Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-07
THE REVISED CREED.

|
The Presbyterian creed, as now
adopted by the general assembly, con-
tains some notifications Of general In
terest The revision dealt principally
with the articles relating 10 fore.ordln-
alton. infant damnation and the posi-
ton claimed By the head Of the Roman
| church.
The declaration regarding fore-ordln-
alton now reads
Concerning those who are saved In
Christ. the doctrine Of Gods eternal de-
cree is held In harmony with the doc
| trinc OF his love 10 all mankind, his
| gift Of his Son 10 be the Precipitation
| for the sins OF the whole world and his
| readiness to bestow his saving grace on
| all who seek Il. That concerning
| those who perish, the doctrine Of Gods
| eternal decree Ia held In harmony with
the doctrine that God desires not the
| death Of any sinner but has provided
| I'm Christ salvation sutilArnt for all,
adapted to all and freely offered In the
Gospel to all; that men are fully res
ponsble for their treatment of Gods
gracious offer, that decree hinders no
man from accepting that offer; and
that no man Is condemned except on
the ground of his sim"
The statement regarding the fate of
those dying in infancy Isl
"With reference TO chapter X. section
.. OF the Confession Of Faith that Il Ia
not 10 be regarded as teaching that any
who die In Infancy are lost. We believe
that all dying IN infancy are Included
IN the election OF grace and are regen-
Grated and saved BY Christ through the
Spirit who works when and where and
how he pleases"
This admits. Il win be observed the
possibility Of salvation after death, as
well as before death; otherwise the re-
generating influence Of the Spirit would
be limited both as TO time, place and
manner,
The passage in the Westminster
Confession referring TO the pope as
'Antichrist, that man Of sin, Is now
made to read
"rhe Lord Jesus Christ Is the only
head OF the church, and the claim Of
any man 10 be the vicar OF Christ and
the head OF the church Is unscriptural,
without warrant IN fact and Is a usur-
patton dlshonorlng TO the Lord Jesus
Christ"
In the so-called "brlef statement"
there is an article which Ia deemed inn
portant as touching on the discussion
on biblical criticism. It declares:
1--WE believe that God Is revealed In
nature. In history, and In the heart
of man; that He has made gracious
and clearer revelations OF Himself TO
men OF God who spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit; aud that
Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh Is
the brightness OF the Fathers glory
and the express image OF His person.
We gratefully receive the Holy Scrip
lures, given By inspiration, to be the
faithful record Of Gods gracious reve-
lations and the sure witness to Christ,
as the Word OF God, the only infallble
rule of faith and life
Another declaration defines the "sn
Of man" This Is remarkable because
II eliminates any mention Of Adam as
our first progenitor. It reads:
I'VE believe hat our FIRST parents, be-
ing tempted, chose evil, and so fell
away from God and came under the
power OF sin, the penalty OF which Is
eternal death; and we confess that, by
reason OF this disobedence, we and all
men are born with a sinful nature.
that we have broken Gods law. and
that no man can be saved but by
His grace"
II viii be noted that several channels
Of revelation are here acknowledged. |
history, and the heart OF !
man. The olearest revelations given,
Il Is said. are those through the heart |
Of man. Now, what bearing has this
on the question Of continuous reyela-
ilon7 II God ever revealed Himself |
through nature and history. revelation |
throurh these channels must flow as |
long as nature lasts and history adds
line TO line, chapter 10 chapter Must
We conclude that the third and most
Important channel was closed centuries
ago, never more 10 be opened up2 Is
the heart OF man forever made insensi.
BILE 10 the gracious and clearer reyela.
lions" that at times. anciently. came
through the operations OF the Holy
Spirit? We think not. The Bible
nay be a faithful record OF revelations
given in the past. but the record does
rot end the How OF revelation which
{ records. Recorded history does not
ermlnate the revelation OF God
through the historical channel Why
Mould the rule be different with re.
,ard 10 the most important medium.
hat through which "the clearer reye.
alton" comes TO man?
More revision is needed The Pres.
'yterians OF this country have under.
AIKEN 10 reconcile the old Calyinlsm
With modern ideas and notions, They