New-York tribune., 1889-11-04
DIR. WAKEFIELD ANSWERS THE DIRECTORS

Tho Rev DR. B. T. Wafcld, professor of Dldactic
Theology al the Seminary was until last month one
Of the managing editors of The Presbyterian Review,
and in tho october number of that periodical he had
an article on the Westminster Confession. lie Is
opposed TO revision Of the Standards because he sees
no reason for disturbing them he IS opposed also to
lax interpret alton Of any subscription because there
Is danger of dishonesty being involved In the inter-
probation. To the correspondent DIR. Wafhed SAID
tha he did not think the overture would secure the
majority vote I'm the presby cries, but II u ud ana
revision of the Creed ordered, he did not fear
that any very radical change would be made, because
his observation had led him TO conclude that there
were no essentially unsound men in the Church
"Why do you oppose the revisons ?" the professor
was asked.
"When the question whether the Confession OF Faith
ought TO be revised is asked' he replied really two
very separable questions asked. One OF these
IS, whether the system Of doctrine and the several
doctrines that enter into 1t taught in the Confession
OF Faith true and scriptural: and the other Is,
whether the Church still believes them. 1t is con-
ceivable that might the former question
af.imatively, and tho latter one negatively. For
myself, have no hesitation in saying that the Con-
fession Of Faith IS true. and does not need revision
that score. The objections that have been urged
against 1t only confirm me in this conviction do
not think the trouble is with the Confession when
tell me, FIRST that they heartily believe that God freely
and unchangeaby orlains whatsoever comes 10 pass
I'm accordance with the statement in the frst section
OF the third chapter; and secondly, that they allow
that at comes 10 pass that some men and angels
90 into everlasting life and Others to everlasting
dea'h and ye, violently invegh against the statement
of tie third section, that some men and angels are
prefcstinated unto everlasting lte and others fore
ordained TO everlasting DEATH This seems to me
nothing more than denying in specie what you assert
10 gencre.'
awhat about the death OF elect nfants1"
$50 objcctors appear 20 me in desperate straits
J, for objections when they assert that the
ccIarafion OF the Confession In the third section OF
the cnth chapter that God saves all OF HIS elect that
. die In infancy by the immediate operation OF The
Holy Spirit without the intermcdiaton Of the Word
necessarily teaches that who dio In infancy are
lost or when they assert that the love OF God ioi
men Is insuflcfentiy asserted in a confession inc
very groundwork and whole fabric OF which Is buH up
of the infinite and nscrtabe love OF God TO sinners
The strained character of the objections that arc urged
against the Confession, / say, confirms me IN my
conviction that the Confession contains the truth
and needs no revision 0r |'ft
NO WIDESPREAD DEPARTURE SEEN.
al have little more hesitation in saying that the
Church at large sil heartily believes the doctrines
Of the Confession. see indication Of any wide-
spread departure FROM those doctrines. OF course
there are some who do NOT believe them, but these
ere bs-much Loo few tas ~ - DO aroper u rssiAe