Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-07

Calling" we suggest as follows:
]. The phrasing of section 2 as amended
does not appear to us felicitous and we sub
nit the following: This effectuaI call is Of
Gods free and special grace alone, not from
anything ut all foreseen in man, who is alto
gether passive in his regeneration, wherein
being quic1ened and renewed by the act OF
the Holy Spirit he is enabled to answer
Gods call and to embrace the grace offered
and conveyed in it" 9 With respect to the
salvation OF all infants dying in infancy
we approve of the proposal to explicitly
state it as doctrine of our Church since we
believe it to be taught with sufficient clear
ness in Scripture. We think that the time
has come when it ought to be formally in
cOrporared in our symbol. But we are
equally convinced that unless our belief IN
il be shown to rest on the sovereignty o
Gods grace, the true foundation of the doc
trine will be hidden, and it will threaten to
become a source of greivous error. We favor
therefore the introduction of the WORD
"elect" or its equivalent together with the
statement of the salvation OF deceased IN
fants. We further think that the phrase
from birth to death" applied by the COM
mittee TO describe "incapables" is unneces-
sary il the fact of their sovereign election
be, as in the matter OF infants dying in in
fancy. closely expressive. II it be thought
that the removal of this phrase may give to
the word incapable" a wider reference
safeguarded by the assertion Of their cleo
tion, we are willing to allow the
wider reference in the negative, moderate
form in which it would then appear We
suggest. therefore, the following: "All in
fants dying in infancy and all other elect
persons who are incapable OF being out.
wardly called by the ministry of the WORD
are redeemed by Christ and regenerated by
the Spirit who malleth when and how and
where he pleaseth;" and we particularly beg
the committee to consider this suggestion.
NEEDLESS AND HARSH LANGUAGE.
3. We think that the sentence which in
the revised form concludes section is
needless and harsh, and we would, therefore,
prefer to say: "0thers not elected, although
they may be called by the ministry of the
word and may have some common opera
tons of the Spirit, vet inasmuch as they
never truly came to Christ, they cannot be
saved: neither is there salvation in any
other way than by Christ through the
Spirit"
IX In respect to Chapter XIV (xNvii)
"Of the Church" we are of the opinion that
it is unwise and unnecessary in the Confes-
sion of Faith to stigmatize the claims OF the
Pope with the language which they GER
tainly deserve, and that it would be moro
dignified to simply assert the sole headsh1p
of Christ. This would not require separate
section; so we suggest that Section 6 be
omitted and that Section read: :Would
this Catholic visible church of Christ, Who is
the only head Oft, as well as of the Church
invisible, hath given the ministry, oracles
and ordinances of God, etc"
wise think that it would be better to omit
the polemical sentence, $50 that the Roman
Catholic doctrine of the sacrifice of the
mass is most abominably injurious to
Christ's one only sacrifice for sin" and con-
fine the statement to the positive declara-
tion of the true doctrine.
III. In respect finally, to xxx (xxXii) .,
while we approve of the Introduction of the
words ministerial and declarative," we
feel that the words "to retain and
remit sins" are, though scriptural, so
liable to be misunderstood that it
would be wise to omit them, especially since
the remainder of the sentence teaches the
truth in question more intelligibly to most
readers. The sentence would then read:
"To these officers the keys of the kingdom
of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof
they have ministerial and declarative power
respectively to shut that kingdom against
the impenitent both by the word and CEN
sures, and TO open it unto pen1tent sinners
by the ministry of the gospel and by absolu-
tion from censures, as occasion shall re-
quire."
We have thus, in obedience to the As
Semblv's directions, gone over the entire
number of the proposed changes in the Con-
fession and given to the committee our
careful Judgment. OF course we do not in
tend to forego our right to act independently
on the revision when it is finally submitted
to us. But we submit these suggestions
with the sincere desire to assistas far as we
now can, in the great task which the Church
has undertaken, and we request in turn due
made.
THE ADOPTION OF THE REPoR-.
As heretofore stated, the above report was
taken up and adopted section by section,
DR.. Purves and DIR. KumIec and the other
of the committee explaining the
revision and changes. Rev. Mr.. johnson
asked DR.. Purves if the report was unani-
nous one. The doctor replied that
he was happy to state it was. The
reception of the report was characterized by
close attention, marked thoughtfulness and
a charitable spirit. There was no debate in
the ordinary sense of the term. Now and
then a suggestion or a query was made
which was either accepted by the committee
or rejected when put to vote. In general
it seemed to be felt that the committee had
succeeded in voicing the latest sentiments
of the Presbytery most satisfactorily.
This was especially so in respect
to the first nine chapters. The Pres
bvtery was at first not so sure of
tine ground when it came to the remaining
chapters. More changes were made here,
but finally all passed with the utmost good
will Mr.. Wilson objected to the word
''some" in chapter iii, section Ill, but Drs.
Purves and Kumler explained that both
sides of doctrine must appear and that a
definite selection of individuals was funda-
mental 1t was stricken out
ONE OF THE CHANGES MADE.
Rev. Mr. Hill thought the phrase
sovereign dominion" was Pathological. DR..
Purves justified it by quotation from the
Confession, but the word sovereignty" was
finally substituted as all sufficient. DR..
Chalfant spoke earnestly in favor of greater
in the revision of the Confes-
sion.
Rev. J. S. Moore was anxious to have de-
fined, with Scriptural authority, what con-
s:ituted. an infant" as contradistinguished
from Child" The wish raised an audi
bic smile, but it was not gratifed The
committee thought it was hardly within
their province, and the subject was not
pressed.
Finally Stated Clerk DR.. Beacon moved
the adoption of the report as whole. This
was seconded by Rev. Mr.. johnson, and the
motion unanimously prevailed.
The report Will probably be neatly
printed in pamphlet form and sent to the
Secretary of the Revision Committee of the
General Assembly, where, in common with
215 other like Presbyterial reports, it will
no doubt receive the consideration which
its friends are satisfied it so richly merits.
The general impression in Presbytery yes
terday was that this report was a remark
ably able one, that its statements were
exceptionally clear and that its recommen-
dations would carry weight.
At the conclusion of the consideration of
the report, and the final disposition of some
routine details, the Presbytery
SOME UKLUCKY ONES