The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-22
For the Central Presbyterian
" Just as I Am"

JuSC as Am"
"P. 7. P" represents me as being op-
posed to the theology of the Bible in . gen
Seral: Paul in particular; our Church
Standards; the two Hodges; Calvin
Plctet, etc., etc. [ had no thought that
a little practical talk, with sinner, out
SIDE Of theological circles and technicalities.
could ever occasion so much uneasiness
an this brothers mind. Evidently he is
uneasy about me. Now, once for all flor
L will not speak again in this matter), let
me say, have read all of "P. T. IS"
theological quotations.; have for years
been studying and working right along
son that straight line''-and do not pro-
pose to leave it. 1 have no theoZ6Gicaz
controversy with him.
But it is impossible for me to saw that
an practical work, have found no sinners
like those about whom this discussion be-
gan. For L have found them, and am
meeting them continually. "P. It. P"
may, (as he does) answer as to suoh q
sinner: "he is sincere in thinking that
me is willing to be saved from sin" etc.
But instead Of giving this sinner theo-
logical lecture, l have found it better to
deal with him as he appears to be- and
-t - OnO 0OhoOi uS really Is. therefore
4 take the position of Paul in Romans =:
4-3; In commenting upon this passage,
hodge has some sentences which suit the
case IN hand. $50 far from desiring to
eexaggerate the evil of their conduct. lin
not receiving Christ as the end of the law
for righteousness), "the Apostle, as was
his uniform manner, endeavored to bring
everything. commendable and exculpa-
tory fully into view" On the sentence.
For bear them record that they have
$. zeal of God, he says: "The word for
mas here its appropriate force, as it in
produces the ground or reason of the pre-
sceding declaration: i desire their saliva
tion, for they, themselves are far from be-
ing unconcerned as to divine things \: X
The Jews had very great zeal about God,
abut 1t was wrong as to its object, and of
consequence wrong in its moral qualities. {"
Zeal, "6ut not according to kno1OL
edge Neither enlightened nor wise :;
neither right as to its objects, nor correct
an its character X x The Jews were
Jealous about their law, the traditions of
their fathers, and the establishment of
their own merits. x X x In SO far. how
ever, as this zeal was a zeal about God
1T was preferable to indifference, and is
therefore, mentioned by the Apostle with
qualified commentator. + The
grand mistake of the Jews was about the
method of Justification lust the mis-
take 7.o10 made By n1a1ay sinners ,Vho are
Jar from beng ocraconce17led about divine
things. A mistake, fatal if not corrected
The cause of the rejection of the Jews
was their rejection of the method of sal
walton through crucifed Redeemer, and
their perslsting in confding in their own
merits, etc. But were none of these
Jews sincere in wishing to please God !?
Did none of them wish to be saved from
sin? Peter says (Acts iii III that their
rejection of Christ was through ignor-
-ance. That rejection was expressed in
'crucifying Him. Paul certainly wished
sincerely, and worked hard to please God
before he became a Christian But he
wished and worked "ignorantly." | Tim.
j: 49, Why then should it be branded
as thing impossible and incredible that
any sinners may be in the condition de-
asscribed in the words longing to be saved
from sin, but they are working in ignor-
ance or under misrepresentation Of the
gospel? While they do this, they are
as unsaved as the Jews and Paul were.
because Chey want TO be accepted of God
they try to establish their own right
,eousness," not understanding that this
means sin, and is really rejection of God 8
method of justification They must be
taught that as long as they rely in the
least upon their own works or merits
they do not and cannot rely in the least
upon the works and merits Of Christ. He
must be pointed out to them, and Just as
long as they hesitate to accept Him, Just
50 long are they unsaved. When Gods
Spirit uses such teaching so as to make
them give up all hope Of fitting them
selves TO be saved, and persuades and en-
ables them to accept Jesus Christ as He
Is offered in the gospel, then, and not be-
fore, they are saved Before doing this.
they are wrong-laboring in error, mis-
understanding, or ignorance--or in all.
This may be mot far from the kingdom
of heaven" but it is not q saved state.