Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24
Election and Reprobation.

II was stated in our issue of yesterday
chat in the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church North on Friday the re-
port of the Committee on the Revision of
thu Confession Of Faith was recommitted
TO the presbyteries. and the Committee on
Revision was continued with instructions
90 report at the next session Of the General
Assembly. That report is a very interest
ing one. II has for year or two and will
continue for year or two TO agitate a
denomination which is strong numerically
and otherwise, and as conserya-
tive and intelligent ss 1t is wealthy.
The changes which the Committee
on Revision recommended in the
Confession of Faith are some Of them
very significant, as for example where II is
stated that the heavens and the earth and
all that they contain we're created in six
"creative days" instead Of as now. in
six DAYS" As the consideration OF these
important proposed changes has been
postponed we will not go fully into the
subject; but we cannot forbear to quote
what the Confession Of Faith now says on
the subject Of Goods Eternal Decree
and what the Committee on Revision
recommended to be substituted therefor.
As il now stands the Confession of Faith
reads as follows:
CHAPTER Ill
or Gops ETERNAL DECREE.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation
OF His Glory, some men and angels are predesti-
mated unto everlasting life, and others fore
ordained 10 everlasting death.
Nv. These angels and men, thus predestinated
and fore-ordained, are particularly and I'M
changeably designed, and their number is 80
certain and definite that IL cannot be either In
creased or diminished.
v. Those Of mankind that are predestinated
unto life, God, before the foundation OF the
world was laid, according 20 His eternal and Inn
mutable purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure Of His WILL hath chosen, 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 them,
or any other thing In the creature, as conditions
or causes, moving Him thereunto; and ell TO the
praise Of his glorious grace.
VII. The rest Of mankind God was pleased, ac-
cording 10 the unsearchable counsel OF His own
will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mer-
cy as He pleasefh, for the glory Of His sovereign
power over His creatures, TO pass by, and to or
dain 70 them TO dishonOr and wrath for their sin,
20 the praise of His glorious Justice.
The committee recommended the follow
ing changes: -
or GODS ETERNAL DECREE.
Sections l and unchanged, sections and
stricken out, and section amended so that sec
tion will read:
III. God before the foundation Of the world was
laid, according TO His eternal and immutable pur-
pose and the secret counsel and good pleasure
OF His will, hath predestinated some OF mankind
unto lfe and hath particularly and unchange-
ably chosen them in Christ unto everlasting
glory, out Of His mere free grace and love, with
out any foresight o; faith, or good works, or
perseverance, IN either OF them, or any other
thing Ia the creature, as conditions or causes,
moving him thereunto; and all 70 the praise OF
His glorious grace.
Section O remains unchanged and becomes
section A. Section was amended and be-
comes section 8, and n as follows:
v. The rest Of mankind God was pleased,
according 10 the unsearchable council OF His own
will,whereby He cxtendeth or withholdeth mercy
as He pleaseth, "nOt 20 elect unto everlasting
life" but 10 ordaln them TO dishonor and wrath
Cor their sin. to the praise Of His glorious Justice
.yet 30 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 his acceptance Of
this offer.'
VI Section remains unchanged and becomes
Section z.
IL the General Assembly had adopted the
proposed changes, the action Of the body
would have been communicated to the
several presbyteries for ratification. But
the General Assembly did not adopt those
recommendations, but referred the whole
subject to the several presbyteries, which
will elect to the next General Assembly
commissioners fully informed as to the
wishes of those presbyteries (these are near
10 the people, on these important sub
Sects.
The General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian Church (South) is altogether
different body. The southern Presbyte-
xians feel nevertheless profound interest
In the action Of their northern brethren.