, 1880-08-29

SOME r1nASA11QSs By TIE REV. E. r. ADAMS
10 The BGFFALO paEsniTEnF.
II tae Editor Of TIE Chicago Tribune.
CA7sknL MoCS1A,s S, AnE- 2s-The detached
passages taken from my sermons and embodied
in the specifications of the charge upon which
vas rcceauy tried before the Buffalo Presbyte~
r. can hardly be understood out of their con-.
aecuons On account OF the publicity given
them unexplained, may be allowed to offer
sone explanation now. especially as in the estf-
nation Ut many thoughtful people there Is lu~
vulred sita1 and most Significant question OF
tie hour
Upon the occasion Of the trial sufficient time
could not be giYeu 10 the discussion OF great
questions like that Of everlasting punishment.
snd that OF private Judgment and ecclesiastical
authority. I had to content myself. therefore,
IN xtat was called my "defense." With the SIM
PIE endcavor to develop the fact that Presbyte-
risn ministers, as general thing, do not preach
The doctrines of the Confession Of Faith just
Is they are, Ia their strength and integ-
ritz: that they do not set forth vividly,
distinctly, and constantly future endless tor
meuts for all the t1npenitent, Gods arbitrary
election Of men TO salvation or to wrath, tho
number being so dctinitly fixed as to be incapa-
bic Of increase or dimunition: the extension OF
that election to infants, who, dying IN infancy,
either escape OF suffer the tor1neuts Of tho
danned, Simply according as they are elect or
noa-eect; aud ttn1 none except such as PRO
fess the Christian religion" can by any chance
be saved. do what they may, and whether they
hare eyer heard the Gospel. or even the name
q lis Founder, Or not tSee Larger Catechssas,
Qncs. al>
Jhut such is the doctrine Of the Confession
Showed by e1act quotations: and n5sertod that
thts Is not Tie familiar utte.ance OF the Presp5-
fen must have departed equally with mysei1
IRON The Con1essiou.-and huw 1hpn can 1hey
told u'e strictly to the stanonrds from which
taes thetAse1s rs have unqutsuOuAbty wan.
oesed: The cbarxe Ii that OF holding aud
t:acang doctr2ucs contrary 10 those OF the Holy
ect1p.nrcs Us set forth III the Confession "
ta'tu" Whether or not the defendant had
truth ou his side was repeatedly declared not to
pe The question. With me, l confess It WIS atl
lae question; ani I continue to think that me
Huh t1a* right to be heard everywhere: hnt
oo taer own ground. prcSby1ery seemed 70 De
70 dlaema- had a stron. impression 1nak
many faithful church-&ter know nothing Of
las 1etIit tlecruu. Of the 5tatus and prOspec15
q elect ard non-tscct infants who die: ana
mat their ears urc not famifinr With tie start
ing and terrific proclamation. ruuE out boldly
aad IN constanl repetition, OF the great Tact OF
eaaIess tornents fur al npcni1ent persons: Tor
eaca man, ~o,nun, and child who dies without
tae Necessary change Of heart. and whose
1aneIal We attend. IT see1ned doubtful II This
we're the 'Rtii-uuderstoU. conviction Of every
pssor; OF. if ulauy henrers could recall tue ser
M mot1s IL which the pastor had SO declared h1m-
e: ~: Of. il pastors were not silent about hell.
n.e .e hs dellcate and unwelcome subject, and II
aes did not lei 0e1oit election and infant saliva
S aon and damnaHon 20 by default l submit
taxe this is not 10 confess the - 'Cnfessiof'."
co aet am awa.x tlta, this departure from the
.olesson is to most ministers IN unconscious
sao unrecoInized fact. Buffalo Pres1ytery.
naeHoer by member. confidently asserted loyalty
baos Standards and felt aegricyed that there
ves saa'o ma " any suspicion to the contrary. ana
81 ,s1aal1ux his fidelity, said that he believed that
nfaans ~ nlanss ercn th.,se II the heathen. dying IN
naIslncs. nsll. will DO saved, and he gloricd in the
~ Confession Of Faith Chap. 20. Sec. ], ~
anether an declared that "lnauy IT us have given
~ .r.s me idea of literal resurrection OF the
~ .sce Confession OF Fnith, Chap. +, Sec
~ here are direct denials Of the Confession
prsss.' an, yet no voice Of reouks WIS lifted up IN
~ fMn1ap - Set. =. Tboughtfui men. and Thought
r;,. s.n'laren Us we'll. arc led to say that II our
ra.a ser5 really believe this, they take 1t very
Ses.aa me ihey 60 not seem consistently DIS
s"Is esea AAd urgent Men VITO have given the
cn! much serious and careful thought arc
i tIaoent that nobody really III his heart believes
nnsa, s9esanse rs they say. only deInon could he
ru.et sn,,.,, under tue Knowledge Of such nc,
ihraoolated ~ and hopeless anguish endured
i9.1as 1sasa'ures like ourselves No preaching less
EJsass, aud vehement than that OF j0fidthnt
n,saA - "a Angry God" co,npprts with the csrcutn-
srnH. man who believes this doctrine YET
n sleeps well, has good appetite, fndulges
1bst acacon ut the same time that ne knows
snn Woutless MEN are being tortured in bell
demaes eaesless more are going thithcr. IS cou-
sf.,.t sf.to = already for heartlesncss. II know
n4n<,n aa's supreme torture tint Is snm 10 pc ~
Ia Ihss ~ OF inhfctton upon the majority OF all
on}, Men zee who have ever lived. and which can
tnry ~ 9aefease and intensity. and am DOT weep
o1 ,Sa sao psafng into swift decline have none
m t ~ iove which takes upon itself the burdens
resd1u IFS OF others. How easily fret. and 40"
shen Question Gods goodness and justice.
unoo some some Temporary pains and l.,sses come
fnn ,n.!se11: yet never thought Of question
arnn,n y, nanalcting God for the inttnitly greater
essr ns ~ THOSE no worse than myself. If this
Sonnf fFnulu!aace Of human wo docs not convict
nv ssansaness. eau never be convicted
Iritt ooes not Acly Scripture declare the fact2
for sn',srye serye the consideration OF that question
urs - ~ ~ 1tT Il moment suppose that the Script
aser;nsss no{ teach any such doctrine. but tnAt
ternrs.n:Im terus mistake has been made by false in
mada adaiaaon. "a AS by Il raS Of sunlight all are
tim. aIa ~ nomeiit to see the falsity Ut the old
boiy 1ts,aa. y . What is the result? Why every
rerso.; siad. Some of the ministers wbo have
mts ~ discussed the question from their pull
1ua6 g1h1essed that the old doctrine seems cruel
no d.nhee zen c1uuselcd with beforehand, should
ed0ha ~ ,oare said that II God populated this
"aa sensitive creatures, he would make