The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-09

the recognized works of law. In
these, there is a settled doctrine of
ambiguity, the principles of which
are common to all documentary IN
struments. These fundamental prin-
clples are as applicable to this as to
any other discussion of ambiguity.
Accepting substantially the defini-
tons just given, ambiguity is regard
ed as of two kinds:
The first is that which arises from
the words of an instrument as looked
at in themselves, and before they are
attempted to be applied to the object
or the subject which they describe
This is called intrinsic, or patent, am
biguity. The second is that which
arises, mot upon the words as looked
at in themselves, but upon those
words when applied to the object or
the subject which they describe.
american and English Encyclopaedia
of Law
The first arises upon the phrase
ology; the second, from something
extrinsic referred to but not fully
expressed"-o not described in such
way as to prevent it from being con-
founded with some other exterior OBJ
ject.
Is the proposition: ''Elect infants,
dying in infancy, arc regenerated and
saved by Christ through the Spirit:
| CD a proposition of patent ambigui-
ty? This | deny.
". DIRECT ARGUMENT.
1. The words are all of settled and
definite meaning. That one meaning
| lies in the chapter, and, as one, is Sus-
| tanned throughout the chapter and
the book. The chapters opening SEN
| tence shows that the word Elect
means ''predestinated unto life The
word 'infants' is plainly defined in
| the immediate context as meaning
those too young to be approachable
through the outward call of the Cos
pei. The word ''regenerated' is, in
sense, technical, but of absolutely
clear and settled significance. There
| is not an ambiguous Word-a word
whose meaning the Confession itself
does not settle-in the whole PROPOSE
! ton.
2. The phrases are unambigu-
Gus. ELECT infants are infants pre-
; destinated unto life" Charge the
phrase with thousand other things,
| if you will: it's meaning is on it's
| face: and the face is not in any
|
something different: or something
more, or less: but whatever you may
think of its reserve and caution, you
cannot deny that it says plainly what
it does say. And if this is true, it
matters not one scintilla what lam
ouage in the Westminster Assembly
was proposed antecedently or subse-
quently. No man of any time, no man
in all time, can lay upon the Confess
sion the weight of one feather more
than it has laid upon itself.
3. These phrases are unambiguous
| in their inter-relations, when form
| ing clauses. Elect infants, dy-
ing in infancy''-or, using the
interchangeable language in the same
chapter, "Infants predestinated unto
| life, dying in infancy'-is clause
so definite and clear and single that
the man who will try to find even
SYNONYMOUS language for it will be
! puzzled; and he who will offer to
show any positive description that it
may be mistaken for, may be detied.
Professor Warfield, of all his strong
sayings, never said anything stronger
in truth than this: Il think we may
characterize the Interpretation of
Chapter Y, Section which finds q
body of non-elect infants dying in in
fancy implied in IFS statements, as
one of the most astonishing pieces of
misrepresentation in Literary Histo-
ry."
4. The whole proposition is I'M
ambiguous. Its distinctive aftirma-
! ton rings out in clarion plainness:
| browns the dissonance of contempt
rary error; and is the first of any and
| All oh, III H~l 10 fns.th
the music of infant salvation-free
from the discord of ceremonial re-
strictions and from the false notes of
ghostly negations and priyations in
!, the world to come.
The proposition stands in a chapter
which expounds itself so plainly that
it positively precludcs any construc-
ton but self-construction.
This chapters leading purpose IS
unmistakable and is pursued from be-
ginning to end. This purpose is, to
/ tell how all chose whom God hath
predestinated unto life''-the elect
are to be saved, capables and inca
! pables.
The former are effectually called by
/ Gods word and Spirit: are drawn to
Christ irresistibly; but they come
I freely, answering the call and en-
! bracing the grace offered and convey
! ed in it, as the Spirit enables. The
/ latter, the incapables, ELECT infants,
dying in infancy" and call other elect
persons who are incapable of being
outwardly called by the ministry of
the word" ''are regenerated and say
ed by Christ through the Spirit the
mode of whose mysterious working is
left just where He has put tin the
inscrutable Holy of holies- with Him
self, in hidden glory, behind the veil.
Out of all surrounding darkness,
leaps in seraphic beauty, a sentences
that means salvation, clear as the
day and lovely as Heaven: Elect in
fants, dying in infancy, are regener-
ated and saved.
5. 1t would be easy to show that
this self-interpreting power both OF
the proposition and of th- chapter in
which it is environed is in the plain
est and strictest harmony with the
whole Confessions system. But this
will not be denied by any intelligent
| student.
! (2). There remains the question: is
the proposition vulnerable as one of