The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-26

the doctrines of purgatory, the multiplied
saeraments, it was necessary to believe
IN in other words, the doctrine of iustif-
catlon by works had such a hold on the
church that it was exalted over anything
the word of God taught; and the great
fundamental doctrine, as Professionalism
sees II, of justification by faith was cover
ed over. Luther found a Bible for himself.
and read it for himself. He began to
preach, not as arraying himself against
the church of his time and of which
he was an integral part, but began to
preach the Pauline doctrine of "justifca-
ton by faith" as against classification
by works The ideal church is the Apos-
tolic church. He determined to prove all
things and hold fast to that which was
good. So long as there was a POSSIBLE
lty OF his continuing in the Christian
church that long he had not the remotest
thought of ever finding himself outside
OF II; and II was only because the differ
ences were so radical-the errors against
which ne and those with him arrayed
themselves were so radical, that there
was necessarily a complete break be-
tween him and the then Christian church.
There was rejected in the reformation:
First. the old idea that in the pope was
supreme authority. That was destroyed
forever.
Second, the superstitions about penance
were destroyed The great doctrine that
was taught by the reformers was the ak
that was laid at the root of the chief err
ror in the church as they found it, and
that was that man could earn his own
salvation.
There was kept:
First, the opposite of this error that
we shall be justified by works-that there
is only 'justincat ton by faith"
Second, the superiority of the scrip
lures IN all matters of controversy. That
oVerbalances the error of supreme author
ity of the pope. BY this, they affirmed
the right Of private judgment. Under the
doctrine of the divine spirit in every soul,
the individual himself. under the light
that he can get, must be the Judge.
1.-The Bible declares the duty of each
one to have grounds for his faith. Let
each one of you be able to give a reason
for the faith that is in you After max
ing our proof those things which are GER
tain are the best things.
When the church runs into errors, there
must be some way to correct it. What
are the ways? When it becomes too bad,
there will be some soul to rise up in re-
Volt-some community that will rise up
and see the truth that will overbalance
it, and protest against it.
The Directing spirit is necessary that
by the conflict of opinion, the world shall
move on to a better life. While the first
appearance may be downward, it is tenn
porary. There is to-day, as then, a need
for Professionalism, as there are needs for
the conflict of ideas.
Professionalism was but the natural re-
suit Of decayed religion. All we need
to discriminate is between revolution
which tears down without thinking of
building up again-which is anarchy
that would destroy the Bible and gives
us nothing, and reformation, which is
simply aiming to build up again in newer
and purer shape"
After discussing the meaning and pur-
pose of creeds, DIR. Schaeffer said: you
find in the individual churches, after all,
a general agreement on all essential doc
| trines. l am not rash enough to say that
this, the Oldest Protestant denomination
to which we belong, is the ideal church
but that you will not find US preaching
any narrow gospel. There is no ordi-
nance that must he gone through with
or any absolute form of government nee
essary; no high priests. The great themes
of the Bible are our themes, the great
fundamental truths of christianity, espec-
tally the doctrine of justification by faith,
are our favorite topics"
The services closed with the singing of
Luther's great battle hymn, Elm Feste
man GesangVerein Teutonia.
The singing of the choir, under the di-
rection of Prof. Hubner, was a feature of
the service. The anthems sung were
Awake, Put on Strength by banks 4;
''Deus Miseratur," by Padden, and the
offertory, "Jubilate Deo," by J. Alzamora