New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-02
DIR. MoCOSH FATORS REVISION
A STRAIGHTFORWARD SPEECH on THE WEST
MINISTER CONFESSION OF FAITH

A STRAIGHTFORWARD SPEECH on THE WEST
MINISTER CONFESSION OF FAITH.
The Presbytery OF New Brunswick at its annual
meeting in New Brunswick y. j.. yesterday discussed
the proposed revision OF the Westminster confession o
Faith The New Brunswick Presbyery embraces IN
IFS boundaries Princeton College and Seminary ana me
members OF the faculties Of both present In force
TO take part in the discussion. ExPrcsdent hcCo'h
expressed himself wholly in favor of revision. There
Is danger he said " I'm stirring up THIS malter Out
there is more danger in ignoring # postponng It,
The movement in favor Of revision has been pshed
very earnestly by the young and IT. will as surely
be pushed in the future. Revision seems likely 10
come and II it must come 1t Is better that there shou
be no hesitancy. but that the movement should Dc
guided by the older and more conservative men, and
guided courageously and openly. II may be douDted
II some passages are contained in the word OF Cod
Now in logic It is law that there shall be nothing in the
conclusion for which there IS not foundation In the
premlse hence what Is not in the word Of God must
not be I'm the confession Dr.. McCOsh spoke briefly
Of the language of the clause declaring that God for
His own glory. hath foreor1aned some men to ever
lasting life and to everlasting DEATH and then
continued: "There is want I'm our confession OF a
clear and prominent utterance such as we have IN ho
scriptures everywhere Of the love Of God to all men
and of the free gift OF Jesus Christ and Of salvation TO
all men, not 70 the elect alone. find that some of our
best and soundest young men turned from their in
clinaton enter upon sGe ministry or. having entered
upon IT, are annoyed and hndered by few obnoxious
phrases that keep staring them in the face and by the
absence of the complete recognition of the Infinite
love and mercy of God. Leave out. then. these OBJ
nOXious phrases. and put in the front the most
prominent expression of doctrine this one of Gods
love to all aud OF the free offer Of salvation. our
confession meets the heresies of the seventeenth
century but not the heresies of the nineteenth l
confess, too that should like 10 have In the PreSby
terrain Church shorter and clearer creed than the
Westminster Confession. Our tbeOC CLANS do not ac-
cept IL as a whole. Among the theological scminare'
some reject one part, some reject another all re
feet something In conclusion. the eXpresldcnt
spoke OF the nature of tle fight which the Church in
this age entering upon as an argument for the re-
vision.
Among tho other speakers were DR.. Duiheld
OF Princeton who made the principal al Siment for
revision speaking from the historical point OF view as
well as the theoo gcal DR.. Warteld, Princeton Semi
nary professor Of theology opposed revision, on me
ground that the present confession was tho correct eN
preston of the general sentiment Of the Church aud
satisfactory Interpretation Of the Scptural faith IL
itself properly Interpreted Others opposed 10 revision
we're Drs. Hodge, Nudge Green and swan. The
presbytery replied in the negative 10 the overture OF
the General Assembly asking whether It favored
revision of the confession, thirty four delegates voting
against revision aud sixteen for II.