The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-25
1t Depends on the Char
acter of the Soul.
Foundations for Orthodox
Scheme Repudiated.
Yesterdays Sermon at Westmins-
ter Congregational Church.

forenoon was "Salvation by Character .
lie said: "Broadly speaking two differ
ent views of Salvation divide the Lnris
tian world-tne orthodox and the libsrs
view. stated In the sh ortest possible wa,
the orthodox doctrine Is that ell men arc
born lost. When the babe for the first
tine opens its eyes lost soul looks out
upon lost world. IL death on the
instant snatches 1t away, it passes not to
Heaven, but to sort OF eternal twilight.
1t lives, the mutual intercourse of soul
and world can but postpone the predes-
tined doom.
The horror of the position is evident
tie heart revolts against it.
Into the creeds, therefore, has been in
Iroduceu large and vital modification.
plan OF salvation has been constructed
by which humanity may escape.
Born IN the bondage of corruption: !:
from tho moment of entrance into life.
you begin the descent-which ends in
hell.
fon can not extrcats yourself. No
personal efforts OF your own wilt avail.
All that your can do is worthless, and
even abhorsnt, In the divine eyes.
Unless some aid csu be secured, exter-
nal TO yourself, you ara doomed. But aid
Is at hand Deliverance is near! God mas
been reconciled to you for Christ mas died
for you.
Leaving his Heavenly home He clothed
Himself In flesh and permitted Himself
TO be tempted, prosecuted and put TO
death on the disgraceful cross that God
might DO moved to restore the fallen
human race once more to favor.
10 obtain this favor and SO win saliva
ton, you must accept Christ and have
iaith In His merits and In the effic,cy of
dis stoning sacrifice.
10 this, ell Catholic and many Protes.
tanis would add, you must also receive
the sncraments of the church, baptism
and the eucharist; "by which the supor-
natural gift of Righteousness, lost at the
fall of Adam, is restored"
IL Is not easy to see what faith in
Christs sacrifice can really mean or how
such sacrifice can satisfy the justice of
God. And ii seems impossi BILE to recon- |
Gle the requirement of such sacrifice with |
Gods fatherhood.
Nevertheless, this is in brief. he ordinsrv
evangelical scheme of salvation, Ii rests
you see' on the assumption of mans lost
and ruined nature; from which state God
Inc rather will not receem him, except
through the merits OF the sacrifice OF God
the Sen.
Liberal Christians reject altogether the
scheme OF salvation through the merits
u Jesus Christ. They hold that the foun.
'a'ions OF 1t have tsen sapped by modern
esesrch and have fallen to pieces.
1he foundstions having isappeared the
IMPOSING eoihce erected thereon must
disappear also.
Inc orthodox scheme is constructed
order to deliver the human race from
Is lost and fallen state and bring IL once
1ore into favor with God.
"But how do you KNOW asks tina
bsrai Christian, "thst the human race IA
,se and fallen?'
I'VE see no evidence of IL in the actuaI
ono'tion OF the world. Everyw here we
otices movement of progressi on. an !.
Tort to ad'ance, q struggle to be free
nnering and wrong there Is; but there ia
so much more of virtue, courage. kind :,
'ss. And there could not be much
ore; there could not indeed be apy yir-
e, or courage or Kindness at all were
an really ruined and utterly corrupt
10 the liberal Christian, at least. the !.
esent state of man resem bles nor that
a house In ruin, but rather Of n bopse
process of being built, and as We, but y
IL furnished.
The proof OF the orthodox position IA -
nerally supposed to be the Biblical ac- =
unit of creation In the hook of Genes,s :
There, you vii remember, Adam ia
q 10 have fallen under the curss NJ ~
"a, the consequences Of which have de- n
'nded to the entire race.
LIBERAL Christians deny the truth of this :, ~
ry, and therefore the truth of the doc-
ne which rests upon 1t. pl
need not take mp your time by discuss.
the historical value Of the ctspters in w
Binle containing the account q,
am: for the most distinguished ortbo.
< scholars have them selves frankl, cd. of
tied that, as history, they are of no in
ne. DIR. Lsdd, Coneregs tiopsIi,t Of fei
e; Prof. Fisher Of the same upivcr. Ho
:, Dr. Briggs and Prof Dfummono. the
sbyterians. DIR. lie bert Newton. Epjs. Dc
allan and long list of Others, emf. vi. m
{ scholars might be quoted. 49,,
mong these best able 10 Judge. mn loo
ter to what church they belong. there art
ardly diss s,nting voice. rca
be competent are sgreed that the oren. mes
chapters Of Genesis are a poem. & ma
nd, psrhsps an sllogory, but cer,sialy sS' sSe
history. ~, ."'
'w this story OF the fall of the race ,yr
Adam is the very corner stone on ity
rh rests the whole scheme OF salvation III
ugh the merits OF Christ's sscriace. No,
lis corner stone being removed what and
mes OF the scheme? WI
by IL Of necessity topples over. Th,re WI.
} longer any need OF Il. The ressop s,o-