Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-26

during place in our noble creed. The propo-
sition to omit all reference to infants certainly
Will not carry. because the great heart of the
| church is too much concerned with this vast
problem to consent that 1t should be thus set
aside as insolnbie. Dfversities Of opinion ex-
list as to the degree Of biblical warrant for 30
broad doctrine: but all agree that it is OF
vast moment to shut out. il possible, by the
most distinct enunciation OF our current be-
nef, the slanderous and mischievous criticisms
TO which the church has for q century been ex-
posed at this point
"In respect to the 'heathen,' we could not
here or elsewhere admit that any among them
are saved otherwise than through Christ; we
could only hope that there may. through grace.
exist IN some pagan minds such . measure Of
compliance with the human conditions of re-
pentance on account OF sin, humble faith in
the mercy OF God and sincere submission to
the divine will SO far as known as will, through
the grace and mediation of Christ, avail for
their salvation
THE ROMAN CHURCH.
The invidious references to ''papacy." which
mark certain chapters of the confession and
which were partially eliminated by the revision
committee, are all explained by Dr. Morris.
Referring to the propriety Of applying the
apostolic expressions, man of sin and son of
perdition, and the scriptural term, antichrist
to the pope of Rome, with its natural conse-
quence in the conclusion that the papal COM
munion is not church Of Christ. but O syna-
gogue Of Satan, he says:
But while the use Of sIch terms is protested
against as being homogeneous with the general
language and temper OF our confession, there
have appeared to the committee no indications
that the historic opposition of Professionalism,
and especially Of American Presbyterianism,
to the pernicious assumption of the papal
hierarchy has in any wise diminished. These
assumptions have embodied themselves con-
spicuously in the latest Vatican decree: and the
language of that decree. declaring that the
pope Of Rome is the vicar Of Christ at the
head and infallible teacher of the church uni
versal, has therefore been incorporated into
the amended section with a solemn protest
against ii as an assumption without warrant in
Scripture or in fact"
DR.. Morris closes this remarkable pamphlet
with personal explanation, in which he states
that the committee endeavors to follow the
central line OF revision and to avoid incorpo-
rating the dogmas Of some school or section or
gratifying the wishes Of the extremists even to
the casting out OF essential elements. Either
course would have been a mistake disastrous.
If not fatal. to revision itself 1t would almost
inevitably have divided the church into parties
might have been denominational dissolution.
AN ATTACK ON PRINCETON.
Referring to the criticisms excited by the
report, DR.. Morris finds two extreme posi-
tions against which the revision movement
should be protected. The first is that which
decries against all revision and clamors for
new and shorter creed. This is the position
attributed to DR.. Briggs. 1t il described by
DR.. Morris in this language: 1T is easy to pro-
fess special knowledge Of our symbols and
high degree Of loyalty to them at one moment
and in the next to explain away their plainest
teachings, and to propose some speculative
substitutes in their place, easy, in a word, to
claim the name of Calvinst and at the same
time disparage or reject what that name
specially represents to the minds Of common
men,
The second dangerous element referred to is
Princeton, which DIR. Norris describes as an
extreme conservatism which must not be per-
mitted to stand in the way of an honest, faith
ful, adequate revision of the church symbols y
In foot note in this part OF the pamphlet Dr.
Morris attacks DR.. b. b. Warfield, professor of
systematic theology ut Princeton, who has al
ready opened the compaign against the adoption
of the report in an article in the Presbyterian
Rerie,r.
DR.. Morris is hopeful for the final adoption
of the report in the form presented to the
general assembly, notwithstanding this opposi-
ton of Princeton. He anticipates some
changes and offers a suggestion of his own in
recognition OF miracles OF which the confession
says nothing. Here is DR.. Morris amend
ment:
Miracles are not ordinary providences
through the action of secondary causes, but are
the immediate acts Of God, within the sphere
OF providence, wrought in attestation Of His
truth