The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-16
THE STANDARDS.

The Standards are not only clear.cut,
but exceedingly strong. They are based
largely on Gods sovereignty. 1t is no
such sovereignty, however, as implies
arbitrariness or injustice, but such as
aliases the proud and encourages the
lowly. = God is represented in every part
Of them as disclosing to them His eter.
nal purpose and summoninG them to be
co.workers with Him in its execution.
BY this means He causes tho weakest to
know that atmightier energy than any
they possess is breathing lis potency
through all their efforts. He makes them
feel that they are .girded with strength
which no other system Of doctrine can
furnish. When the shadows Of dagger I'll
the heart with. alarm assurance is
afforded in. this Creed that no evil Gun
beiall them without their Fathers per-
mission. Wheu they bewail the fruit.
lessness OF their toll, they are told that
every sincere effort, however destitute
Of visible results, is predestinatcd step
or necessary antecedent to some blessed
end. When they march TO the subjuga-
ton OF the world to Christ they know
that they are shielded by pauoply more
invulnerable and peryed by an energy
more iuvincible than that furnished BY
any other confession Of faith. When
they are forced to face the fires OF Smith
field, or 10 ming!e in the massacre OF St.
Bartholomew, they have the satisfaction
OF knowing that they are immortal until
their work on earth is ended.~|
1t is loudly proclaimed in these days
that the doctrines OF our Standards are
destitute OF the breathings OF Gods love.
This is largely true. The tender phase
OF the divine character is not so clearly
set forth as it ought to be in this Johan-
mean age. but it must not be forgotten
that the church, like the kosnos, has
been undergoing process Of evolution
from her .infantiie days to tho present
time. Every period OF her history has
had its special development. AS ia the
earlier formations Of the world we find
more OF the iron Grmness and desolat'ons
Of the rocks than OF the tenderness and
beauty OF organic life, so in the establish.
mcnt OF the Protestant faith we find more
OF the sovereignty; OF God and OF the
struggles aiter freedom OF conscience
than OF tho divine love and the beauty Of
fraternal feelings.
- lt'i FoIEoRDIEAT1oS. y.
The Standards declare with the great
Apostle that "a!l have sinned and come
short OF the glory Of God" They tell uf
that the Lord chose multitude which
no man can number before tho founda.
ton of the world, that they might be
holy and without blame before him. in
love. Tho ground Of this choice is saiG
to be "sot OF works lest any man should
boast; but by grace are men saved, anG
that not OF themselves; it is the gift o.
God" They are prcdestined to be con
formed TO the image. Of His Son, that He
might be the first born among many
brethren, Their security for tho future
is the golden chain: "Whom He die
fore. know, He also did prcdestinate te
be coniormed to the image OF His Son
and whom He did prcdestinate, theu
he also CALLED and whom He called
them lie also Justified, aud whom HI
justified them He also S'osiGed.n There
lis here no breach between the fore
knowledge Of God and the sloritcatior
Of His people. .&
DR.. Roberts concluded his sermon nj
io!lowst we are today a spectacle II
!; men and angels. Our ministers an,
members over the whole land ar
; anxiously watching every word and &C
OF this Assembly. Sister churches O
: every name are praying and hoping tha
: our deliberations may be marked will
, the presence OF the Divine Spirit. TIL
+ Hierarchy OF Rome that has alway
( looked upon our church as the power be
j. hind the throne OF Protestant Christian
: ity is hoping that the spirit Of discor,
mag oonfound our councils and deal
deadly blow ut our. growing influence
The daughters Of the rhilistines lisu
j ready to rejoice at any mishap TINT ma
+ beiall US, because they deem the Prcsby
4 ter;ap chprc, tho last stronghold Of crtl
odoxy. The ELECTRIC wires will carry nc
= only our words and resolutions, but eve
the tone and temper OF our discussion
:. to tho end of the earth. Let nothing
: therefore, be done through strife or vai
,, glory; let not pride Of opinion lead an
!, ! one to persist in pressing his person,
: preference upon the whole church; le
" y, no proposition be entertained that sha
: tend to disturb our peace or impede OF
progress ;r bringing the world to Chris
/" Let Gs look ior ;5:t kind Of progre!
;. in'the Church whiclr shall untold into
. blossom, and fora blossom that shall m
. ture into a ripencd fruit ior q past ths
10 shall give rise to present and for pre-
(. ont that shall merge into glorious /,
d tnre. Let US look for the principles
!. Chrietianity to so permeate our systel
Of goyerInuelt thut It shall ere lor
cause our national lifS"to corsespol
with our best laws; for society to'besue
N is to do away with the cou1lct no
ot gagipg between labor and capital, ar
ii ior' the whole Church 70 be lifted up
ut that position where there ehall be- b