The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-03
SALVATION IS FOR ALL.
Rev. Mr.. Thompson Thinks
That John Calvin
Was Right.
DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATIoN.
God Saw the End from the Be-
ginning; But is Arranging a
Happy Destiny for All
His Creatures.


Pastor j. f. Thompson, of the Univer-
salist Church of the Good Shepherd,
preached to a large congregation last
night on the sPresbyterian Controversy"
over the revision OF the Westminster
Confession. He chose for his text
'sBut he is in one mind and who can turn him?
and what his soul desreth even that he doetn,
for he performeth the thing that is appointed
for me: and many such things there are with
him. Job xiii, 13, IA.
1.-THE system said the preacher, "of
theology founded by John Calvin in the
sixteenth century has been and still is the
nominal faith of Presbyterians. What
distinguished Calvin from other teachers
of his time was that he merely pushed to
logical conclusion certain beliefs which
were then universally accepted. Calvin
asked but one single question: If all men
are by nature incapable of goodness, how
is it that some do practice repentance
1.-THE answer was Calvinism. Calvin
taught that the repentance of those saved
can be explained only by affirming that,
contrary to their natural inclination,
they are moved by the spirit of God,
while the rest of mankind not being thus
moved remained hopelessly sinful.
WHY THIS FAyORITISM?
'.In answer to the question why God ex-
hibited this favoritism, Calvin replied
THAT He did it Of His pleasure, and
since God sees the end from the beginning
and His purpose is Interchangeable, the
destiny of each individual was ordained
before the creation of the world
.'This doctrine" said Mr.. Thompson,
"of the choosing of some and the passing
by OF others has always been included in
the Presbyterian Profession OF Faith.
For nearly generation, however. 1t has
been SO neglected that most Presbyter-
ians seem to have forgotten its exist
ence."
After quoting from arguments that
have recently been advanced by the Rev.
Howard Crosby, DIR. Van Dyke, Prof.
Vincent and other advocates Of revision
condemning the doctrine of reprobation,
the pastor said
words of men who are terribly in earnest
and who will not easily be silenced. In
deed, no one seems DESTROYS of silencing
them, and the indications are that in
single step Presbyterianisnl is about to
make an advance unparalleled in the his
tory of any denomination. Nevertheless
] hold that so long as the doctrine of end
less misery is retained, those who object
to the change are in the right. With
Calvin, believe that for the destiny OF
each individual the ultimate responsible
ity rests with God.
'sMr. Balm has wisely said" continued
the pastor, ssthe tendencies of theologians
and poets to make q mystery of the re-
lationS between Divine Sovereignty and
human freedom is like stirring up q
dust and then complaining because one
cannot see. a-1-.z--.---.--.--~-.-ssl
Deliberatton is the conflict of opposite
desires, and decision is the prevailing of
the stronger desire. Every educational,
social and religious influence which we
bring TO bear upon our fellow beings in
the hope of changing their disposition re-
suits from our belief that while we are
free to do what we like something beyond
ourselves determines the likings.
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
1.-THE human will has its causes. When
we examine the immediate motive for an
action we find that it is a link in an un-
broken cnain of causation, the beginning
of which is as remote as the origin of the
universe; evidently then if being Of in
finite intelligence had been present aI the
dawn of creation he could have predicted
your existence and mine, the influences
which would shape our character and in
spire our conduct and the ultimate des-
tiny which awaits us. The causes ex-
listed. and whatever power set those
causes in motion ordained the result. |
repeat that Calvin was right when ne
said that il any one is eternally lost it is
because God eternally willed it should be
SO.
borders of the Promised Land, and are
now trying to justify God by repudiating
the doctrine of predestination. In this
they will not succeed, for in neither relig-
ious philosophy nor common sense can
this doctrine be separated from the exist
ence Of Deity. They will succeed when
they begin to examine che doctrine of
endless misery and enquire whether God
may not have predestlned all men to be
saved and that He is shaping for each in
dividua1 happy and glorious destiny.
Judged by our reason and conscience
there is no other theory upon which the
providence of God can be justified.