The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-20
What a Presbyterian Believes.

The subjoined inquiries afford an indica-
ton of the general ignorance of Presbyte-
rians OF the present day regarding the faith
which they nominaly profess:
"wili you kindly inform to why the Confession
Faith placed in tho hands of each and every
member of the Presbyterian Church at the moment
| his or her membership commences That this 10 not
done in tho country churcheS whatever may be tho
custom In tho cities can positively assert from actual
| experience
There 10 assurodly great deal Of ignorance among
members Of tho Presbyterian Church in this directions;
and how well be otherwise is stery. when. to
| speak safely nine ten,hs OF the rank and flo of its
members like myself have never set eyes this
Confession. and have therefore very ideas of
what it actually teaches"
What is called THE Constitution OF the
Presbyterian Church" consists OF the Con-
fession Of Faith, the Catechisms, the Longer
and the Shorter, the Directory of Worship.
and the plan of government and discipline.
1t Is not made necessary that laymen should
subscribe formally to the Confession, and,
us our correspondent says. very few of
them know precisely what its doctrines are.
The great mass have never read it at all:
but ministers and elders must respond
afflrmatively to this question as put in the
Form Of Government:
do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession OF
Faith OF this Church as containing the system OF
doctrine taught In tho Holy Scriptures
1t is remarkable. therefore. that Elder
HENRY DAY confessed that he was startled
when a few months ago. he found out what
the doctrine Of election really was He had
been protesting to believe what in his heart
he loathed. He had not read the document.
although he is lawyer accustomed to thor
oughly examine any matter upon which he
gives a formal opinion. Presbyterian min
listers, too. have confessed that they did not
know what their standards contained. Yet
they had protested belief in them formally
and sUlemnly.
Laymen are eXhorted in the Directory Of
Worship to instruct their children in the
Confession, and in the Longer and Shorter
Catechisms; and in another chapter it is
required that Presbyterian children shall be
taught to read and repeat tho Catechism.
the Apostles Creed and the Lords Prayer"
Formerly this rule was obeyed strictly.
Children were put through a thorough
course OF catechetical Instruction. but for
the last fifty years more or less they have
not been subjected to this discipline. except
in comparatively few cases. They know
h1Iio vi HoIIIHR ABOUT tne CdlecIlSLnS
which contain all the doctrines OF the Con-
fcsslon, in the Longer with more fulness of
statement, and in the Shorter In an abridged
form. In both. the doctrine of election and
damnation Is expressed in about the same
terms as in the Confession. Here it Is as
declared in the Longer Catechism:
"QuEsuox- What hath Con especially decrtrd concern
mo angels and mem
"ASswgK-GoD, by an eternal and immutable decree
out OF Ills mere love- for the praise OF HIS glorious
grace to be manifested in due time hath elected some
angels 10 glory and in CHRST, hath chosen
eternal life and tho thereof and also according
TO Ills sovereign and tho unseArchAbe counsel of
His own will whereby Ho extendeth or withholdeth |
favor lie peRscD hath passed by and fOreordRined
the dshonOr and wrath to be for their sin
dicted to tho praise Of tho glory of His justice
"QrEsIIOS-HVW doth Con rr,rU, ms drTeeSf
"ASSwER-GOD eXecut eth His decreos In the works OF
creation and providence; according to His lnfAlible
knowedge and the free and nmutabie counsel OF His
own will
"QuESIION-Ii'hdt the drcrsS OF Com
ANswFR-tiOp's DEGREES the wise, free. and holy
acts Of His will whereby from all eternity lie hath for
His own glory, mechanically foreordaned whatsoever
comes pass in time especially concerning angels and
mon"
SO the whole system of doctrine in the |
Confession is repeated in the Shorter Cate |
chism for the instruction Of the Presbyte-
ran young, 1t Is all there infant damna-
ton' heather damnation, hell fire, and the |