The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-18
THE TRUTH ADVANCING.

THE TRUTH ADVANCING.
The wonderful progress going on
across the water may be gagged from
this straw on the current of public
opinion, for which the Belfast VT
ness, a Presbyterian organ, is respon-
sible. A minister was recently seek
ing through an Irish book agency, to
obtain some copies of the Westmin.
ster Confession of Faith" He was in
formed that the Confession" was out
of print; that there was too little de-
mand for it to encourage the continu-
snce of its publication, but that an Ed
inburgh publisher had now purchased
the plates and was bringing out new
edition. He was also informed, on the
authority of Scotch booksellers, that it
is in Scotland that there has been the
greatest falling off in the demand for
the Confession of Faith" and the
Shorter Catechism,'' and that what
ever demand still exists comes largely
from the Presbyterians of Ireland.
Even Mr.. Sturgeon sees the light,
though with owl-like vision he blinks.
In a sermon in 1886 he said: 1" l wish
the nineteenth century was over; 1
have heard it Dragged about so much
that am sick of the nineteenth CEN
fury. Our beliefs are dwindling down
from Alps to anthills, and we ourselves
from giants to pigmies. You will want
microscope soon to see Christian faith
in the land, it is getting so small and
scarce"
By christian faith" Mr.. Spurgeon
means his favorite Calvinistic doctrines.
The trouble is with these and not with
Christian faith. They are no part of
the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the Journal, I" a paper devoted to
the interests Of the (Hicksite) Friends"
a correspondent tregretfully expresses
his $ fear that the principles of Uni
versalism are insidiously gaining
ground among u.s."
Rev. George Douglass, LII. D., prin-
cipal of the Methodist Theological Col
Iege, Montreal, is constrained to say
Q886): sit is an undeniable fact that
a revival of Universalism is wide
spread, and has permeated most of the
Evangelical churches in greater or less
degree"
A ministerial writer in the Illustrated
Christian Weekly, is very much distressed
because "Universalism in various forms
is stealing into the church." Let
preacher" he says, be suspected of a
doubt, and his mail thickens instantly,
and hundreds of people write to testify
how they are pleased, and what load
he has lifted off of agitated sinners.
n n 1t is time for earnest Christians
to take firm ground. Universalism is
coming in everywhere"
Rev. DIR. Meredith, of Boston, in 1886,
in fremont Temple, referring to theo-
logical views held twenty-five years
ago, said: There is now a modifica-
ton of that view, as we have better
understanding of the Scriptures. But
there is this awful possibility, that
man may triae with his better nature
and opportunities till he shall superin-
duce state of eternal sin and eternal
separation from God"
Further on DIR. Meredith qualified a
little by stating his belief that the num-
Der lost would be very few as compared
with the number saved. Yet his more
formal and explicit statement is that
the endlessness of sin and punishment
is but a possibility"
And now comes the LEADER with the
following note in direct line with the
above: DIR. Duryea is no longer alone
among oureyangelical friends inreject-
ing the doctrine of future probation, for
the reason that he does not believe in a
first. On Sunday Rev. DR.. Griffis, sue
cessor of DR.. Webb, poured shot, at
white heat, into the whole theory. The
very notion of probation first or sec
ond, present or post-mortem-is a
purely modern and fanciful outcome of
what was "new theology" a century
ago. In this DR.. Griffis plants himself
firmly on Universalist grOund-that is,
so far as the particular dogma is con-
cerned.
These testimonies might be multi
piled tenfOld every hour Of the day.
= The truth is marching on"
"ST PAUL'S TRIAL.
DIR. Patteron's pamphlet. announced