Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-29

charged with teaching that sanctifcation is
not complete at DEATH
He admits the charge. but denies that it con-
stitutes an offense. alleging not only that the
doctrine Is not contrary to the Scripture and
standards. but also that il is the very doctrine
taught in them.
Sanctification has for its aim the removal of
sin from the nature of believers with all its
effects. ''Sanctification is a work of Gods free
grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole
man after the image of God, and are enabled
more and more to die unto sin and live unto
righteousness" And when we are completely
dead to SIN, when it has been entirely exte,-
minated from the soul. then sanctifcation has
completed its work. and the believer having
been renewed in the whole man after the image
OF God. will live unto righteousness and be per
fectly holy. He will be longer in need Of
either sanctification redemption.
Adam. before he sinned. created in the
image of God. was perfectly holy and did not
need to have any part of the process of re-
demption applied to him. 1t possible for
him to advance in the breadth and intensity of
holy life to all eternity. bur such an onward
growth in holy life cannot be called a process
of sanctification.
Christ was perfectly holy when He was born.
After that He grew. as the God man, into q
larger and fuller life but He WAS at no time
more holy or morally perfect than on the day
of His birth. In the same way the believer
will, when at death he has been made perfect in
holiness, advance along all the lines of holy life
forever. That is not the question at issue.
That DIR. Briggs uses the term specification
in the sense of eliminating sin from the soul
of believers is plain from the language of the
| inaugural In order TO maintain his doctrine.
OF progressive sanctification after death. he finds
1T necessary to attack the Protestant doctrine,
which limits the process of redemption to this
world. and refuses to extend it to the vast
periods of the world beyond the grave. (pp
SO. SD The Protestant doctrine. according to
which the believer is made perfectly holy at
death, stands in the way of DIR. Briggs doc
trine.
He affrms that progressive sanctiication after
death is necessary, Sin order that the work of
redemption may be complete" (p. sd
He terms the transformation of the saint. in
the diving hour. a magical illusion, which should
be banished from the world and renowned as a
hurtful unchristian error.
CONTRARY TO THE STANDARDS.
After quoting passages to show DR.. Briggs
teachings this point. he said:
This doctrine OF DIR. Briggs, then, is an
offense according 20 the book of discipline for
the following three reasons:
/. The doctrine is contrary to the Bible and
the standards. II is injected into them at the
behest Of a naturalistic principle Of psychology
and ethics. according to which the instant
change of a saint of God at death TO perfect
magical illusion.
q 1t is separated from the Roman Catholic
doctrine OF purgatory by so frail barrier that
it will easily pass into it.
3. II will lead to Graver departures from the
faith The doctrine of redemption after death
Is advocated at present principally in the inter
est of the doctrine of second probation. Dr.
Briggs entertains the largest hopes in respect 20
the possibilities OF redemption in the middle
state.
He S,xs /, Whitbar N 0or. ..Tla oros.io,
which we have 10 determine as Calvanists is
whether the divine act of regeneration may
take place in the middle state or not"
Certainly, II we once admit that one of the
processes of redemption takes place in the Md
die state We will be compelled ere long, IN logl
ical consistency. TO affirm that ali the processes
of redemption may be carried on there
The verdict Of acquittal therefore, on this
charge is contrary TO the evidence and to Pres
byterian doctrine. and should be reversed.
We have shown that the presbytery of New
I York has rendered decision contrary to the
law and evidence in giving its verdict of
quittal In this case. As not III accord with true
Presbyterian doctrine the verdict should be
yersed and another should be formulated in
harmony with our doctrines and the evidence
in the case.
The presbytery. while not approving the
erroneous views of Dr. Briggs. suggests that
they should be tolerated in the interest of
| scholarship ard liberty.
THE POSITION OF TIE CHURCH.
| The Presbyterian Church favors the best
scholarship and insists that its ministers shall
be thoroughly educated 1t welcomes the
deepest research. but ii requires also reyerent
handling of the Word of God. The type of
| higher criticism which is before us has no
monopoly of scholarship. Scholars who in
knowledge and skill are at least easily the peers
of those who claim 10 be the higher critics dis
pute their claims. Since the methods of higher
criticism are uncertain and its results far not
| large. it becomes its apostles TO be modest
! They have, however. laid themselves open to
suspicion by inordinate conceit and utter reck-
! lessness :
| Tho Presbyterian Church is the friend OF
liberty. It has always been foremost in efforts
to promote religious. civil. social ard individual
! freedom. 1t demands the freest and fullest
/ honest investigation OF all the facts and phe-
/ ncmena of the Bible.
But. as in all other relations and institutions.
! divine and human liberty in our church or in
any other church must be regulated liberty. Ii
has Its limitations. The freedom of ones
/ house does not mean to pull out the founda-
1 ton. And liberty In denomination cannot
mean the right to destroy its denominational
| life and doctrines.
DE-. BRIGGS LIBERTY.
No one Restraints the liberty of DIR. Briggs
He is as free TO go as he was to come On his
own responsibility he can proclaim his theo-
| logical and critical views from the housetops
| The whole world will give him a hearing But
he may not exercise this liberty in the denom-
| ination at the expense of that of his brethren
/ They have equal right with him to the en-
! joyment of liberty.
|
"a 3 ~