The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
CdLVIAISM WITHOUT CALVIN.
Reviaionists to Form n Majority in tn,
Saratoga Assembly.

RovisIonIsts to Form n Majority in tho
Saratoga Assembly.
Tho Presbyterian General Assembly, which
will convene in Saratoga on Thursday May Is,
may not prove so famous as that assembly
whose Confession Of Faith It proposes to re-
wise. but although its action is not final. it
will none the less make history. According to
some, tho outcome is likely to he eventually
either so radical revision OF the Westminster
Confession "a. in the opinion OF anti revision
lists. to render Calvinism like Hamlet" with
Hamlet left out or the complete shelving OF the
time honored creed and the adoption of a
shorter and simpler one. What tho anti-re-
visionists consider Calvinsm with Calvin left
out is, however. considered by those in favor OF
revision to be "Calvinism tempered with
Christianity" and the shorter creed which
may be substituted for the Westminster Con-
fession. may prove to be one Ia which other
evangelical bodies may unite.
The question of revision was first aGitated
about a year ago. The Nassau Presbvtery Of
Long Island first moved in the matter by over
turing the General Assembly to take steps to
obtain the sense Of the Church on the subject.
Thirteen other Presbyteries seconded the over
ture. and the Assembly, which met last sbrng.
consequently sent down 10 the different Presby-
teries substantially these two questions for
the Westminster Confession? and. If so. in
what partcuars?' AS result the 225 or more
Presbyteries have at different times during
the past six or eight months, had more or less
fierce debates as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF revision.
and still tiercer ones as to in what that revision
should consist. In these debates discussion
on Fixed fate free will. and Generalization
absolute" naturally took q prominent place.
As a result OF these different debates the sd-
vocates Of revision were victorious all along
the line Over two. thirds OF the Presbyteries
have voted in favor OF revision. and when the
General Assembly takes UP the aution 1t will be
with large majority of that way OF thinking.
The strongholds OF the anti-revisionists have
been principally in Pennsylvania, whose
Scotch and North OF Ireland population Is. Ii
not more Cavinistic than Calvin. At any rate 30
welded to its predestination to damnation
IDOLS that it will not tolerate their abolition
Tho Philadelphia and some other Pennsylva-
mia Presbyteres send delegations pledged
against revision to the General Assembly.
Their action Is the reason the New FORK Pres.
bytery has sent solid revision delegation. At
auy rate whom the delegates were chosen on
April II. the action OF the Philadelphia Presby-
terry was quoted as a precedent for sending a
delegation representing the majority merely.
Although the New ! DIRK Presbytery voted in
the early part Of February about two to one for
IL
minority u pro rata representation In the dele
cation il the Pliladelphin Presbytery had not
taken the stand II did.
As an EXPRESSION OF its sentiments in regard
TO revision the New York Presbytery adopted
the report Of a committee OF which Its mode
Iator Dr. Hastings. PRESIDENT OF the Union
Theological seminary. was Chairman. This
report. after a preamble deprecatlng all such
changes as would Imuar the essential articles
Of our faith contai ned in the Confession, which
has SO long served as our standard set forth:
We desire only such changes as seem 70 us
iTEf
We desire that the third chapter. after the first
section, be 80 recast as t. include these things
only-the sovereignty of God in election. he
general love OF GOD for all mankind. the saliva
ton in Jesus Christ provided Tor all aud 10 be-
preached to every creature.
Second-We desire that the tenth chapter be-
so revised as not TO appear to discriminate
concerning dying in n infancy or 50
and so as to preclude that explanation Of sec
ton fourth which makes 1t teach the dampa-
there are any heather wh" are ieGen"rated
and saved by Christ through :he Shirt. and
ity, a1cordnG /; the MEASURE Of lIght when
God has been pleased TO grant them. While
there are other points which tho Lresoytery
splcuously. chap. xiv. sec. ,, and chaL. NXv
sec. 6-n"ver heless. .wo prefer 10 conilne our
suggestions for revision to the third anu tenth
charters, as above Indicated.
The report also r"comncnded that the Cen
eral ASsembly be overturned 10 invite the CO.
1reraton Of the il esbyterian and Reformed
Churches oil America and OF Great Britain and
ireland TO formulate snort simple creed
Gua.e and containing ~ The essential ana
Necessary articles Of the, Westminster Comics
sion. which crocl shall DO submitted for al.
rroval and adoption as tho common creod OF
The Presb3terian and Reformed Churches o!
In Conclusion tho report. AFT erdecnring there
was II demand Tor sucn creed, not a. u -lIb-
stitute for our onfe-son but only to -umma-
RE and supplement It 'or til" work oil me
i've want no now doctrines but only n state;
meu' Of the old doctIinr~ made in the light and
in tho spir; Of our present Christian lctiyities'
Of orr high privileges, AMI OF our large oblIg4-
tions-a statement IN which the love O. Goa.
which is in Jesus Christ our Lord shall be
As Dr. Tarkhurst said he had never read the
agitated. and that he did not believe five
members OF his congregation had read H. u
may be a. well TO Iuoto some OF inc sections rs
sections In the Third chapter OF the Confession
which tho New York fresbytery wants recast
III, BY the decree of Tod for the manifesto
ton OF His glory. some men aud angels are pre-,
9estnaed into eySiraI;taGd ~ and others
~. These men and angels thus pTeuestlnatod
and foreordained arc particularly ana un-
changeably, designed, and their number Is so
certain and deiinlte that 1t cannot DO either
Whose Of mankind that, are prede7tina;ed
unto life, God, before tho foundation 81 the
world was laid, according 10 His eternal andim;
mItr6e pGrP";e aGd ne sf6FG counsel ana
unto everlasting glory. out Of His mere Tree
grace and love. without any foresight OF faith
or good works, or perseN erance In either OF
them, or any other thing In the creature as
conditions or causes moving Him thereunto;
and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
Was God hath appointed the elect unto
glory. so hath He by the eternal and most FREQ
purnose OF His will. foreordained all the means
!hereunto Wherefore they who are elected
being fallen IN Adam, are redeemed by Christ,
are ofertually called unto faith in Christ by
His Spirit working In due season are justified.
adopted sanctIhed. and kept by His power
other redeemed by Christ effcctually called,
justified, adopted. sanctled and saved. but the
elect only
VII.-The rest OF mankind. God was pleased.
according to the uneeRrohRblS counsel Of His
own will whereby he 01tOndeth OF withheld.