The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-05-19


would be unjust in God to make one an
gel responsible for the acts of another
should He choose to do so. But drop
this matter here, and wish to know
your views on the definite and indefinite
atonement.
A--State what you mean by definite
and indefinite atonemeDe
Q--Do you believe that Christ died fol
all men alike?
Al believe that Christ died for all
men in the sense that He intended thai
the atonement should be sufficient fol
ali men. and desired that all men should
be saved by His death.
Moderator Brother Long, do you be-
lieve that Christ died for all men in the
same sense that He died for the elect
Ain so far as the desire of Christ thai
ali men should be saved is concerned
and so far that His atOnement should be
sufficient, He died for all men in the
same sense.
Q--Then why do some accept and 9TH
ers do not!
A--Because some will and some won't
Mr.. Daniel--Does God give the same
amount of grace to all linen?
A--No, sir, He does not. But He gives
to all men sufficient grace to make them
responsible, and to enable them to accept
Christ il they choose.
O--Don't you believe that God passes
by some men and..leaves them to perish
withholding His grace?
A--If, by withholding His grace, you
mean that he gives them just enough
to make them responsible, and keeps
back so much as is needtul, with the in
tention that they should not repent, be-
lieve, and be saved, l answer no.
MIR. Rose--Ca you adopt DIR. Dab
news expression of limited redemption
instead of limited atonement.
Al can accept that, if you mean that
redemption is actually enjoyed only by
the elect, or those who repent and be-
Heve in Christ.
Mr. Daniel-You are doubtless well
aware of the distinction that is made be-
tween the terms limited and unlimited
A bout it, do you accept the former?
Alt, Mr.. Moderator, the gentleman
means by the term limited atonement
that Jesus Christ died only for the elect,
that no others were considered in the
scheme of redemption, that He did not
intend or desire that any others should
enjoy the benefits of the atOnement,
then must say don't believe the doc
trine.
MIR. Bigger--Do you believe that Christ
failed to accomplish any part of His de-
sires in regard to the salvation of men !?
Ayes, sir. Otherwise He would not
have wept over Jersusalem and bewailed
the fact that she did not see and i'm
prove the day. .ofh her opportunity.
O--Then you think the work of
Christ was failure, except that few
or a great many were saved.
A--No, sir, not by any means. con-
slider it a grand and glorious success.
Mr.. Richardson--How are infants
saved?
A--By the regenerating power of the
Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ as the
second Adam.
Q--Is regeneration. necessary to in
fants?
Ayes, sir; else they would go into
the other world with the same DISPOSE
ton to sin with which they were born
into this world.
After several other questions and an
swers, which were substantially repeti-
tions. the motion was made to arrest the
at this point and adjourn,
as it was nearly IL p. m.
Mr.. Daniel here stated that he was
to leave early in the morn
ing, and wished to say to the brethren
that he could not conscientiously give
his vote to sustain the examination thus
far made, and several other grave elders
and preachers gave an Ominous shake of
the head, as if to say, ''I am afraid he is
rather loose"
saturdays EXAMINATION.
The Presbytery of Memphis convened
at 8 80 O'Clock Saturday morning, and
alter devotional exercises proceeded to
take up the order of the day, viz: the
continued examination of Rev. N. M.
Long.
Mr.. Stedman, as chairman of the COM
mittee of examination, was called upon
TO open the examination, but declined
on the ground that the examination had
been taken out of his hands last night,
and he did not wish to take it up where
it was arrested.
Mr.. Rose then asked: Brother Long,
1 understand you in your answer to
Brother Daniel last night to say that
the guilt of all mankind was laid on
Christ. Is that your opinion?
Mr.. Long-Yes, sir, in the sense that
a sufficient provision was made for the
of the demands of the law
upon every man.
O-Do you understand "guilt'' to
mean "liability to punishment"
AYES, sir.
O-And do you believe that the guilt
of every man was laid upon Christ, in
that sense?
.A-Yes,sir.
Q-Do you accept the confession of
faith, on the subject of the atonement.
in its obviously-intended meaning?
Aft you will be kind enough to
state exactly what the confession saws, |
will tell you whether or not L accent it.
OIL don't believe can recall it exact
ly. [The confession was handed to Mr..
Rose. He turned to the place, chapter
8, article 8, and read: go all those for
whom Christ hath purchased redemp-
ton, He doth certainly and effectuafly
apply and communicate the same."1 Do
you accept that in its obviously intend
ed meaning?
A-Mr. Moderator, 1 would say, first,
that we do not know exactly what the
writer meant by these words. In an
swer to the question l therefore reply
that in the sense in which this sentence
is commonly interpreted and under
stood-that is, in Its commonly accepted
meaning-I do accept it, but with this
qualification; utterly deny that God
has Internationally predestinated any
man to everlasting death, or excluded
any man from the benefits of the atone
ment, with the special intention that he
should perish.
Mr.. Rose did not think the qualifica-
ton had any connection with the ques-
ton.
Mr.. Long-It has very close logical
with it.
Moderator (Mr. Carne)-Do under
stand you to mean by your reply that
Presby terians do not now accept the
confession in the sense in which it was
writtenf
+, Ayes, sir; to some extent. For in<
stance, any one acquainted with the his
tory of religious opinion az the time
when the confession was written knows
that the writers of it believed that there
were non-elect Infants dying in infancy,
who were lost, of course. Hence the
sentence, "Eleet infants dying in in
fancy," etc. (chapter 10, article A.. No
infants dying,i in infancy. L might cite
other instances.
Mr.. Rose-I do not believe the state
ment of the belief concerning non-elect
infants.
Mr.. Bigger-Brother Long, do you
think that Christ bore any part of the
of any who are finally lost !?
A-Yes, sir; He bore it all, in the
sense that He intended His atonement