The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-23
STANDS BY THE CONFESSION.
rev. w. a. NIsDET's DEFENSE OF
PRESBYTERIANISM.

Testaments and Those who ChnI-
Icnge 1t, Challenge the word OF
God. He says-No Infants in He'll
According To Presbyterian Belief.
Rev. Mr.. Nisbefs Warm Reply to
the Critics of the Doctrines of His
Church.
Rev. w. A. Nisbet. pastor of the Second
| Presbyterian Church, preached yesterday
morning at the Lawton Memorial upon
the Confession of Faith of the Presby-
terians." The sermon was an exposition
of the belief of the denomination, and was
well received by those who heard it. Mr..
Nsbet spoke as follows:
There is just now quite a stir
in the religious world on the
subject of creeds. This has been
occasioned largely by the recent ut
terances and the acts of two or three
erratic men. The major part of the criti-
cisms on creeds has been hurled at the
Westminster Confession of Faith. which
Is known to contain the articles of faith
held by the Presbyterian denomination
| Ordinarily, l take no notice of statemen It s
of this character, from the columns of the
newspapers or from the lips of lovers OF
sensation. and 1 do not do so now because
! Of any fear l hold for the truth but as
we are a part of the great historic Pres
| bytertan denomination, and as l have dis
| covered that some Presbyterian minds are
| anxious to know more of the reasons why
so much is being said on this subject, I
| deemed 1t pro er 10 give some conside alton
! II this morning The sfarpalD
| comes from the Latin word "credo," 10 be-
! lieve. A creed then IS a summary Of doc
| trineS believed by one or more persons
! Going directly to the subject, let us ask:
First. Is the Westminster Confession
of Faith consistent with the plain and
legitimate Interpretation Of the scriptures
of the Old and New Testament? If rot,
then by all means, let ii be changed, re-
formed and transformed until it is. Pres
byterians have always stood solidly and to
the death for what they believed to be the
truth of Gods word. If any doubt this let
them turn TO the pages of history and re ad
for themselvs. And must unhesitatngly
and unreservedly make the assertion that
if IL can be made evident that the doc
trines of the Presbyterian Church can be
shown to be contrary to scripture or in
conflict with the scriptures, Presbyterians
not as isolated individuals, but to a man.
throughout its large communion, will repu-
pudiate these cherished and time
honored doctrines and turn 10
whatever source they believe the truth
may be found But if 1t cannot be shown
| that these doctrines of their fathers are
in conflict with the word of God, If on
| the contrary II is found evident that they
are clearly based upon the plain state
ment of that rnfallible Word, then expect
not the lovers of truth among them to
yield. or desert because of criticisms or
mockery. If you want their answer I'M
der such conditions, you will get 1t by
| consulting the words, the lives, the
| deaths of their fathers of the sixteenth
| century.
Second Let us inquire who prepared
this confession? Were they a few school
boys with prema ture minds, who reasoned
! illogically, and therefore to unsound con-
illusions? On the contrary they
scholarly, mature and consecrated
men The assembly consisted of
1874 minister and 80 laymen, 156 all told.
! They were in solemn assembly searching
! deeply the scriptures almost six years
and met 1853 times while forming the con-
! fession and catechisms. 1t goes without
| saying that those who speak lightly o.
these products do so because they have
! given to the subject but little mature
! thought.
Third. Now let us see If the staten snts
| of the Confession of Faith are upheld by
! the scriptures. heInt HlDNT L0at our
| purpose is not to try to please the ear, or
| The natural desire, but simply to let God $
| word speak, and then see if we change the
| confession. if we shall not also be COM
| PEELED to change Gods word add even por-
tons of il which the iconoclastic high 7r
| critics dared not touch. Let us now take
| up what we suppose is a part of the con-
fession which is so much objected to and
| is so bitterly attacked. Again, 1 empha-
| size our purpose is not to please man or
| fiatter his pride, neither is it to dis our
| age any earnest seeker for the truth. Nor
| is il necessarily to streng then or weaken
| the confession. but to hear the voice OF
! God through His word and then let the
| Confession of Faith stand or fall by this
| infallble test. Let us now take up chap
| ter three of the Confession of Faith. The
| subject of this chapter being, Gods Eter-
nal, DEGREES
Here Mr.. Nisbet paused in his sermon to
read the chapter with the footnotes that
show the scriptural foundations for the
articles it contains. The reading of this
chapter he regarded as necessary in order
| that the subject might be clearly under
| stood by his congrega ton.
| Touching upon the Presbyterian belief as
to infants. Mr. Nisbet said:
1--WE bcSeve that all elect infants dying
In infancy are saved. Not only SO. We
! believe that all infants who die are elect
| by the sovereign grace of God. Conse-
! quently, we most sincerely hold and
preach that all infants dying in infancy
are redeemed and saved through the atom
| ing blood Of Christ. Therefore It Is our
| belief that there Is not one infant In hell
| but that in heaven there are countless
hosts no man can number. For of such is
| the kingdom of heaven.
| Fourth. Now l submit the comparison
! of the statements of the Confession of
Faith with those from Gods own word
and ask in all fairness and honesty are
not the statements OF the confession the
very essence and substance of the Scrip
ture? And | ask only that the answer be
| given in honesty. truth and candor. Now
l have no word of exutation or regret TO
express because of the statements of tho
Confession of Faith, or of Gods word
nor as to the agreement of the one with
the other. but simply say, III God, has
! thus spoken, who art thou, 0 man, that
repliest against God?
Fifth Now IT, as we have found, this
system of doctrine Is founded upon and
upheld by the Scriptures of the Old and
] New HpStau0npfe md w hpltaNn