Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-05-30
THE PROPOSED PRESBYTERIAN
GREED.

The committee on the revision Cf the
Westminster Confession of Faith ap-
pointed by the Presbyterian general as
sembly, has at last, made public the re-
suits of its work, and the changes 10 be
made will be acted upon by the general
assembly, now In session at Detroit. The
committee determined at the outset
that 1t would propose no alterations or
amendments, (which would in any way
impair the integrity of the reformed or
Calv;nistic system of doctrines taught
in the confession" and it appears to
have rigidiy adhered to this determine
ton. The changes which will attract
great popular interest says the Boston
Traveller, is that which is proposed In
the third chapter relative to eternal de-
crees. The sections pertaining to THE
are the third, fourth, fifth and seventh.
III. By the decree of God, for the
manifestation Of his glory, some men
and angeles are predestInated unto ever
lasting life, and others fore ordained TO
everlasting death.
". These angeles and msn, thus pre-
destinated and the fore ordained, and
particularly and unchangeably designed;
and their numbers is so certain and de
finite, that it cannot be either increased
or diminished.
V. Those of mankind that are pre-
destinated unto life, God, before the
foundation OF the world was laid, &C
- asa s,I. IL
purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure of his will, has cnosen, in
Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his
mere free grace and love, without any
foresight of faith, or good works, or per
severance in either of them, or any other
thing in the creature, as conditions, or
causes moving him thersunto; and all 10
the praise OF his glorious grace.
VI. The rest % mankind God WAS
pleased, according TO the unsearchable
counsel of his own mill, whereby he ex-
tendeth or witholdeth mercy, as he
pleaseth, for the glory Of his sovereign
power over his creatures, TO pass by, and
20 crdain them TO dishonor and wrath
FOR their sin, to the praise OF his glorious
justice.
The changes proposed are that sec
tions three and four be stricken out;
that sections five and seven be amended
and become sections three and five re-
spectively, and read as follows:
III. God, before the foundation of
the world was laid, according TO his
eternal and immutable purpose, end the
secret council and good pleasure Of his
will, hath predestinated some of man
kind unto life, and hath particularly
chosen them in Christ unto everlasting
glory, out of his mere free grace and
love, without any foresight of faith, or
good work, or perseverance, in either of
OF them, or any other thing in the
creature, as conditions or causes, NOV
ing him thereunto; and all to the praise
of his glorious grace.
V. The rest OF mankind, God was
pleased according to the uGsearchable
counsel of his own will, whereby he ex
tendeth or withholdeth mercy as he
pleaseth, mot to elect unto everlasting
life" bu: TO ordain them to dishonor anG
wrath for their sin, to the praise of Lis
glorious Justice; yet SO as thereby
neither is any limitation put upon the
offer OF salvation to all, upon condition
Of faith in Christ; nor is restraint laid
upon the freedom of any one TO hinder
mis- acceptance Of this offer"
Thus it will be seen that the proposed
new confession will have nothing to say
about men and angels being ''foreor-
dained to everlasting DEATH" and the
praise mot pass by has been changed
to mot to elect to everlasting life" But
the confession ir its revised form is Ger
certainly Calyinistic enough to suit the |
most rigid of Calvinists in the new con
tession. Roman Catholics are no Ions
called "pspists" and ''idolaters," but are
rather included among "adherents o!
false religions" The new confession
may yet undergo radical changes in the
general assembly before it is submitted
to the presbyteries fo- their considera-
ton, but the action o: the committee is
full of interest.