The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-24
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REPORT ON THE RETIsION OF THE
CONEESSION OF FAITH.
Two New Chapters Addsd--Insants Inc,uded
AmonE the saved-Denial OF the Pope's
Claim 20 Be the Head or the Churcn Uni.
yersnl-The Repor MAY Re DefentcS

Two New Chapters Added-InSnrts Included
Among the saved-DeHial OF the Pope's
Claim 20 Be the Head OF the Churcn Uni.
versai-The Report May Re Defeated.
PORTLAND. Ore. May 23.-At days session
OF the General Assembly OF the Presbyterian
Church the report Of the committee appointed
to revise tho Confession Of Faith was present.
ed by DR.. W. c. Robarts. 1t contains two now
chapters. one relating 10 the work Of the Holy
Spirit and the other to the missionary spirit.
Besides these new chapters twenty-six Sec
tons in eighteen other chapters have boen
changed. Several Of the members OF the COM
mttee have signed the report. but have made
exceptions to certain pnrts Of 1t. The section
upon which there was tho most discussion is
in the third chapter and Is as follows the brack.
cts indicating the omitted part:
The rest OF mankind God Twas Dleasedl saw
ut. according to tho unsearchable counsel Of
His own will whereby He extendeth or with
holdeth mercy as He pleascth lfor the glory OF
His sovereign power over His creatures to
pass byl to ordain them to dshonor and wrath
for their sin. to the praise OF His glorious JUS
tice: yet neither Ia 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. yet hath He no pleasure In the
death OF the wicked. nor is 1t His Decree but
the wickedness OF their own hearts which re-
straineth and hindersth them from nccentine
Gospel"
The section relating to elect infants is also
changed. BY the old Confession the Inference
was left that some infants wont to he'll. MS the
w wers n @ tina. ,e ttGge
clears that mystery. reading as fol ows:
Infants dying In infancy. and ali other per-
sons VINO are not guilty Of actual transgrcs.
sion. are included in the election Of grace and
the Spirit: who worketh when and where aud
how He nleaseth: SO also are the elect persons
WhG are not 9utwardly called by the ministers
The other essential change ia In n section
relating to the Roman Catholic Church in the
section reads as follows The 'i fosd Jesus sis
Christ is the, only Head Of tho Church and the
Head OF the Church Universal is without war
rant In Scripture or fact: and IS a usurpation
to tho Lord Jesus Christ.
to the Roman Catholic Church. the change is
from "Popish sneriiice of the mass" to " Roman
Catholic doctrine OF the sacrifice OF the mass"
Those who have opposed revision from the
stitutonnlity OF this ASSEMBLY taking definite
action on the report. asserting that by n new
rule Of law made ut Detroit last year this re-
Iort must 60 to special committee appointed
for the purpose Of receiving it, and which
posed shall be recommended to the Presty-
teries for adoption. Though the conserve
tives were defeated two years ago and a re-
vision ordered. It is possible that even now. by
work. as the committee appointed Mt this meet
ing to receive the report may decide that the !
revision is unnecessary or unwisc.