Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-22
WORK OF THE REVISERS.
Report Of the Committee on the West
minister Confession of Faith.

bile system Of doctrine. After vigOr-
Gus contest simple overture was sent
by the general assembly to the preSby-
,eries i'm 1859. asking if they desired a
revision of the Westminster Confession
of Faith. The debate between the con-
servatives and the radicals, so called,
eclipsed all other controversies IN the
church a year ago, and the last assem-
bly, appointed a committee on revision
OF the Confession of Faith, which was
made up Of the theological professors
college presidents, pastors ana elderS'
chosen from both parties. The commit
tee has prepared report which Will De
submitted this week 10 the assembly,
which meets to-day in the Forth Street
PRESBYTERIAN Church in this city.
Amended 10 the report are the sec
tionS from the confession IN which
changes have been made. II IS posi-
HE that the work of the committee VIII
he submitted 20 the PreSbyterieS Tor
rheir consideration without discussion,
but that is hardly probable. After the
PresbyterieS have passed Judgment upon
the report il will be revised by the com
nittee. and sent 90 the next assembly
for adoption Two chapters have been
inserted i'm the book, and many OF the
changes suggested by the PreSoyterieS
last wear are embodied in this new mat
Ter An important feature OF the re-
mort was the conclusion of the commit
tee Al the outset that mo alterations or
amendments" should be proposed that
would i'm any way impair the integrity
of the reformed or CalyiuiStlc system OF
doctrine taught in the confession.
Following is the important part OF
the committees report: The commit
lee. without request from any OF our
Presbyteries, thought 10 wise TO recog-
pize in chapter !, the commonly accept
ed external evidences of the divine
origin of the Scriptures. IL will be seen
that chapter ill.,, which has been re-
garded by many as the pivot around
which revision reyOlveS, has been altered
more than any other portion OF the Con-
fession. IL has not, however, been
completely rewritten, as some preS0y-
teries have asked, but SO recaSt that
the most Objectionable expressions have
entirely disappeared 1t was thought
that further alterations in the same d.
rectiOp would, in the opinion OF
some, impair the validity OF our
reformed or CalviniStic system.
Finding that the latter part
Of section l, chapter IN. was not trne 10
the fact. or in keeping with the teach
ipgs OF Gods Word, slight but import
ant change has been proposed. The
frequently misunderstood section OF
cbapter vi. in regard 70 the ability OF
men 10 perform any deeds acceptable TO
Cod i so modified as 20 cOnhne his IN
ability To spiritual good. The means
through which the Lord offers unto sin
pers life and salvation Is added 10 sec
tioD of chaptet i've, and the whole OF
section is stricken out on the ground OF
itspot being supported by facts Of script
ure. In section . of chapter WI. I'll
vine iustice" is substituted Tor tine
iuStice Of his Father because this at
tribute is common 90 the three persons
OF the GOdhead. Section OF chapter
tx. is 50 altered as 20 leave no doubt In
regard 10 the responsibility Of man Is
free moral agent In order 10 diScrimi-
nate between the two operations In
cluded in efectual calling, section .,
CHAPTER X, the paSSiyity Of the subject
i confined in the amendment 10 the
..act of regeneration. The frequently
discussed and openly denounced sections
concerning the condition OF infants
dvinD in infancy is 50 altered as 20 take
s,vav forever. 10 is hoped, the
rocE Of offense. The section on the
works done by Unregenerate men M
chapter xvi. is Soamended rs 10 express
-he fact In the light OF God : word. Ow-
inc m the impossibility of knowing who
have Siured the sin unto death. the
committee have So changed section OF
chapter xxi. that 10 reads forgiveness
of all sins, except the sin unto death.
The word 'popish is stricken out OF
section =. chapter xiii. ON the GROUND
of lis being an epithet and therefore
weakening in its effect, and the eN-
nreSsion nursing fathers in section 3,
CHAPTER xiii, is dropped because civil
magistrates In this country cannot DE
said 90 hold that relation In the church.
Without passing Judgment on the
question whether or not the 'paplStS
are idolators the committee was OF the
oDipior that ourchurcb members might,
without falling under scripture cOnOem-
nati1u. enter into marriage relations
with some members of the RomiSh
Church. and therefore propose as a sub
stitute for "papiStS or other ido.ator'
I'm section 3. chapter xiv, the words,
..tbe adherents Of false religions.
Though the committee has no diSpo-
sition 10 tone down in the slightest de-
gree the Objectionable features Of the
Church Of Rome, yet it has changed
section 6 Of Chapter NV. 50 as 10 make
il agree with accepted facts. Instead
of reading Section .. Chapter MN,
..the popish sacrifice Of the mass in
rbe revised confession, If adopted, will
read. 1.-The Roman Catholic doctrine Of
the sacrifice OF the mass The IN
qualified statement Of section . Of Chap
ter xxx.. that the officers Of the Church
have power respectively 70 retain and
remit sins is so modified as TO read that
the power thus given them Is minis
terial and declarative.
A few changes in words have also
heen made. but the reason for the same
is so clear as 20 need no explanation in
this connection