The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-16
DISCUSSES wEsTMINsTER CREED.
Rev. 4. r. Hutchinsou's Sermon NJ
First Presbyterian Church.

The general assembly of the Presbyter-
Ian church at It's late meeting In -.
Louis inaugurated a movement looking TO
some change in the creed Of the church.
This movement suggested the tonic for
Rev. A. l., Hutchinson. Of the First Pres
byterian church. yesterday morning He
took as texts John Az and 6:se. I'VE
know what we worship" and This is the
work OF God. that We believe on Him
whom He hath sent"
After giving an exposition OF the texts
as expressing definiteness in religious he
lief. based on creed form. he discussed
the growth of creeds as derived from the
New Testament. The speaker said In
part:
"A creed proper implies confession Of
faith in a person or doctrine. The
Apostles were doubtless written TO direct
the faith of the church; to correct errors
~ doctrine, and to settle controversies.
The creeds OF Christendom mark the cal-
limitations OF controversial epochs in the
church.
ct will be noticed that each successive
creed becomes more elaborate and phil
osophc. The Apostles creed. the most an
Client. contains 100 words. The Westmn-
ster confession. the last OF the historic
creeds. contains Hoo words. ! hold that
creed IL mans answer 10 Gods word
and IL he can improve this answer lie
ought TO do it. A child's first answers
70 the mysteries Of NE are imnerfeot AMI
will be improved. so Gods children ought
to improve their answers to the myster-
les OF spiritual questions
II have no fear for the movement IN
our tHNtNn TftatlNR 10 our NRneTAlf A
confession. II is conceded 10 be the most
comprehensive and logical statement ~
doctrine extant. But | am confident we
have In our ministry today men equal IL
not superior, in learning and spiritual dis
cernment. TO the divtnes who sat I'm
Jerusalem chamber during the long uarla-
ment. They were scarcely a century re-
moved from the dark ages. when the Riha
was chained book when men were
prohibited from original inquiry. AMI whom
the church was smarting and emblttered
under he lash Of uoittical tyranny and
Ramish higoiry. They search the scrip
ture 20 collect arguments against Dopes
and kings. against sychophanta IN the
state and eemREoEnes in the church
They wanted ti~tice for the oppressed and
Judgment for the onpressnrS. Out - sue n
2 soil grew the Westminster confession
No wonder II magnihes the divine SOW
ereigntv and miminiges the human vii
and sets the plan Of salvation To "a
mathematical formula.
Pat this system 81 doctrine broke Tho
power ~ tvrapts. lighted tho fires ~ civil
and religious liberty. and laid the folndl-
tiOus Tor THIS. the greatest republic uf tho
res Shall we abandon or ie@f r0v this
mighty instrument Of good with such
history For ore, 7 say mo- Let no iror-
oolsstic hand ~ lntd uuon this nonp.
meut 20 one ~ the chief turning rsbfrfa
IN the modern worlds hlsforv 7, g. hall
lowed hr most sacred associations hantiz-
% nv she blood % heroes rarfufrat h,-
" halo ~ glory throughout Sc two pri
q half centuries. It's spirit has been tho
slogan 81 iiheriv throughout the Arg'--
SaNon world II gipWs With the WrN.
under witch Paul wrote. n thrpha ylth
the Convictions ~ Augustine. n ~lng-
with Tire challenges ~ calvin ans Enax
aui Arasts tNe AUTHORITY ~ the Rreafoaf
parliament known % history. let 'he ga
concise sun. mary ~ those thfnrE that ore
most surely believed among uH