The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-21
STILL BEGGING LBArE TO DIFFER.
ct" Makes Vigorous EeJoinder 10 new
Mr. Parhsm's Article.


Mr.. Psrhsm's Article.
Editor Of The Times Sir.-I have read IN
The Times a letter by Rev. i. J. Par
ham, replying 20 my criticism Of his ex-
PLANTATION Of John u: %. (And ]. II l be
lifted up will draw all men unto mel.
| nave no desire TO prOlong this dis-
cussion. but there are one or two state
ments contained I'm Mr.. Parham's letter.
which. If allowed to pass unchallensed
bv me. will create in the minds of those
VINO may have read these articles, the
impression that j have been convinced
by Mr. Parham. Of the correctness OF ms
position on this question. l shall there
fore ask The Times 20 do me the kind
ness to publish this letter.
Mr.. Parham seems to think that l am
DESTROYS OF taking an unfair advantage
Of him because / failed 10 sign my fun
name to my first letter. ] most emphatl-
caly disclaim any such intention. de-
sire further TO assure Mr.. Parham OF my
wish to be considered by him. as
friend and not az foe.
| have a very high regard for all faith
ful ministers Of the gospel for their
works sake" although / may not nave
a personal acqualntanceship with them.
Unhke Brother Parham, ! have never
acquired a reputation as Bible scholar
and therefore my fun name would not
invest what / have already said, or what
I may now say. with any additional au-
thority or weight, but would more pro-
badly, be regarded by some as bid Tor
newspaper notoriety. For these reasons
L prefer not TO sign my name i'm full
| would also ike TO say that l have not
failed to read carefully. Mr. Parham's
former letter do not claim to possess
an extraordinary amount Of common
sense. but ] do claim 10 have too much
discretion to criticise an article, on an
important subject. by minister or the
gospel. without having read It carefully.
Nor DO think that have failed 20 pro-
perlv understand Mr.. Parham's position.
as defined I'm his first letter
7 understood from this letter that ne
believed that heathens could he saved
without exercising faith in Christ. and
without accepting Him as their personal
Saviour.
AIr. Parham roiterates this statement
OF his belief IN his second letter, but
think he fails 10 offer sufficient proof 10
sustain him I'm his position. He also fails
10 explain the several passages Of Scrip
ture which I asked him 20 interpret.
Mr.. Parham says in his second letter
that THE Cross benefits the heathens just
as Il does infants, who are all saved by
Christ at the earliest stage" etc.
7 think that this comparison Is inapt
for the reason that the condition Of UNI
conscious infants are entirely unlike those
Of hoathens who have arrived n the age
Of accountability. i believe that all pco-
pie since the fall Of Adam, have been
born with sinful natures or dispositions
These natures or dispositions do not
however. manifest themselves until the
ace of responsibility has been reached
then they develop into sinful acts and
sinful lives. from which we can be cleans
al only by q personal acceptance Of
Christ atOnemcnt
Infants have not reached that period
OF life where these sinful dispositions de-
velop into sinful lives. while the adult
heathens have. Therefore the cOndi-
tons Of the two classes are entirely un-
like the latter being required by Gods
Word 70 accept Christ as their personal
Saviour. while the former are not re-
quired 10 do so.
Paul tells us that "the carnal mind IS
at enmity with God. and that 10 he
carnaly minded is death"
VIII Mr. Parham contend that heathens
are not carnally minded? Surely no one
can rightly claim that they arc spiritual
" minded. by nature. We are compelled
" minded they arc spiritually dead
Mr.. Parham quotes, or rather mis-
quotes Romans 2: II. to sustain him In
bis position. If he well reread the verse
he will find that Il does not say that
those heathens who live up TO the light
Of the natural law VIII be saved" as he
quotes st. but that IL says: For when
the Gentiles which have not the law do
by nature, the things contained in the
law, these having not the law are a law
unto themselves" Able commentaries
interpret this verse 10 mean that n tho
Gentiles who had not the law, did by
nature the things contained in the law.
that IS II they violated the law, and COM
mitted murder for instance that their
own consciences would condemn them
and I'm that way be as a law against
them. so that In the final day Of accounts
they could not plead ignorance as an
excuse for their sins.
This IS a very different construction
from the one which Mr. Parham places
upon this verse. 1t certainly seems very
plain 70 me that Paul never intended that
this verse should be construed TO mean
what Mr. Parham says IL means. for in
the same Eplste 10 the Romans, and only
n few verses later. Paul says, by the
deeds Of the law shall no flesh be iusti-
Galatians he says. "for as many as are
unaer the works Of the law are under
the curse. That no man IS justified -
the law in the sight Of God. IL is evident:
for the Just shall live by faith" There
are several other passages which pro-
claim the same doctrine Of salvation by
and through Christ alone. and not by
deeds OF the law. Then too. let II be
remembered that Paul was speaking Of
the o d Mosaic law Ohis Mr.. Parham adj
mits) and that what he said has no sDe-
cial be5ung on the conditions Of the
heather world OF to-day because we care
not now under the law but under grace"
Mr.. Parham says that my references
to Paul and Nicodemus. and 20 the
Scribes and Pharisees. "are not 10 the
point" but I respectfully insist that they
are pertinent. These references show us
that those people could not. under the
law dispensation. with a full knowledge
OF. a., obedience 10, the requirements OF
the od Mosaic law, be saved without
accepting Christ as their personal Saw
icm. How then can IL be possible for
'he heather world, with a less perfect
knowledge and obedience. TO be saved by
the law which was insufficient for those
who thoroughly understood and kept it2
Mr.. Parham's contention does not
therefore, seem 10 me to be logical, TO
say nothing Of its lack OF Scriptural en-
dorsation and yerihcation.
Again Mr.. Parham says: THAT in order
for the people Of England and America
themselves to DO saved. they must send
the gospel TO their heather neighbors."
do not think that the Bible teaches
that our salvation is conditional upon
our sending the gospel 10 the heathens.
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