The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
OPPOSED TO 4 REVISI0H
Rev. DR.. Luecock stapds by the
Westminster Confession.
Regards II ms a Great Historical
DOcument-In Favor, However, of
sitiOn ON Essential DOctrinal
Points-Irenic Spirit of the Age.

The sermon on 1.-THE Indispensable
Creed at the Metropolitan Presbyterian
| Rev. George Luccock, was an argument in
favor of restatement of the Presbyterian
position on essential doctrinal points.
DR.. Luccock was opposed to a revision
Of the Westminster Confession. 1t is. he
declared, great historic document which
| should be left unaltered. But the spirit
| of the age calls for a shorter, Irenic creed,
to which all Presbyterians could give ap-
proval. DR.. Luccock has no sympathy
| with the Hills school. which just now is
causing a commotion in the Calvinistic
theology. He referred scathingly to the
men who slap the face of their spiritual
MOTHER and he has little respect for the
| work they are doing to bring about a new
| creed. The Church, he declared, will have
| about the same regard for them as Chicago
has for the COW which by kicking over a
! lamp started the fire that burned the old
city and gave place to the new and great
| metropolis.
| His text was Hebrews kills: He that
| cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that
| seek after him" I'VE have no alternative
| says DR.. Lucc0ck. I'm order to come to
| God we must believe-a simple, ultimate
must To come to God for worship, for
fellowship, for help in the crisis of life
and in the final issues Of life, this creed is
Indispensable.
There is much talk nowadays about
creeds. We would avoid extreme views.
While entirely respecting those who hold
the opinion. yet for ourselves, we do not
feel satisfied with the statement that the
Bible alone is a creed. The Bible is the
source of facts underlying creeds. do
not say that the Bible is my creed any
more than / say that the earth is my
geology. Just as the earth is the final ap-
peal regarding geological questions, so the
Bible Is the ultimate basis of faith.
Then there are those who would have
an ecumenical creed. To this end we are
all working and praying, but We are not
yet ready for 1t. We do not all yet see
alike, and it is needless to pretend that
we do. But we have so far progressed as
to have reached position of mutual de-
nominational respect. and even affection.
So, esteeming each other in love, our pres
ent duty appears to be for each denomina-
ton. while honoring its sister denomina
tions, to continue its own, providentiai
work. re
THE Calvinistic idea hfld not only to
be true, but also to be Important in |
sense and degree such as gGome only by |
denominational emphasis. Just. as / con- |
ceive. at the other side OF theological opin- |
ion that Arminian emphasis on free will |
and individual responsibility is important. |
Another extreme view is, undue exaltation |
of ancient symbols; they were made by |
men uninspired, and these Jmen were in |
fiuenced by their environment which was |
different from ours. 1t seems to me, |
therefore, the restatement, OF; cur doctrines |
is desirable, in order to remove misunder-
standings and misrepresentation. The
task should be undertaken eins spite of fool
ish and offensive statemeptsyof some who
attack the venerable symbols. / am rot |
troubled by the fear that the men who
made these attacks wiilsget the credit for
the restatement of our creed. stThey have
started, it is true, the agitation, and for
that they entitled to and should Lave
the same kind OF credit which Chicago
after its great fire, and the rebuilt struc-
lures of brick and stone in the burnt dis
trict, gave to the COW that started the FIRE |
by kicking over a kerosene lamp. II we
go quietly about our plain duty and under
God accomplish our end. We can afford to
ask divine forgiveness for the men who
publicly and wantonly slap the face of
their spiritual mother.
Another reason for restatement is the
difficulty OF revision. We tried it orr
and failed. second trial is hardly worth
while, and indeed, on the whole seems
| never have any difficulty
even with chapter 3 touching foreordina-
ton in its relation to the unsayed, or
chapter 10 touching elect infants, when
reading it myself. My difficulty comes
only when l try to explain these state
ments to some one who has never before
read them. The trouble is that the ex-
PLANTATION, even II 1t takes hold Temperate
ly, does not stick, while the language of
the Confession does. Since. then, the Con-
fession does not give difficulty to one who |
reads it in the light of history, it is better |
to leave what is almost universally con- |
ceded to be one of the greatest historic | :
creeds of Christendom In Its integrity. AS
a historical document, it will always be of |
easy and satisfactory explanation to one |
who accepts the Calvinistic point OF view.
And SO my judgment is that it is better |
not to mar by any attempt to make over
this great historic creed.
Another reason for restatement, rather
than revision, is the spirit of the age.
which is one Of hurry and missionary zeal, |
and is conspicuously Irenic. An adopted i
confession OF faith. 1t would therefore
seem, should be brief and Irenic in char /
acter. The organizing principle Of re-
statement will not differ from that OF the
present Westminster standards, and the
principle is God, sovereign II
That is to say, the Calvinistjc idea, which
the system of doctrine in the
Confession of Faith is the unweakened
conviction of Presbyterian readers Of the
Bible. Now. In the incidental discussion /
If this current movement for creed re- I
vision i would not have any hearer miss =
he practical benefit OF a creed organized
IN the principle Of the divine sovereignty.
i reckons God factor in everyday prob
ems God is. No one going to explore ?
Arctic regions would in his preparations 1
unit provision against cold. The cold is.
4 We were to see one embarking for v
lorthern exploration careless Of cold we s
would ask with n sort Of awe. What shall $
I profit a man II he reach, the pole and t
ose his life? How is It that We are in t
Iifferent, as though listening to plati-
ude under the deeper probing of the Son n
# God. What shall it profit man II he
.ain the whole world and lose himself?' .
Every now and again we are shocked
nd outraged at heart to hear of parent
vho Under the delusion OF Christian Sci
nee, watches the fevered face and listens
O the moaning cry of his child and clings |