Arizona republican., 1891-06-12

THE NEW CALVANlSM.

The most important feature of thu Presbyterian creed revision movement up to date is the changed attitude Oi iht whole denomination toward its doymalic standards. How great that change is we can only understand by considering that until within two years, for clergy man in that communion to express an, doubt as to ihe Westminster Confession being the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, was 10 incur grave suspicion of herrsy. One year ago il was found that more than one-half oi all the Presbyteries in the United States had, within a twrlvenionth, by vote, expressly and ofticiall, declared their judgment that the Westminster Confes- sion ought to be revised! Another year has passed and we find that a commit tee representing ali shades of opinion in the church has presented to the General Assembly report in which q larv, number of changes, some oi them affect. ing chief doctrines, are recommended for adoption. Moreover, this committee plainly implies that there are some other objectionable paragraphs" which. out oi regard for harmony among brethren, it is deemed Lest to leave un- touched by the pruning knife oi re- vision. No matter if this report has been recoinnlitied till next year; no matter whether the changes finally adopted are more or fewer than the committee advises; no matter though no revision at all be made, it must he perfectly evident that hereafter, caliing the creed in question as to one or more particulars cannot be accounted prina facie proof oi hersy, since a majority of the church has already dune that very thing.
 The changes proposed by the commit tee in Chapter III are those around which the main conflict will he wayed. Certainly it cannot be said that they are revolutionary. Doctrines that have loIW seemed horrible, incredible, even bla.pl.uous 10 mullitudes of pinns souls are by no means wiped out witt, any such completeness as many would like to see. Yet rhe difference between the new and the old is much greater than appears upon a superficial glance. In the old form of words election an'i reproduction were made exactly parallel. .t was declared in just so many words that "by the decree of God and for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto ever lasting deaih." Moreover. that there might be no escap. from the grim doc :rine that God, infinite ages before men were born. picked out certain ones in- dividuslly to bring 10 heaven, and like wise, in just the same way, picked out certain other ones, individually, to send to hell, the fourth section of Chapter II in the old form says of both classes
 These angels and men thus predc, ,tinated and foreordalned are particularly ani un- changeably designed, and their number Is SO certain and definite that II cannot be increased or diminished
 In the proposed new form both these sections are stricken out. But the doe Urine of a predestination unto eternal life is expressed with elaborate precision in another rection. and that of foreor- dination unto dishonor and wrath is vet another. Be it observed, however. that there is nothing left of the assertion that the number in either class cannot be increased or diminished.