, 1880-03-07
SALVATION.

To the Editor Of The Chicago Irib,tas.
DAVENPORT, Ia, Feb e7.-The subject OF sal
vation and the conditions upon which 1t Is sup
posed to be dependent, seem to have attracted
not little attention of late. little thought
when / furnished my first commune alton to
Chicago paper On this subject, that 1t would be
the means of awakening such widespread ana
profound interest In the question Of Gospel
obedience as it has done. It seems to have at
tracted the attention Of the leading clergymen
Of Chicago and surrounding country; for many
Of them have preached and published sermons
upon tho subject; and also to have received more
than passing notice from both the secular aud
religious press. This is as it should be; for the
supreme importance of the subject, 1t seems to
me, calls for more extended and prayerful
consideration than 1t has hitherto received at
the hands of the churches
1t is to be regretted that there Is not more
unity Of faith among the public teachers OF re-
1foion upon this great fundamental doctrine
The recent discussion Of this subject In the
press and pulpits Of Chicago, has discovered the
startling fact that doctors differ, even on the
urinary and initiatory doctrines OF the Bible as
we'll as upon the more advanced and complicated
questions OF theology
II there is question connected with the
scheme OF human redemption upon which ult-
fcrepces Of faith and sentiment are likely to
prove disastrous, and upon which there should
be tho most perfect agreement and harmony, II
fs the question of salvation. and the conditions
upon which it is suspended in the Scriptures. Ii
the churches cannot agree upon the primary
doctrines Of the Bible, we shall hope ID VAIN 10
find thcm unit on the secondary anu more CON-
plcx theories OF ecclesans1csm: aae ~ ~,
disagreement among the so-caliea @ orthoqoa 4,o1e !
churches amounted to nothing IN, more 5nra,. dban
simple difference Of f. 9Rat4n hris fbese dierenees
amount in some instances TO doWnrlsnL qpalsa- en-
dictions, rs will be seen by returning TO tne an
swers given BY the wssf Sssffn must man do to be
sayedy' These men not only differed ~ t9eir
notions of what Is essential to SALVATION DUE
some Of them plainly and uneqOlFocally con-
trndicted euch other. In view Of such an unfort-
unate state Of things as this, what ~ Woula ~ ~
humble sinner do who was anxious 70 SECURE tne
dIf1er and learned clcrgy1nen CONTRADICT eaca cG
other on the primary question Of sa1VAtlon, ano
cannot ngree in regard to What IS essen,at ta II
Gun poor, unenliGhtened, anti Ignorant m sinner
nave Of ever finding the way of life9
This is no fancy sketch; ne exaggeT1ahr9p TIES NV
obtains in the religious world, and which, N my
humble opinion, is the prolific source OF mucn
indifference: not absolute nndens; dteera,,ces
are necessary or unavoidable. There must be
snme rntionul explanation for these diverstties
9f dof one aee WI all b. and
found in the Sacred Scriptures.
A careful analysis Of all those passages Whfcn
refer to the subject Of salvation and critical
examination Of every answer given 70 M. me
Seriptures to the al1-important inquiry: What
shail / do to be saved?'' reveal the fact that
there is neither difference nor contradictory IN
the Scriptures on this subject, bnt the fulles
aa ana cmtr. domain Of revealed truth. am there
fore forced to conclude that The eonsrad,ctory m "a:
answers given to the above question by ne emf 2.
nent Chicago diyines had their origin not u me
Scriptures Of truth but in their preadopteo anu
TO o show Tint The Bible is in harmony with IT
self upon this one question at least is the object
Of this paper ,,-,,x,r ,hearra+ions lat
,r attertinn to the great living and all
ehsorbinr a question, 'What shall I do to DO
saved: IN x,+a,,,9ent,v or
". ssni11 af the word saved The words
saved and salvation are not alThss ~, sae sme
fhouuht In every salvation, Whetnef pel ltat.ns LILLE
d}s1Inot ,dess. d, Savior; Co) something 70 be
saved: and 81 some danger or consequence IRON
which to be delivered .ha R;b,a tn indf-