
that the purchase of Jesus blood was
for some who would be- lost, whose
damnation slumbered not. ,,l
Under these four propositions l hold
that the unlimited nature of Christ's
atonement is as surely made known i'm
the Divine Word as that there is any
atonement ut all. These views are behl
by other brethren in the Presbylery and
in other parts of the Synod. We hold
them TO be Calvinistic. knowing that
John Calvin believed in an unlimited
atonement, speaking of "grace COM
mon to all, and that "Christ suffered
for the sins of the whole world and is
offered to all, without distinction we
claim in this matter to be especially
Calvinistic. Yet we New School meIl
are perfectly tolerant of the unlimited
view of the atonement, so that really
there is no alarm Oh either side. OF
course, DR.. Leonard Bacon never touch
es his pen to anything which he does
not illuminate, and we all have new
sense of safety when he comes to the
help of Presbyterianism which is spe-
cially true of us New School men, who
remember his early associations with
"Our denomination" But we really
think that he is alarmed for us without
cause; that his affection for us is Civ
ing him unnecessary anxieties, not well
to indulge in during this heated term.
In regard to the ecclesiastical ripple
which has stirred the surface of Pres
byterianism in Ohio, two things seem
remarkable to me. One is that Mr..
Alcott should have deemed it advisable
or necessary to withdraw from the Pres
bytery Of Wooster; the other is that
The presbytery should have consented
to his withdrawal for the reason which
he gave. have no doubt MIR. Alcott
could have preached the doctrine of an
unlimited atonenient, in its largest
sense, with perfect freedom, unmolested
by his co-presbytcrs during all his min
isterial days. 1t is probable that hardly
any pulpit in the Presbytery iwould
have been forbidden to him because of
his views; and certainly not so far as
the people who set in the pews are coll
ccrncd. For as a matter of fact, plain
aymeD, reading the Bible with no the
ory into which they desire to dovctai
Scripture texts, embrace the unlimited
view of the atonement just Us naturally
AS n man whom YOU have invited to
dine with you believes that you both
want him TO come and have made pro-
vision for his entertainment.
What suppose to be true in Ohio is
certainly true in the presbyteries here
abouts. We never think of sautting
our pulpits against cac other because
of such Il difference. The presbyterv
to which belong has repeatedly licens-
ed, ordained, and installed young men
whose views of the extent of the atoue-
mcnt were the same as those held by
myself. IL has also, on the other hand,
ordained men whose views upon that
point wonld almost have satisfied Dir.
Twisse himself. .
What need had Mr.. Alcott or fhe
presbytery 20 discuss the question,
- Does God or man limit the atonement
in its application" Each party prob
ably believes that sinners voluntarily
reject the provisions of Gods grace
Which party has attained to such knowl-
edge of the high ways of God as to ba
able 10 explain the connection OF the
ultimate purpose of the Supreme Ruler
with the voluntariness of the creature
will? s,f
That phrase The determining fac
tor "-of which DIR. Bacon 70 happily
says that " in it lies coiled up AND ready
TO spnng forth an interminablc strife
about words why strive about it at
all? When Calvin saws Christ is Of
fercd to all men without distinction,
get all do not embrace the ofer," he
seems TO make man the determining fac
tor; certainly he does not avail himself
of very favorable occasion TO take
the other ground. Yet Calvin has not
been accused OF Arminianism, that |
am aware of, on this account. Ii any
one had asked Calvin What he believed
to be the exact nature of the Divine
agency exerted in the application of the
Atonement, he would most likely have
answered: " do not know 1t would
appear that neither the Prcsbytery of
Wooster nor Mr.. Alcott were under
any obligations TO know more.
After all, the Presbyterian Church is
a pretty large and free place 10 live in.
| should no doubt make its boundaries
less spacious than The Independent
would; but | am not sure that il is
much more troubled about its limita-
tions than IFS sister " denomination, !"
living more or less down East. AT any
rate, as DIR. Bacon has so recently been
laboriously exercised, in your columns,
with the management Of certain Con-
gregational matters, IL is hardly Just to
himself-capacions of labor as he is-to
take any heavy burdens upon him in
our behalf We are thankful, bat love
him TOO well not to desilc 10 spare him.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. -H is a mis-
take To suppose that Christian fellow
ship is in The keeping al certain ssects,
and can only be had by those 10 whom
they dispense it. The fellowship lliat
is doled out, officially, by an organiya-
lion, is of very little consequence. The
faithful aud loving disciple OF Christ
Will not fail of friendship: good .men