The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-21
TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

the instrument that is most easily welded. If our
Lord was tempted to avoid the path of suffering
which led through Gethsemane up to Calvary, we
need not suppose that the Arch enemy not use
like temptation upon His followers. This is a
partial explanation of all the scriptural not
to say unscriptural methods much in evidence
to-da. to attract the crowds and fill the church
1t is so much easier to do it that way.
When therefore, Arminiansm and Calvinism
nave combined and are working side by side, very
probably In the same church, what minister is go
ing to lay stress the less popular Calvinistic
oogrnas when Arminianism will do well and re-
quire less thought and less labor. Suppose a case
that is certainly to be of frequent occurrence.
minister OF strong Calvinfstic faith and. training
becomes pastor of a united church A part of his
congregation have been trained like himself They
love to feed on the strong the Five Points
and to nourish brawny faith with the wholesome
food of the Eternal Covenant. The other part and
the larger in point of numbers, have been brought
up on bouon made of theological scraps highly
seasoned and full of snap What is this preacher
to do? If he breaches Calvinism he estranges the
larger part of his congregation. If he breaches
Armnanlsm, he will send leanness into souls of
his friends of like faith and training It would
take no seer to predict that nine out of ten minis
tiers will make sort of compromise and that the
tenth will preach the truth, get himself into trouble
and bring dissension into his flock. wonder If
these good and well-meaning brethren have ever
stopped to consider the spectacle of a strong
minded, wel-indoctrinated old Presbyterian elder
who was brought up the Shorter Catechisno and
KNOWS almost as much theology the average
theologian, compelled to sit under such sermons as
1t was the writer's lot to hear while worshippine
as visitor in a neighboring church. The preacher
was D. D., and occupied one of the most rrorni
nent pulpits of his denomination in the State in
"hlch ne lived In the course of his remarks he
SAID; we believe in election, but we believe the
man elects himself. We believe in the preserver
ance of the saints, but believe that man has
TO keep everastingly at it, every day and every
hour ana every minute. For the moment he lets
up Oh MS perseverance he is in danger an eter-
nal hell" OF course he could have gone on through
all the Five Points, throwing floods of light IN
them and demonstrating how near he was to tbe
creed of the Reformed Churches, but at that point
he forebore.
1t is an undsputed fact that Calvnism has never
peen popular creed. 1t is essentially a thinkers
creed 1t is well-known fact that some of the
greatest opponents of 1T were repealed by the first
casual acquaintance with it's tenets Like Thomas
they were ready to say II will not believe" until
they were led step by step into the deep but not
uncomforting mystery.
Now, place such creed as yoke-fellovv with one
NOT thus handicapped; one that arouses no antag-
onism in the ordinary mind; one that apneaIs to
our instructive love of self power and which gives
man. as it is popularity preached large share in
MS own redemption, and which the two Will sink
and which will swim? The conclusion apnears
inevitable that Calvnism will by this conobinatton
become gradually obsolete. A great thinker and
writer mas said, the truth is apt to slip away
from our grasp as soon we disallow the neces-
sary terms by which alone IT can be defined and
without which it no longer be reAectivoIy
considered" The only way to preserve truth is TO
keep 1t clearly before the mind and continually TO
prune 1t of all unnecessary excrescences who is
Tash enough to suppose that such thing is possible
by a union of Arminian and Calvinistic bodies9
3. Furthermore, we believe that Ca1vinisro is e.,
periled by these movements because a necessary
preLInary is to eradicate doctrinal differences
Ihls has been done by creed revision and al
though learned minds have astutely argued with
uanscendant ability that the Revision is eoua1Iv
as Calvinstic the svrnhols of Tho r.1on.Ai.el