New-York tribune., 1900-04-16
INCUBUS, SAYS PARKHURST
DECLARES THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MUST HAVE NEW CREED.
AMENDING THE WESTMINSTER CoNFEs-
SION OF FAITH WOULD NOT DO; IT
MUST BE BORN AGAIN.


The Madison Square Presbyterian Church was
filled TO the at the II O'Clock service yester
day morning. The interior of the church was
decorated with palms and Easter lilies. The
Rev. Dr. Charles H Parkhurst in his sermon,
vigorously attacked the Westminster Confession
of Faith He said in part:
is surprising that the Presbyterian Church is able
to do much as it is doing with such an incubus
present Confession. In the first place the thing
needed Is not a system OF theoogy foT thaI ts
ingredients of Jesus Christ's message TO the world
/ Could Eet along with Confession OF Faith con-
tanning but the little that Jesus said when He was
trying to make a Christian OF Nieodernus: Cod so
loved the world that he gave hs only begotten son
that WhosoeVer beHeveth IN MIN should not perish
trine OF Gods unlimited love human guilt, the
t - .tiii!o ~, 'aIiSS .IaS -rfo,15
enough for any elder, simple enough for any four
At any rate we want a new creed. Amending
this one win not meet the necessities OF the case.
Better give ii dignfied place In the museum for
for what it is not It is like human nature in this
respect that mendng e. It - VIII hl, not T make II whoe
And then. once more. If there were among US the
guarantees that everything in ali this great Chris
tian matter pivots on the absolute and uncondi-
everything that states or even suggests anything
like partial or an arbitrary love on COG part.
rest in order TO show what He could do and how
Just He
Now. that is IN book the Presbyterian Confess
sion Of Faith. in the third chapter. II we are
thorough Presbyterians and believe what our doc
trinal prospectus adverttses believing, we be-
leve 1t probable that some of the children in your
homes, little children. perhaps the babe OF your
bosom. is damned already damned, damned before
II born damned from everlasting 20 everlast-
ing. and then you invited TO come into church
and Our Father Why, who
should become a father for the sake of the Joy and
glory he would use in burning and racking MS
offspring, deliberately creating a child with
view TO the agony into which he was going 70
torture Il, would be chased from the earth as a
TO say that it is only in the book" and that
nobody breaches It. II is true that nobody preacnes
II, and equally true. I doubt not. that nobody be-
Heves II. nevertheless il is printed the flag be-
meath which the Presbyterian army Is marching,
and ii hurts us denomination. Men are stay
ing out because II is there, and men are going out
because II is there
II is damage every communion and 10 the
whole Church OF Christ that phrases such as
in the third chapter Of Confession allowed
10 stand even the nominal expression of what
Presbytertans believe; they permanent
insult the Cross of Christ. which stands
declaration of Gods illimitable love for all His
children, an invitation written in the Lords own
bood-'Who hosoever will, let him take the water OF
life freely
We pray that the time may be hastened when
this libel the infinite grace of God shall be
erased from records. when shall all become
enamOured of the spirit of Jesus be willing
to break with human tradition. that COnfessing the
helpless corruption of own nature shall
nevertheless consent TO II that where sin abound
ed grace did much more abound"