Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-17
Howard Avenue Church.

Howard Avenue Church. The Council and the Candidate-A Pas tors DTzcnsSiOn of the Question I'm vOivsd
 A large congregation assembled on Sunday
 morning at the Second church in Fair Haven to hear a sermon by Rev. H. c. Hovey, D. D., concerning the questions involved in the Howard avenue council. As it was known that the speaker favored the installation of Rev MT. Park, and yet held to unquestiona-
 ble orthodoxy himself, there was considera- ble curiosity on the part of his parishioners to hear what he had to say. The pastor took for his text, Hebrews 13: l 9, ''Be not carried about with divers and 1 strange doctrines for it is good thing that
 the heart be established with grace.' Every church has the right to control it's own affairs. It also has right to ask advice.
 It likewise has right to follow or not to fol
 called Rev. c. w. Park as it's pastor. They might have settled him without installa tion, as has been done in the case of the ma jority of ministers now preaching to churches
 in this State. They still have that right, if 1 they choose to exercise it. They saw fit to convene a council, however, and are bound in honor to give due weight to it's deliVerance. It is maxim that "The result of council
 has only as much force as there is in the req son of it.
 The candidates credentials were satisfac- tory his antecedents were all in his favor, his general statement of doctrine was in har- mony with the historic creeds of the Church,
 his peculiar views were tentatively" held, his personal qualities indicated both high degree of spirituality and 8 liberal measure of common sense, and therefore some of us voted for his installation. We were oonsci- entious in doing so, and the fair presumption is that those who voted otherwise were equally conscientious The majority ruled against the installation. This was not 6 judicial de- liverance, but only advisory, and leaves the candidates ministerial standing undisturbed. The council merely said that they did not see their way clear to proceed.
 It would be grave mistake, however, to infer from the vote Sof the minority that they approved the doctrinal errors of the candidate. We saw them, we regretted them, but felt that under all the circumstan- ces it was better to proceed than to run the risk of dividing the church and casting slur on an excellent minister.
 So much for the council and the candi- date. Now let us take up, one at time, the points at issue, and try to discriminate be- tween the truth and error.
 1. Revelation does more than to set in clearer light the lessons of natural theology and to quicken mems natural perceptions. The Bible speaks with authority, and does not ask for mere recognition by human con sciousness. It contains supernatural wis dom. It tells man what he did not know be fore and could never have found out without it. I agree with the statement that revela- tion was progressive up to 8 certain point. The divine plan of redemption was opened more and more until the will of God stood fully disclosed. This completed revelation is more than suggestive it is authoritative. It lays down the law and holds forth the gospel, saying, ''Do this and live !''
 2. No religious instructor should have such lax ideas concerning the efficacy of Christ's sufferings and death as to lead him to say, q accept all theories of the atone ment, and reject all." That is either an evasion, or it betrays ignorance of some of the most important issues of polemic theelo- gy. As well might one say, II am both a Calvinist and an Arminian." After explain ing the various theories of the atonement, the speaker quoted the candidates words: ''Christ's life and death make the forgive ness of sins possible consistently with divine justice'-which is clearly the governmental theory as distinguished from the exemplary and the vicarious theories, and should have been so stated.
 3. The subject of future punishment has long exercised the religious public and it is one of those dark and painful themes that loving souls shrink from viewing except in 8 hopeful light. The position taken by the candidate tended toward restorationism, but his opinions were tentatively held and were not ready for promulgation. He held that punishment would last as long as sin lasts. If sin lastsfogever then punishment will last forever. If at any time, however remote, sin should cease, then the penalty will cease too. His hope was that sometime all souls would accept mercy and cease to sin. In preaching, however, he advised immediate repentance and taught that five minutes delay might be fatal. But something more positive than this must be uttered to arrest the sinner in his course. The solemn declarations of Jesus concerning everlasting punishment should have their full force. The fact that God has had all eternity past in which to rid the universe of evil, without success, dampens all hopes of future success The divine plan is declared to be a final separation between good and evil, and Jesus speaks of ia great gulf fixed" that cannot be crossed even by those that would fain do so.
 A. As to infant baptism, it may be said that it is customarily regarded by our churches as great privilege rather than in the light of positive duty. The portion of our church members would be small indeed to whom dry conservation would be an &C., ceptaDle suDst1tuGe TOT LnS DapI1snA 1ont We consider the chain of evidence in favor of infant baptism com- plete, and find an ample warrant for practice so redolent of piety and so perfectly in accord with our Saviour's gracious words, 'Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not"
 It may well be doubted if the discussions that have lately exercised us as to 'fdi- vers and strange doctrines'' have helped to establish our hearts in grace !" Let it be our aim to grow in grace daily, that we ripen thus for heaven.