The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-25
REVISED CONFESSION.
Rev. DIR. MintOn Explains the New
Presbyterian Creed.
From the New York World.

Presbyterian Creed.
From the New York World.
This is the creed revision adopted by
the Presbyterian General Assembly. as
summarized and explained by the Rev.
DR.. Henry c. Minton, Chairman of the
Revision Committee:
THE committee was asked to pass
upon points which can be broadly d.
vided into guarded statements in the
Confession OF 'unwarranted differences
drawn from parts of the Confession
not easily understood These points
are predestination, elect infants. good
works of unregenerate men, and the
Pope.
I'VE have the opportunity now to
disClaim damaging differences with
which the Church has been persistent
~ though maliciOusly, charged. our
critics have rolled 1t as a sweet morsel
under their tongues that Presbyterians
believe in infant damnation. We deny
this unwarranted inference by a Mega
tive disclaimer and a positive state
ment that we do not believe that any
infants are damned and we Go believe
that all infants are regenerated.
I'VE have been charged with fata-
ism. In the declaratory statement we
say that no man is condemned except
on the ground of his sin
THE Confession says the good works
of unregenerate men are sinful and
displeasing to God This was the most
difficult problem for the committee to
consider. We believed it was the truth.
hut stated unguardedly We are
taught. though it is sinful to do them,
1t is more sinful not to. The committee
has revised this subject by a doctrinal
statement.
What may be termed incidental ex-
crescences on our creed have been re-
moved or remedied. 1 have no fear
that the Westminster Confession will
clumble to pieces because we omit that
little historic reference to the oath or
because We politely bow the Pope out
of it.
There are those who hesitate to enter
on the road where they fear this re-
vision will lead. This is as far as it
will go. If there are those who will go
further / give notice that l part COM
pany with them right here"
The more important portions of the
new version, as compared with the one
row in use, are as follows:
CFrom the West From the Re-
minister Confess vised Creed)
sion.) 1.-THE Lord Jesus
There is no Christ is the only
other head of the head of the
Church but the Church, and the
Lord Jesus Christ. claim of any man
Nor can the Pope to be the vicar
of Rome in anyof Christ and the
sense be headlhead of the
thereof; but is Church is unscrip-
that Anti-Christ, tural, without war
that man of sin, rant in fact, and
ana son of perdi- is a usurpation dis
ton, that exalteth honoring to the
himself in thelLord Jesus Christ"
Church against "Of Election
Christ and all that We believe that
is called God" God from the be-
BY the decree ginning, in His own
of God, for the good pleasure,
manifestation of gave to His Son a
His glory, some people, an innum-
men and angels cradle multitude,
are predestinated chosen in Christ
unto everlasting unto holiness, SER
life, and othersvice and salvation;
foreordained towe believe that all
everlasting deathiwho come to years
These angels and of discretion can
men, thus predes- receive this saliva
tinated and foreor- ton only through
dained, are parti- faith and repen-
cularly and un-ltance."
changeably design 1--WE believe that
ed. ThelGod requires Of
rest OF mankind every man to do
God was pleased Justly. to love
TO pass by, mercy and to walk
and to ordain them humbly with his
to dishonor and God: and that only
wrath through this har-
works done bylmony with the will
unregenerate men, of God shall be full
although for thelfilled that brother
matter of themhood of man where
they may be thingsin the Kingdom of
which God com God is TO be made
mands. and of manifest"
good use both to
themselves and
others, yet
are sinful and can
not please God, or
make a man meet
to receive grace
from Cod
The new version also declares of
the Bible that it is the faithful re-
cord of Gods gracious revelations"
and 'the only infallible rule of faith
ard life" while on the subject of
eternal punishment, at the last judg
ment. when, according to the West
minister Confession, the wicked 8
shall be cast into eternal torments,
and be punished with everlasting des-
tructlon from the presence or the
Lord" the new creed says. simply. the
wicked shall receive the eternal award
of their sins"
The new creed is not as yet the
doctrine of the Presbyterian Church,
explains the Philadelphia Ledger. 1t
must be passed upon, for ratification
or rejection, by the various Presby-
teries, and doubtless, it will receive
much opposition in some of them; but
that it is practically certain of final
adoption and Incorporation into the
law of the Church would seem clear
from the vote of the General Assembly.
That body represents the local Pres
byteries, and they represent the MEM
bership; consequently, the action of
the General Assembly is the action of
the Church, and, While that action
might be repudiated by the Presbyter-
les in cases where there was great diff
ference of opinion, there seems to be
no chance of that when opinion is so
clearly on one side as is indicated by
the vote. Practically it may be said
that the Presbyterian Church has
now a new creed.
MORE MILLS FOR CAROLINA