Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-03-11

the ihiant dying IN infancy never
exercises one OF these graces nor is
to be credited with any obedience.
Then what conditions conceivable is
there upon which infants dying in
infancy can possibly be elected?
They are elected-'.chosen in Christ
before the foundation of the world"
(Eph. l:4) absolutely without condi-
tions, or are Internationally elected.
Now we have here one-third of all
the human race uncopditionally elect
ed to everlasting life. Will Mr.. D.
dare say that no part of the rest of
the race that reach heaven are elect
ed in the same way? 1t seems from
Eph. l:4-6 that the Apostle Paul
classes himself and the saints at
Ephesus. among those unconditional
ly elected. He says: According as
he hath chosen US in him before the
foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame
before him in love" They were not
chosen (elected) because they would
be holy, but 'that they should be
holy Tie Ephesian saints were not
elected because they were good, hut
were good because they were elected.
So in Acts 13:4S, ''As many as were
ordained to eternal life believed"
Again, 2nd Timothy l:9, "Who hath
saved US, and called US with an holy
calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose
and grace which was given US in
Christ Jesus before the world began. I"
See also I'd Thess. 2:13; James
1:1S; 1st Peter 1:2; 2:9. A man
shows a culpable ignorance of the
New Testament that would ask where
the doctrine of unconditional elec-
ton was to be found?
But there is another phase of this
subject that deserves notice Alex
ander Campbell said in his Millennial
Harbinger. Vol. Z. p. 81, that "the
church of Christ was with the Bap-
lists before he "a. C.) preached the
reformation" But it is historical
fact (of which however Mr.. D. may
be in blissful ignerance) that in the
early part of the 18th century (sbout
172o) the Baptist Association of
Philadelphia, at that time perhaps the
largest and most influential associa-
tion in America, did adopt the West.
minister Confession of Faith, with
very slight notifications, as the con-
fession Of the Baptist churches
Now mark this circumstance! While
the Baptists, according to A. Camp
bell, possessed the only church OF
Christ on earth, the Baptists adopted
the Presbyterian confession with
changes in the chapters on the sacra
ments) teaching all those horrid doc.
trines that Mr.. D. now finds in oul
confession. If Mr.. Duncan has any
kind of baptism he got it from those
whose confession contained all tha
our confession says about select in
fantsn and unconditional eleCtien
heartily wish he and his peopl.
were as sound doctrinally and theo
logically Us were those earnest Bap
fists who adopted our confession o
Faith and the multiplied Thousands
of Baptists in England and Americ.
who now believe the same system o1
doctrine. Rev. G. FL. Spurgeon, o
London, the greatest gospel rreache
} on earth, now teaches our shorte
catechism with two or three ques
tions changed) to all his theological
) students, as the best and most per
feet system of formulated theology
in the world.
"The Baptist- possessed the churcl
of Christ before A. Campbell preach
ed his reformation. $50 says tn
founder of the church to whicl
NJ. Y. Duncan, Esq. belongs.) Blu
those Baptlsts believed and laugh
''the election of infants dying in in
s fancy" and the doctrine of "uncon
= dit,onal election" Therefore thes
t doctrines are the doctrines of Christ
? church-A. Campbell being witness
s I have read with care Mr.. D.
= atpretended reply to my No. 10, and
cannot but pity the disingenuousnes
there manifested. l referred th
D reader to Math. S:15-17 and Dun
Z can switches off on Math. 1919. ]
< he can not as lawyer interpret stat
q ute law any more fairly and correctl
: than he does the word of God an
b the confession of Faith he would b
n a very unsafe counselor. 1 ask tn
!. reader to look at my No 10, in th
J. LEDGER of March and then at M
q Duncan's feeble effort at reply j
i the LEDGER of March 4, and see ho'
y much of sophistry and trickery NJ
i DIS gospel allows in one Of its d.
o votees.
His only hope is that some at lea'
l. will see his rejolnder who never sa
# my article. But that sophlstical q
q lticle of his makes it manifest that
d was right in my suspicion that /
/, had never more than seen the outsiC
d of the B ok he 90 incorrectly quote
and SO egregiously misinterpreted. +.
If is the very best he can do, and he mu
Ie be excused for his wrath and tlin
Ie ness-for be is blind as rattiesnal
d in dog Days. 1 will do my best
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