Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1890-03-06

into the fold of Christie carry on
Gods work of salvation in all the
world of sinners, passing by no one in
their mission of love. Hence neither
logically, nor in fact, can Preterition
on the part of God be affirmed The
doctrine Preteriticn is not essential
to the C"ivanistic system. The 80
articles OF The church of England. and
IL catechisms and confessions from A.
ID. 1882 to 1647, are silent OIL the sub
lect. Yet they are all Calvanistic doc
uments.
The section on Elect :nfauts dying
in infancy" needs revision, At the
time OF the formation of the Confes-
sion 1t was generally held that there
were non-elect infants, who dying in
infancy, we're ,et Calvia au. hit that
because of latent sin they we're cor
rupt so that before God they are
damnable." d claring yh,s the .ter-
nal death of 20 many nations, with
their infant Offspring, was sd horrible
decree, lis answer was, ''Such Was
the will Of God" The Swi>s Theolo-
gians at the Synod of Dort taught,
That there is an election aud repro
baton of iufants, no less than Of adults,
we cannot deny in the face of God,
who loves and hates unborn children"
Such was the sentiment, generally. of
the Westminster divines. Wnen they
say Elect infants dying in infancy
are saved" they intended to teach
that there Were non-elect infants who,
dying in infancy, were lost. Aud ac-
cording to their view of the subject
this section must be interpreted
Hence revision is needed here.
The assertion is very common that
those who favor Revision are not loyal
to the Bible. Prof. Biggs well an
swers this when he says: Advance in
the study of the Bible is the nerve of
the Revision movement" Lay the
Confession along side of the Bible and
note the utter want of harmony be
tween them. The sovereign love of
the Father and his desire for the sal
walton of all men, is not the doctrine
of the Confession. But read the Lords
call i'll Ezekiel 33:l1, and the assertion
Of Jesus in John 3:16. AS to the ex-
tent of Redemption's work, read Gen.
3:15; 22:1S; Rev. 22:19; Luke 1910. Re
garding the true name and character
of God, read the many words Jesus
spoke of his Father and our Father, 10
order that the lost might return to
him. Those who favor Revision de-
sire that the Confession of Faith de-
clare this Gospel truth. regarding
which it is now for the most part
silent.
One main objection to the Revision
is that it endangers our union with
the Southern church. This union will
not be affected till this persistent and
unmanly weoins of the Southern
church shall cease. But what of the
Northern brethren who favor Revi-
sion? Is their desire and hope worthy
of no regard? The answer has come
from more than one source; LET them
leave the church, Yet to the North
ern brethren is owing largely the very
existence of our church and our Re-
public.
The Confession stands in the way of
the union of the church Catholic.
This age when Christians are longing
and working that all may be one is
a creedmaking era from that very
fact. Christ's last prayer should be
answered by casting down every bar
rier which hinders the church's one
ness in Christ Jesus. When the West
minister Confession is revised and
brought into clear harmony with the
teachings of the Holy Scriptures, then
may all hope to see it true in fact, as
it is in theory,-'"There is one body,
and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope Of your calling; one Lord,
one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is above all, and
through all. and in Won all.o