The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-08
For the Central PRESBYTERIAN.
Infant Salvation.
DR.. krauth. DR.. G. Hodge, and the
Westminster Confession

westminster Confession
MeSSrs. Editors, -Will you give room
to few thoughts on book that has re-
Gently come into my hands2 1t is work
OF the Rev. @. P. Krauth, D. D., professor
In Lutheran Theological Seminary, and
author of considerable fame for ability
and scholarship. This book, of eighty
three pages of large size, is published for
the purpose of showing that the West
minister Confession of Faith teaches the
dogma of infant damnation. The author
calls his book A Review of DR.. Hodges
Systematic Theology But it is really
directed against foot-note on page COS
OF the 3rd volume of this Theology. Five
pages are taken up with some general re-
marks about the Theology which are com
Plimentary, and breathe spirit of sim
cere admiration and warm regard for DR..
Hodge personally; but from the sixth
page to the end, the whole is written TO
cast odium upon the Westminster Con-
tesslon. The foot-note that rouses his
wrath reads as follows: 1--WE are sorry
to see that DR.. Krauth labors to prove
that the Westminster Confession teaches
that only certain part, or some of those
who die In infancy are saved" The at
tempt here referred to is made by DR..
Krauth in another book entitled "Con-
sentative Reformation" but the book to
which we refer is written solely for the
purpose OF fixing upon the Presbyterian
Church the stigma of infant damnation.
His argument is certainly peculiar in
this respect at least, that he makes his
fcN, Ill II
Confession itself. In defense of his posi-
ton he brings single grain of sand from
the Confession while he hauls tons of mat
ter from other sources. The book abounds
IN quotations from authors between Au-
gustine Of the 4th century and Charles
Hodge of the 10Th. The Chronological
Index contains no less than one hundred
and seventeen names of authors and Con-
LESSONS from which he quotes. And,
what is more surprising still the great
bulk Of these authors were men who knew
not one word of English in which the
Confession was written. This looks like
reviewing book after reading all litera-
ture except that of the book itself. Ex-
ceptlng the Moderator, Twisse, there is
alluslon to scarcely u member of the
Westminster Assembly. And this is the
more remarkable still because, while the
most of the Reformed Confessions were
composed by single or very few indi-
viduals, this Confession was composed by
a large Ass mbly of the most illustrious
dlvlnes and civilians. tits not, therefore,
without good reason that DIR. Hodge says
(vol. 3, P. COS, note) that DIR. Krauth
proves his allegation by putting his own
construction on the language of that Con-
fession."
In an autograph letter written by DR..
Hodge, June 10th, 1876, now in my pos
session, he says: 1T is certain that our
Confession of Faith does not teach that
any member of the human family, dying
in infancy, is lost Nor is that doctrine
taught, so far as l know, in any of the
Confessions of the Reformed Churches. ="
The Doctor adds: although l have
never known any Calvinistic theologian
who teaches that any dying in infancy
are lost am not prepared to say that
no standard Calvinistic theologian of the
18th century held the opposite doctrine -
1t is painful to be obliged to think that
the book is not written in the interests of
truth, but to crafty passion that is not
to be commended. The evidence of this
fact Is seen not only in the style of argu-
mentation pursued, but in other ways
On page Al he attempts to prove that
Calvinism claims to be the only true re-
igion, excluding large part Of the chill
dren of nominal Christendom, " as it does
their parents, from the visible Church,
from all presumption of election, and all
probability of salvation" And this he
styles "another dark point" On page
40 he charges the Westminster Comics
sion with prohibiting Christians from
marrying any who do not profess the
Calvinlstic religion as over against Ro.
manism, Lutheranism, and the then dom
lnant tendency of the Church of Eng
land" Many other passages in the book
serve, with these, to show that it is writ
ten in bad temper, and that the dis
tinguished author is certainly not an
earnest enquirer after truth.
At the end Of his argument, and on the
last page, he throws down challenge
which, however, he AYERS is not a chal-
lenge, but request, in these words
We request any and all defenders Of
Cal7inism to produce a solitary Calvin
istic standard or divine from the first
Helvetic Confession to the Westminster
Confession or from Calvin to Twisse. the
Prolocutor of the Westminster Assembly.
in which or by whom, it is asserted or
implied that all who die in infancy are
certainly saved"