Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-30

believers at death enter the middle state, in
which state they are made perfect in holiness
by progressive sanctification. "At their DEATH
does not necessarily imply sin the the very
moment OF the transition from life to DEATH "
or in the exact second of time after the spirit
has departed from the body, but lat their
death is in antithesis with ''in this lfe' and
means nothing more than ''in the state Of
death" made perfect in holiness" does not
necessarily imply THAT the sanctifcation of the
soul is instantaneously, in the moment of time
after it leaves the body, perfected and COM
the soul is made perfect in holiness in the state
OF death. The larger catechism teaches that
1.-The communion in glory with Christ. which
the members Of the invisible church enjoy
Immediately after death, is in that their souls
are then made perfect in holiness and received
into the highest heavens. where they behold the
face Of God in light and glory, waiting for the
full redemption of their bodies"
NOT IMMEDIATELY PERFECT.
1t is not said that their souls are made i'm
mediately perfect in holiness after death any
more than it is said Immediately received into
the highest heavens This question speaks of
the communion in glory with Christ which the
members Of the invisible church enjoy immedi-
atcly after death. Is that communion limited
to the moment of time at death? Does it not
rather continue during the whole time in that
state, beginning Immediately after death? I'M
mediately after death in this passage means the
whole state which begins Immediately after
DEATH during which the communion is enjoyed,
as We might infer also from the clause "waiting
for the full redemption of their bodies" What
therefore is affirmed as happening Immediately
after death is affirmed as happening during that
state of communion and waiting which begins
Immediately after death. and not In the mo-
ment of time that begins that state. The four
afhrmatons are not of successive chronological
70 hyrf ~ Ilzl AT.S,
feet in holiness" (2)."received into the highest
heavens" 60 "bet I'D the face Of God in light
and glory" (4) waiting for the full redemp-
ton of their bodies;' all alike refer to the COM
munion in glory with Christ. which continues
throughout this entire state from death to the
resurrection.
The State of Holiness.
In accordance with this general statement of
question so, which we have thus analysed, there
follow separate questions as to each one OF
these states
(S3) "What is the communion in glory 18th
Christ, which the members of the invisible
church enjoy in this life?''
$3.50 "What is the communion in glory with
Christ, which the members of the invisible
church enjoy Immediately after death?''
900 What shall be done to the righteous at
the day of Judgment"
The Immediately after DEATH of the specific
ately after death" of the general question; and
the meaning of the Immediately after DEATH
OF the answer must be the same, all therefore
referring to the state Immediately after death,
and not to the point of time at death There
fore there is no proof that the clause ..then
made perfect In holiness" is to be limited to the
very moment of death.
The idea OF an immediate specification has
always been rejected by all denominations
This chapter is one Of the choicest productions
OF the Westminster divines. 1t sets forth truly
and accurately the doctrine of Holy Scripture
II the Presbyterian Church had bound this
18th chapter on their heart instead of the
Sd chapter, and had made the scriptural doc
trine of sanctication their article of the stand
ing and falling church, rather than the scholas-
tic dogma Of Reproduction, what glorious bis
tory they might have had in the last two
centuries!
THEN NO NEED OF REVISION.
There would have been no need Of the agonies
of the present revision movement 1t seems
sometimes as if those who insist upon imme-
diate specification at death were using the
term sanctification in a different sense from
that known to the Westminster standards.
Sauctification is sometimes used in the Scrip
lures and also in theological literature and de-
bate; for that cleansing from sin which takes
place in the LAYER Of regeneration; and again for
that induction into higher Christian life
which is effected by the power of the Holy
Spirit upon the souls OF men Mt certain crises of
their history. l do not question that men are
sanctihed in the sense that they washed in
the laver OF regeneration clean from every cor
ruption. faint and detiement of sin. l do not
doubt that the fountain which flows from the
Redeemer's side ceanseth from all sin in the
hour of death as in any hour Of life, when the
sinner opens his heart in faith and repentance
to the saving love of Jesus
CONTRADICTION INVOLVED.
If, therefore, by any confusion of mind the
Westminster diyines have taught in chapter
XXX1I and the corresponding questions and
answers of the larger and shorter catechisms
the doctrine OF immediate sanctifcation at
death they have thereby, through inadvertence
taught doctrine which is irreconcilable with
and contrary to and in conflict with their doc
trine of qualification and their doctrine of the
resurrection of the body and their doctrine of
the day of judgment. Can any doubt IN such
case which passage must give way? Shall we
give up three doctrines of greatest import
ance for the sake of one doctrine of lesser i'm
portance?
Is the assembly ready to take the position
that the dogma of immediate sanctifcation at
death is an essential doctrine of the Presbvte-
rian Church, so that no man can become
Presbyterian minister who does not hold it? II
so, you stretch and strain the line of cardinal
and essential doctrines to an extent that will be
destructive of the peace and prosperity of the
church.
CALVIN QUOTED.
Prof. Briggs then went to quote from
Calvin in his opinion on specification, and
from De Wette, who represents many common
tators who think that these perfected spirits
are the martyrs Of the old dispensation.
Continuing. DR.. Briggs considered at length
the idea understood In the phrase perfect in
holiness well the doctrine Of sanctifica-
ton. Referring to a number of passages OF
Scripture he went on:
In all these passages the martyrs of the
martyr age of the church are conceived as the
first fruits, the first born. or partakers Of the
first resurrection. They have been faithfuland
true in their testimony even unto death, they
have kept themselves undefled and without
blemsh from contact with idolatry, they are
virgins the bride of the Messiah and have not
committed fornication with heather gods, they
clad in the white robes of the priests Of God,
they live and reign with Christ in the heavenly
Zion throughout the complete period of His
:ediatorial reign they share the Redeemers
bessedness and glory.
THE SLEEP OF PIoUs SOULS.
There have been those who taught the sleep
of pious souls. DR.. Birch seems to hold that
opinion, for he said in his argument "All dead
Christians are asleep. Laughter When we
are asleep VIC show the rest which consists in
fho ipoc NJ nj Lol,