Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-02-25

church of which he (Mr. M. Y. Dun
can) is member I gave the date
OF the birth of the church of which
he is member as Nov. Both, 1927.
That is the date furnished me by one
of MIR. DIS prominent brethren when
for the first time ''person was bap-
tized for the remission of SINS" Be
fore I begin replies to Mr.. DIS
questions l will ask who in all christ
endom advocated the doctrines MIR. |
Duncan has taught in these lessons |
eighty years ago? Where did they
hold their meetings and what were
the names of the leading men among
them? In short, who on earth ever
promulgated the doctrines of M. Y.
Duncan's creed (see his No 81 before
Walter Scott began on Nov. 80, 1897,
to immerse people for the remission
of sins? Let Mr.. ID. digest that
question while I reply, with the con-
sent of the editor, to his questions.
Mr.. d. in his last lesson has mani
tested as much ignorance of the con-
fess,on of Faith as he had formerly
shown of the word of God.
He asks, where did you get the
idea that the officers in your church
have power to remit and retain sim"
1 reply, from the word of God
Math. 1S:l5-1S. Mr.. ID. failed to
give US any reference to chapter or
section where the doctrine was found,
but we suppose from his words
tthough as usual he quotes incorrect
ly) that he refers to chapter 80 OF
the Confession of Faith. Any one
familiar with any literature bette,
than -Esop's Fables would suppose
that when chapter is headed with
the words, 'sOf Church Censures,"
that the chapter would treat of church,
censures. And from the Context any
one not wilfuliy blind can see tha,
the "sins' spoken of are offences
against the visible church discipline
and order. Sec. 2, chap. 80 says:
ITO these officers (of the visible
church, the keys of the kingdom OF
heaven are committed, by virtue
whereof they have power respectively
to retain and remit sins, to shut that
kingdom of heaven against the i'm
penitent, both by word and censures |;
and to open it unite penitent sinners,
bv the ministry of the gospel, and by
, absolution from censures AS occasion
may require" Sec. 8: Church cen.
sures are necessary for the retaining
and gaining of offending brethren
for deterring others from like Of
: fences" Sec. 4: ''For the better
r attaining these ends the officers OF
the church are to proceed by admoni.
ton, suspension from the sacrament
of the Lords supper for season and
by excommunication from the church
q according to the nature of the crime
I and the demerit of the person"
By these extracts from the text oi
the Confession the reader can SEE
that the sins mentioned are offences
I against the visible church. II Is vel
: known that every man has the righ
and power to forgive offences agains
himself, and the Savi0r teaches us IL
y Luke 1913, "If thv brother trespas,
against thee, rebuke him; and if h'
L repent, forgive him" So the churcl
v has the right and power, through it
. officers or representatives, to forgiv
any offence against itself when ther
g is evidence of sincere penitence an
i. reformation. And any person ha
y the right and power to retain th
d offence-that is, refuse to forgive
70 when there is no evidence of peni
tence on part of the offender. S
~ the church has from the words Of th
Lord in Math. 1S:l7-18, the rigt
and power, whenever the ofende
against it's place and purity is obst
nate and impenitent, to retain th
offence and exclude the offender.
all / will attend to Mr.. Duncan's otht
# questions Just as fast as can e
space in the LEDGER to reply.
u Because 1 root up Mr.. Duncan
y recently planted gospel tree and e,
if pose the shallpwness Of his chcs
a lessons with facts and argumen
=. that Mr.. d. dare not attempt to hal
~ die is no reason for his getting angI
ne and making mouths al me, and Il
Sc lack of something better and mo-
or authentic ring in the old explode
fictious, "Calvin burned Servetus,
and "the Confession teaches infa
damnati"n," and ''that men can TO
give sins"
We have shown to the readers
the LEDGER what is meant bv the Sc
H. tence Mr. ID so ou,rageously misi
-. terprets, and for fear some one shou
.. think uncharitahly of him as makii
an attempt 10 grossly misreprese
OF the records vii here say that it
vel the very best he can do. He has ri
nd out of gospel material and is mi
Vt and don't know any better. Mo
anon. Il. GALLAHER.
Cn