Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-03

divorce. Dr.. Bittinger said that Christ did not
recognize desertion but only adultery as q Just
ground for divorce. The supposed authority
for desertion a. ground for divorce, he said,
thians. He, however, had been unable to dis
cover in the counsels Of the apostle any
authority for either Of the separated parties to
marry again after separation for any cause not
involving adultery. He argued that to sup
pose the apostle to teach that there are two
Just grounds for divorce, when Christ declares
that there is only one ground is to represent the
scholar to antagonize or at least to supplement
the teaching Of the Master.
SALVATION.
The next change which DR.. Bittinger favored
was the omission Of all that part
OF section 4, chapter 10, - follows:
"Much less can men not protesting
the Christian religion be saved in any other
way whatsoever chat ia, those not called by
the ministry of the word, be they never 90 dill
gent to frame their lives according to the light
OF nature and the law of that religion they do
profess; and to assist aud maintain that they
may 10 very pernicious and to be detested."
Ur. bittinger said that he understood from
tnese words that those who have never heard
OF the historic Christ and consequently
NOS outwardly called by the ministry
OF the word can not be saved, be they
ever SO diligent to frame their lives ac-
opinion that to suspend the salvation OF any
individual or individuals wholly upon knowi-
edge OF the written will of God, as contained in
the scriptures. is not only contradictory of our
conceptions OF the Just and merciful
with the teachings of the scriptures.
He thought that it was plainly taught that in
dividuals shall not be held accountable for not
conforming to the written law Of the scriptures,
which they do not have, but only to that law
~ tn hn,a la. -
the works Of creation-that is, they shall be
judged according to the light God has given
them. He therefore concluded that any person
living according to this law may in the mercy
OF God be saved. He said that his position in
this matter was the farthest removed from the
hgment OF second probation and is assumed
to vindicate the justice Of God in the condem-
nation OF those refusing to live up to the light,
however little, that God has given them.
ELECT INFANrs
DR.. Bttenger also was in favor Of changing
the first clause Of chapter 10, section 8. The
clause reads as follows: Select infants dying in
infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ
through the spirit who worketh when and
where and how He pleaseth." He said that
there was doubt as to the meaning of the term
'elect infants" Some thought that it meant
infants elect Of infants" others Infants elect
OF the mass of mankind" From the debates
In the Westminster assembly and from con.
temporary sermons and other sermons it had
been concluded that the Westminster divines
held
THE DOCTRINE OF INFANT DAMNArIoN.
He said that it was believed that the original
phrase was Select of infants" and the change
had been made in transcribing the confession
or by the committee in charge, under the belief
that the two phrases, "elect infants and ''elect
of infants" had the same meaning He thought
that IN view of the doubt and uncertainty as to
the precise meaning OF the phrase a change
ought be made which would clearly establish
the meaning. He suggesteda change as follows
''All infants dying In infancy are regenerated
and saved by Christ through the spirit &C."
DIR. Bittinger alluded to the representations
that are made to the effect that belief in
infant damnation is a part of the system of
doctrine taught by the Presbyterian church.
He repealed such an imputation as an unjust
aspersion on q church which teaches the oppo-
site doctrine.
A change in the collocation Of the words in
section l, chapter 4, was recommended by the
speaker. This clause speaks of the creation Of
the world In six days and the speaker said that
according to the best exegetes the meaning of
the language of the first chapter of Genesis de-
scrlblng the operation of Gods power in the
space OF six days-whatever period these six
days Of time may include-refers to matter then
already existing. He said that there was no con-
flict between science and the scriptures, only
OF science falsely SO called.
'THE SOVEREIGN DECREE OF GOD"
In regard to the sections in chapter 8, in
which the speaker said could be seen the re-
Election of the extra scriptural views of menu
bers Of the Westminster assembly, he favored
their omissions. He maintained that the doc
trine of the sovereign decree Of God is by no
means necessarily dependent upon or con-
nected with the view plainly implied in these
sections, that God created part of his intelli-
gent creatures for the purpose of damnIng
them. He was of the opinion that such omis-
sions would relieve the church of the odium
and seemingly just inconsistency of inviting
men to accept those provisions Of grace and
mercy from which by an extra scriptural view
of the decree of God they are excluded. The
| speaker saw no objection to the insertion in a
suitable place in the confession of pronounced
affirmation similar to that found in the scrip
! lures OF the love of God toward mankind and
| the free and unrestricted offer OF salvation
While admitting that this is already implied in
the confession, still an explicit statement, in
his opinion, will furnish no ground for the
charge SO frequently made that the offer of SAL
walton in the confession of faith is inconsistent
with the belief of the church or narrower than
the word of God.
In conclusion DR.. Bittinger said that, in his
opinion, by the adoption Of the changes above
referred to the confession of faith would be
made more attractive and acceptable as a
formula of belief to the large and growing
church than it is at present.
Rev. DIR. Hamlln followed DR.. Bittinger and
at $3.50, according to the order, the voting was
| to begin on the question Of whether a revision
was desired.