Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-12

II was argued by Judge Drake that when God
called man he was relieved from the bondage
of the will. The conversion Of man was an act
o. Goo a.: and no credit belonged % any one else;
called some and not others. With an
emphasis Of manner which be frequently ex-
hibits in debate Judge Drake soIemniy ad-
dressed the questioner to 60 to God and ask
that question. He thought that 1t was not for
mortal man to question the acts Of God.
Dr.. Bartlett thought that this matter mig ht
properly be left, as suggested by the committee,
with the general assembly.
cALvINIsM OR FArALlsM.
II was asserted by Rev. DR.. Fullerton that the
doctrine Of the bondage Of the Will was essen
tial to Caivinism. From this statement DR..
Bartlett dissented very emphaticaliy and said
that it was fatalism.
Continuing DR.. Fullerton said that the ex-
precision ''the bondage Of the will' was mis-
understood. 1t meant that man in his fallen
condition was bound by his own nature. Free
will was taught in the confession, but it was not
the freedom Of the will that meant there was
no need Of help from God.
MANS HELpLEssSEss.
The ordinary Interpretation Of the phrase
''the bondage of the WILL" Rev. DR.. Hamlin
replied, meant mans helplessness." He went
on to say that this was a matter Of vital i'm
portance to pastors in their work. Men would
say II their wills are not free then what is the
had said such doctrine was fatalism and
s of f'' caivanpi is. OF He 'hs did 1 nos
believe in the absolute freedom Of the will any
more than in the opposite. He said that God
regenerates and man in response converts or
turns. Men turn or are converted from differ
ent motives. The conversion of the prodigal
son began in the pit of his stomach. He
turned about in his course because of his hun
ger. He wanted the statement to be such that
when God regenerates man that he
conversion OF man is not an action on an
insensate being, but it is the influence Of God
upon the spiritual nature of man and man re-
spending to this influence.
DIR. Bartlett said that he did not think that
THESE sections meant what DR.. Hamlin thought
they did. He was, however, perfectly willing
to refer the matter to the general assembly.
where does DR.. Hamlin obtain that phrase2"
asked Judge Drake.
It is part Of current theological discussion"
replied Dr. Hamlin.
Judge Drake then went on to say that it was
not In the confession nor in the clauses referred
to.
Upon vote the recommendation of the COM
mlttee was rejected by vote of IA to II.
ELECTION AGAIN.
The next change proposed was as follows:
In section Of chapter X it is recommended
that instead of the word elect the word "all'
be substituted, SO that the section will read ''al
infants dying in infancy are regenerated and
saved by Christ through the spirit" &c. The
section now reads select infants"
Dr. Bittlngeg said that the only object Of
this change was to get out of the confession an
expression Of doctrine contrary to the views
OF the church and the teachings of the Bible.
Judge Drake moved as an amendment the
insertion of the words Through the electing
grace OF Cod after the word "are' in the
above sentence,
Judge Phillips spoke in favor Of the amend
ment, but 1t was not adopted by the presby-
terry.
The recommendation of the committee was
then adopted by a vote Of II to 4.
The presbytery then took q recess until 2
o'clock.
After recess the presbytery considered the
next change proposed by the committee, which
Is as follows: Section 4, chapter X. "Others
not elected, although they may be called
by the ministry Of the Word and may have
some common operations Of the.Spirit. yet
they never truly came unto Christ and there
fore cannot be saved; much less can men not
protesting the Christian religion be saved in
any other way whatsoever, be they ever SO
diiigent to frame their lives according to the
light Of nature and the law of that religion
they do profess, and to assert and maintain
that they may is very pernicious and to be de-
tested" The committee favors the omission of
that portion beginning with the words much
less can men -