The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-27

guenot Presbyterians Of France and the
Presbyterians of Ireland and Of Scotland
They were Calvinists in faith and be
lieved In representative church gov
ernment. Bancroft in his history of the
United States says: The Revolution of
1776. so far as it was affected by reli-
gion, was a
PRESBYTERIAN MEASURE.
"'It was the natural outgrowth OF the
principles which the Presbyterians of the
old world had planted In her sons, the
English Puritans, the Scotch Covenant
ers and French Huguenots, the Dutch
Calyinists and the Presbyterians of Ul-
ster.' The churches floating the Presby-
terian banner were the first to protest
against taxation without representation
and the first to declare for Independence;
and Bishop White has left 1t on record
that the Presbyterian ministers, to the
last man, were the earnest advocates and
stalwart defenders of the Revolution and
suffered In consequence the most severely
from the British soldiery. These are
facts in Presbyterian history which no
man can gainsay or deny. And 1T is sus-
ceptible of the fullest proof that if there
is not an unrighteOus alliance of church
and state in this land, 1t is because the
Presbyterians forbade the alliance The
Presbyterians of Virginia fought cour-
ageously against the union of church and
state, and it is TO these struggles in large
measure that we owe the absence of a
state church in the United States The
type of religion fostered by the West
minister symbols whether Puritan, Scotch
Irish, French, Dutch or American Presby-
terianism, is of peculiarly strong stead
fast and reliable character. 1t has pro-
duced men Of courage, of will power and OF
culture; men Of faith, of hope and char
tty. such as have been ornaments in the
civilization of the world. These were the
men who first planted the flag of freedom
in the old land, where monarchs ruled
and these were the men who planted
in the new land. where monarchy
would have ruled. the Stars and
Stripes, on which, when we look we
thank God for the fathers who gave us
the freedom we now enjoy. Men like
Coligny, like William of Orange or Knox
or Melville or Witherspoon, Andrew
Jackson or Abraham Lincoln. Presbyte-
rians all-these are names that will never
die
LIBERALITY AND BREADTH
81 admire the Presbyterian church be-
cause of her liberality and breadth. No
other church has pushed education to the
front. the education which broadens
the minds of men, as has the Presby-
l.
terian church of Scotland held the com
mon schools in her own control and saw
to it that her sons and daughters got q
liberal education, though they might not
be rich in money or laurels. If you find
in any country man who cannot read
or write. you need not ask him the
question Are you Presbyterian?
for Presbyterians secure for their minis
ters and their laymen alike a competent
81,
is very jealous of the Word Of God, she
is very liberal in her dealings with those
who depart from the teachings Of her
standards, and is willing to give the ut
most liberty to men who reverently dis
cuss new phases of doctrine If these are
likely to throw new light on the
Word Of God. The Presbyterian church
holds open communion and invites to the
Lords table all who are members of any
evangelical church Though the confes-
sion of faith must be subscribed by teach
ing and ruling elders, the formula for
the receiving of her members Is very sim
pie. 1t may be couched in one question
Do you believe in sin by the first Adam.
salvation by the second Adam, Christ
and regeneration by the Spirit. and dc
you profess to be a believer in and fol-
lower of the Lord Jesus Christ? Then
come into our communion.
SUBSTANTIALLY OF DOCTRINE.
Il admire the Presbyterian church be-
cause of the substantially of her doc
trine. The Presbyterian system of the
ology has been called Augustinian be-
cause 1t was first fully elaborated by
Augustine In the fifth century; and Cal
whistle. because it's greatest modern ex-
positor was John Calvin in the sixteenth
century. The most complete statement
a these 10 hV ha r
minister assembly of divines, consisting OF
Episcopalians, CongregationaIists and
Presbyterians in the seventeenth century
in Confession of Faith which has be-
come the standard of nearly all English
speaking Presbyterians. In 1643 the Long
Parliament of England called an assem-
bly, of learned divines of England Ire
land, Scotland and Wales to meet in
Westminster abbey to make harmonious
statement of the reformed creed already
in existence. They tried to revise the
thirty-nine articles of the Church of Eng
land, but failed to agree, and then framed
the Confession Of Faith. They were
men of rare ability and devotion to their
work. and spent five years in accomplish
ing It.
The Confession starts out by pinnine
its faith to the Holy Scriptures as the
only final revelation of the whole counsel
Of God, but it is needless to go over the
articles which most of the churches hold
in common. Let me select the teachings
peculiar to Calvinistic theology and Pres
byterianism. These doctrines arrange
themselves in two pairs. In the first pail
there is a declaration of the absolute SOW
ereignty of God and the spiritual help
lessness of man. In the second pair Is
declared the election of the saved and
the free agency of man.
"PreSbyterianiSm sees God at the CEN
ter Of all things and sets Him on the
throne. 1t exalts God supremely as a
sovereign, personal being, the creator of
all things. and upholding all things by
the word of His power. God is a spirit,
infinite, eternal and Interchangeable, in His
being, wisdom, power, holiness. justice,
goodness and truth, and worketh when or
where or how He pleaseth.'
1.-THE Confession declares man to be
helpless in his own salvation or in doing
good works without the help of the Spirit
of God. Behold I was Snapen in inquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Man Is thus brought In humility to God
to seek salvation and help by the indwell-
ing power of the Spirit, through the
atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ
1.-THE Confession sets forth the doctrine
of the election of the saved as 1t Is set
forth in the Word of God. This doctrine
has been much misunderstood, and Pres
byterians have been called fatalists for
believing it. a man who believes in a
personal God cannot be a fatalist.
what is the Presbyterian idea of cleo
ton? Who are the elect? The elect are
they who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For all practical purposes that is a suffi-
cient answer. Give diligence to make
your calling and election sure When a
man has made his calling sure he finds
that his election is sure. When he re-
spends to the call of Christ he realizes
that he is an elect man.
FREE AGENCY OF NAN.
s.,rha free acannxr of r,nar, ic ns. nloa vi ~