Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-02-28

/ cSi NJ NV "a ~NNf -
Il statement of this doctrine as held
by the body of the Presbyterian
Church and the question raised is:
Is it scriptural?
But before entering upon the
discussion of this question, con-
timed the speaker, it will be best
to consider some of the more fire.
quent misconceptions and mlsrep-
reservations of the doctrine and its
results. 1t has been charged that
iftrue it would destroy mans free
agency and convert him into a
machine. To controvert this error
it is sufficient to state that history
attests that never was mans free
agency more firmly upheld than by
those that have accepted this doc
trine. Paul believed man was a
tree agent or he would not have
written the stirring appeals of his
| Epistles. So, also, did Augustine,
Calvin and Luther, or they would
not have worked as they did to
persuade men to accept Christ.
| Another misrepresentation Of it is
| the assertion that it makes God
save man independently of means.
rhe fact remains, however, that
when God purposed to save His
people from their sins He selected
His son, Jesus Christ, to give His
life as a means by which that sal
vation might be accomplished, and
they that charge that election
makes God save without means
nave either a poor conception of it
Or are willfully ~traducing hat doe
jrine.
Let us, in the next place, eel
ain whether this doctrine has not
| basis of reason as well as of scrip
,ure, and whether or not it is not a
natural and logical sequence of
some of Gods attributes. A few
Sabbaths since it was shown that
GOD knew all things, from begin
hing to end. If such be an attri-
,ute of God-and it is almost uni
v~ersally admitted to be se-it fol-
lows that foreknowledge and fore
ordination are inseperable, for how
can a thing be foreseen, that has
lot been foreordained, or foreor-
iained without having been fore
seen by one possessed of such
characteristics? And, as election
is a part of both foresight and fore
ordination, to deny that doctrine is
to assert that nothing is foreseen or
ixed-that everything happens by
chance; that the world has no gov
ernor or that if 1t has he must be
ignorant of some things. Against
such ideas every instinct and long,
ing of the heart cries out with alb.
horrence. If God is not perfect in
knowledge He is disqualified fol
either ruler or guide and unworthy
/ OF worship. The fallen condition
ofman is a further argument of The
. reasonableness of the doctrine o
election, since God must have fore
q seen that provision would have t.
be made for rescuing the people,
from that estate.
Q Let US now notice some of tn
scripture proofs of this doctrine
In Matt. "a: % to "a, Christ speak
Of the shortening of days for tn
! sake OF the eject. In Mark 10: 81
it is said, He shall send His angel
a to gather together from the fou
winds HIS elect. In Luke IS: 7, TO-
speaks of avenging His elect. L
t John 6:27, Christ says, all that tn
e Father giveth me shall come to me
= In John II: 6, I have manifesto
q Thy name unto the men thou caves
me out of the world. Such are tn
q plain teachings of Him that spak
as never man spoke. To ignor
Ii them or to override them is to 81
in judgment on our Lord and cas-
contempt upon Him.
II In concluding, let us conside
d some of the results hat follow
N hearty acceptance of this doctrine
First comes constantly increasing
gratitude and love of God; second
increasing desire for holiness. Som
= charge the very opposite, but Pete
II declares that believers are cleo
unto obedience and sprinkling c
the blood of Christ, and Paul says
God hath called US with a hol,
:, calling; third, constant use of tn
=, means of grace. For since Go
has ordained salvation and appoint
=. ed the means of Its attainmen
those that have held to the forme
~ have ever been most earnest in tn
IL use of the latter. And, finally
h from this doctrine comes the bless
Of ID assurance that God has a people
II Let US, then, that profess this doc
:, trine hold firmly to it as a rio
b heritage. By it we will be bull
up; from it will spring new vigol
is power and determination, an
It through it we have hope of evel
lasting peace.
,0i Miss Ida Spencer, of Laddonis
$ wishes to thank her many custt
d mers for their liberal patronage i
l. the past, and hopes by fair dealin
TO retain them and to get man
new ones for the spring trade
The FIRST of March she will ope
out one of the best assorted stock