The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-12

committees report on the ground that
nothing was found in the Bible in refer
ence to Gods love. to preterition, but
what was a part of the Confession OF
Faith
1--WE are getting too broad already for
the purity Of the church," he said.
Something must be done to save the
church from this everlasting meddling
with its truths"
The Rev. " B. Carroll, of Tenafiy,
made scholarly effort in.favor revision.
Dr. Shaw, of Paterson, covered the
whole ground of the argument in favor
of a limited revision. He at first intended
to vote in favor of the committees re-
port, and so declared himself. He now
thought the adoption of the report
would be injudicious for these reasons:-
l. The Confession of Faith is not an in
spired book; hence, fallibility and error
are posi- Bile and probable.
2 The men who prepared it were
neither wiser, nor better, nor more
learned than the powerful and conse-
Grated intellect OF the Presbyterian
church of today. To revise their work is
not to be forbidden, as If men of inferior
ability and Diety were attempting labor
far beyond their wisdom or strength. The
scholarship of today is confessedly
broader and deeper than that of the seven
teenth century, and the spirit of God in
Lis Oluludly WOEk QWtilS as Iully anu
richly in the church now as then There
fore no reasons exist why we should hear
voice warning us back from revision
with the cry, Hence, We profaneiu
REvIsIONs HERETOFORE
g. The standards of the Presbyterian
Church have been already revised. The
American Synod in 1888 made new
form of government and discipline diff
fering from that of Westminster This
was again revised in 1906 and at various
dates since. The Northern Presbyterian
Church altered the Book of Discipline in
1SS4-5. The old Synod substituted also a
new Directory for Worship, which was
in turn revised in 1891, and in 1886 it was
changed by the introduction of a new
chapter, "Of the Worship of God by
Offerings In 1888 three chapters of the
Confession of Faith were revised. In 1877
the Northern, ,Presbyteria Church altered
certain chapters abolishing the prohibit
ton against marriage with the sister of a
dead wife. All these changes were sur
yiyed by the Presbyterian Church; in
fact, it has thrtven because of them as a
vine thrives by pruning. Revision is not
therefore, to be avoided as necessarily a
deadly and destructive act.
4. The revisions proposed do not affect
the body Of doctrines or mar the integrity
of the system. We would not thereby
forsake Calvanism, and, above all, we
WOoAeA AOp AOAo2hC bAlO w OlQ VI 0Ous 1nS
statements which it is proposed TO omit
are not essential to saving faith IT
they were never seen or heard of again
no soul would thereby be lost.
NOT REPRESENTATION.
5. The standards do not now represent
the actual faith of the Presbyterian
Church. 1t might be said that the clamor
of the ignorant multitude is not to out
weigh the calm Judgment of wise and
learned men. Very true, but that re-
mark cannot here apply. Some of those
asking for revision are among the deepest
thinkers of the age. men whose piety,
faith and fidelity are unquestionable.
The demand springs neither from pueril-
ity nor servility, but from deep convic-
tion of truth and personal need.
The new statement can be made
faithful epitome of the entire confession.
II we want the historic confession for our
library shelves, copies of earlier editions
can be obtained, or those editions can be
reprinted to meet that demand.
Il repeat" continued DIR. Shaw, in con-
clusion, that TO leave the Confession
unrevised and yet make new statement
OF belief. is really to abandon the Confess
sion. No enemy of the book could pro-
pose a more subtle and deadly injury
That would convert it into monument,
and IL this American air monuments
rapidly decay. The obelisk, now in
SANDS of years under the rainless and
frostless sky of Egypt; but few years in
the climate of New York have
scaled and Clipped it SO that
its total destruction is foretokened
unless constant and careful measures are
taken for its preservation. Put the Con-
fession on your shelves as historic mon
ument, and that alone, and see how soon
dust will darken it, and worms eat it, and
mice knaw it. But revised and brought
into sympathy with the vital faith of the
living church it will be carried with the
church, loved and honored and used.
The American flag OF today is the flag OF
our gallant fathers: yet it is changed.
Star after star has been added, until from
its blue field constellation of forty
two blazes in glory. Set a few
more stars of heavenly light amid the
blue folds of our Presbyterian banner
and let it wave above the marching
ranks Of the brave and faithful soldiers
OF Christ who follow Him as loyalty and
lovingly today as ever any did in the by
gone centuries. Let our venerable and
noble standards be seen and known of all
men. Do not hide them in the dark as if
we were ashamed of them. TO amend is
not to forsake, to revise is not to deteri-
orqtp ~