The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-22
A Significant Article.

A Significant Article.
1t stands first in the current number
of the Unitarian R6UieaO, over the sigma
ture of Rufus Ellis. Rev. DIR. Ellis is of
an excellent New England family, which
has been intimately associated with all
that is best in the Unitarian order. His
pastorate over the First church of Bos-
ton has been long continued and con-
stantly successful. Ripe IN years, ex-
perience and erudition he easily holds
the church of his denomination which is
chiefest in numbers, wealth, and social
standing in the City OF Boston. What he
says is wont to carry weight; and what
he writes remains.
This article on paul, his Jewish
Theology and his Christian Religion"
cannot fail to excite attention, as indica-
ting new tone, if not new teaching
by Unitarian authority. Once there was
no utterance of Augustinian theology
more Objectionable than its teaching Of
divine Generalization and the election OF
grace, and no terms were consi3 cred
strong enough for expressing liberal de-
nunciation of the narrowness of those
who hold that the God of the Bible has
determined the destiny of any human be-
ing. Who does not recall the criticisms
and condemnations of the Calvinistic
churches, which, only few years ago,
fell fast and frequently upon their bigoted
belief IN predestination, moral inability,
the need of regeneration, the persever-
ance of the saints and the final ruin of
part of the human race? 1t may be
doubted if dissent from these great doc
trines has yet ceased in many unevan-
gelical quarters. But it may be as much
doubted whether many congregations in
Calvinstic churches nowadays hear these
majestic truths stated as strong as DR..
Ellis has them in his article. He holds
that Paul has not had fair handling by
commentators and interpreters; that they
have not allowed him to say what he
meant to say that they have sought to
soften his hard sayings, and thus have mis-
represented him, so that if he were alive
and here, he might as to doctrine think
himself happy, because l shall answer
for myself this day" Referring to the
frequent quotation of old Puritan Robin
sons remark, that more light is to break
out of Holy Scripture, DR.. Ellis adds (:
We have not yet learned, as we shall
learn, that the light must come largely
from allowing those of whose burning
words the Bible is a record to speak tor
themselves, to say here and now lust
what they said then" He declares
there has been far too much said about
the obscurity of Paul's writings" He
adds: ct is extremely difficult to make
him say what perhaps you would like
him to say; bat is not this the case be-
cause what he does say is so strikingly
plain"
With reference to the statement of
what DR.. Ellis thinks Paul teaches.
there is first to his view can extreme and
unqualified determinism. Even a
doctrine of DEGREES which exalts sove-
reign will above a sovereign goodness
H.. In this Paul was Calvinist before
Calvin. l am powerless and speech
less here before Augustine and Calvin as
interpreters of Paul His doctrine is
that of an unconditional predestination,
supralapsarian, for aught that | can dis
cover to the contrary. Infinite in
genuity has failed to soften his hard say
ings upon providence, foreknowledge,
will and fate; a predestintation to moral
iiie or moral death a predestination even
before faith, not even of faith any more
than OF works. Paul's doctrine does
not teach that we are in sin because
Adam fell, although he believed that had
to do with our case. But before Adam
the destiny of men was determined
This Paul asserts, and offers in defence
no palliation. We are the clay and God
is the potter; and the thing formed must
not say, Why hast thou made me thus {?
The doctrine of the divine DEGREES
as laid down by the Westminster Assem-
bly, is abundantly sustained by the Ian