The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-24
ML TIIAT Is NEEDED.

Rnt al that is needed in such cases j., N
explanatory statement ot our church doctrine on
these subjects, and every intelligent pastor ought
10 hc able 10 give that explanation. our con
fcSslon SAYS that the doctrine of prcdcsi ion
i "a high mystery and ''iS To he handled with
special prudence and care" There arc hidden
mysteries in the Bible, and the church believes
those hidden mysteries As strongly rs il believes
the things that are clearly revealed. and that
como within the range of our Christian expert
cnce Hence the fact that some doctrine, Of
scripture embodied in our confession arc beyond
ON comprehension Is M reason II one hc othpl
wSo Oudlhed he should refuse h. hr an
Office bearer in the church.
The truth is, however, that far loss fault
would he found With our confession il mult mud
,rs would read and study it. more carefully. 10
make a new creed Tor the benefit of those who
have neither read or studied the old one, would
Swoi, be- unwisc and incNpcdient
What, then should We do? DO nothing say
some Wrl that would exactly suit me. The
old Confession OF Faith is good enough for ne.
! was brought up on IT, as was my father before
mo lie has bcCn a ruling elder for nearly soy.
cnty wears, aud now at the age Of ~, he has
no wish Ia see ttc confession revised, nor doc,
hc wish to have il changed in the slightest de
| gree And certainly have no fault to find with
| il. But "all things in scripture are not alike
plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto ll 90
Aud the sam" is true Of our confession,
LANGUAGE Il SCRIPTURAL
believe the LANGUAGE Of tho third chapter
| is s,iptural and Especially precise" Instead
| uf being narrow, il Is quito comprehensive II
| i, broad enough ia my judgment both supra,
! lapsarians' and "auhlapsarians," "WotCrituu,
lists" and "lnti-m 'rcritionists" But while
| believe this, others differ from me, and a, a
! tolerant Christian, I ought to respect thcit
| feelings. Therefore, | am in favor Of an "rN,
| planatory statement" ! am in favor ot il no
cause, II will preserve the old confession in 1t,
| integrity, while At the same time il will re-
| hcyC the minds Of those OF our own brethren
| who are disturbed; and because il will tell IN,
! critics of our creed precisely what our church
believes and teaches, touching doctrines that
| have been greatly misunderstood and grossly
| mi,reprscutcd.
| II is no new thing to come in contact viii
| those who put into certain passages of Scripture
a meaning which scripture, itself, distinctly dis
| Npws. They take isolated passages aud inter
prct them without paying any attention to thC
! contest. They DO not compare scripture viii
| scripture Their cNege,is is founded on then
own ,iscG,ss, and therefore, fl Is absurd. They
draw out only what they themselves have put in
| They read into isolated passages of the comics
| sion meaning, that, taken as whole, II utter
| ly ropudytos. And chen, of COURSE, they ar,
| Mortified, dnl tcinr howihcd they Try 10 aston
ish and frightcn the world, by holding up &,
public view their own peculiar and nllookinl
| offspring. These are the friends who tell us tha
whCn the Westminster divines undertook TO de
ne God, they utterly ignored His love.