The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28
THE PRESBYTERIAN CONFESSION
OF FAITH.
Goods in hisheaven,
All's right with the world. "
BY REV. 4 B. GRANDY.
Uoganssort, Ind.)

The Presbyterian Confession of Faith
says, chapter 8, pa 27-8: ''By the de-
cree of God, for the manifestation of
his glory, some men and angels are
predestinated unto everlasting life,
and others foreordained to everlasting
death. These angels and men thus pre-
destinated and fdFeordained, are par
ticularly and unGhangeably designed;
and their number As so certain and def
mite that it cannot be either increased
or diminished" Now this is not an
old, cast off garment, and no longer ac-
cepted by the denomination, but amend
ed and ratified by the General Assem-
bly,, 1821-'85. The body of Christian
believers who nOminally accept this
doctrine, constitute no inconsiderable
proportion of the Christian world, and
are among the most respectable and
respected Of the@ Eisfian church Of
this century. If this doctrine be true,
it would seem of no avail to labor for
the salvation of souls, SO far as the next
life is concerned, whatever may be the
benefit to them in this life "God,
from all eternity did . freely and I'M
changably ordain whatsoever comes to
pass.n Page 25. This fixes from all
eternity the destiny of all mankind,
and angels as well, beyond all possibil-
ity of change, either in this life or the
next, and not one of the non elect can
be added to the number of the saved,
nor can one of the elect be lost by any
possible contingency. For be it re-
membered that 'God, for his own gIory
hath unchangeably foteordained
whatsoever comes to pass" And if it
comes to pass that go to hell, it is not
because of my conduct or choice, but
because from all eternity God foreor-
dained that l should go there; because
he elected that | should go there, and
have no possible choice in the matter
1t is hardly worth while to say anything
about ''elect infants" at this time.
am aware that we are assured that the
ministers do not preach this doctrine,
and their members do not believe this
doctrine, but so much the worse for the
ministers, members and the church.
If the ministers do not preach this doc
trine, and the members do not believe
it, what are we to think of d great
Christian denomination whose minis
ters and members neither teach nor be-
lieYe what they profess, and what has
been laid down by their General As
sembly ~ If the Universalist church of
to-day would say that while we preach
the doctrine of the final holiness and
happiness of all mankind, yet we do
not believe it, and while it is set forth
in our profession of Faith, y and our
ministers defend that doctrine on all
occasions, yet we do not believe one
word of it, what would the world say
of us? And especially what would all
the evangelical churches say of us
If the Presbyterians do not believe
the doctrine of ELECTION and reproba-
ton, why not erase it from the Con
fession of Faith,'' and appear in an
honest garb before the world ?
What would the Saviour say, were he
to appear upon earth to-day, and find
ing denomination of professed follow
ers numbering millions, protesting to
believe the doctrine of ELECTION and
reprobation, and pointing out the er-
Tor to them, they tell him they DO not
believe one word of it, but preach and
teach the doctrine of free grace?n
I Would lie not say as he did to the Phar-
f isees of old, "Ye hypOcrites -. how
can ye escape the condemnation of
Geheuna ?" l nave said, They are
among the most respectable and honor
able; SO they are, but so were the Phar-
Isse5 oe old among the most deyout of
the agr. They paid tithes OF mint,
auise and cummeu, made broad their
phylacteries, ,dlsigured their faces, etc.,