The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-05-17

ulate their conclusions into systems
and this resulted in the formulation
of two great systems of theology
Calvinism and Arminianism, under
one or the other of which the Protest
ant Christian world worshiped foi
about two centuries.
The basal principle Of Calvinism Is
Divine Sovereignty, and the main
teaching of that system is that mans
salvation is dependent upon that
alone.
The basal principle of Armif1ianism
is Human Free Agency, and its prin-
ciple teaching is that mans salvation
is within his own power.
In the early part Of the nineteenth
century there was born into the world
born of the Holy Ghost--a third sys-
tenn OF theology. And did it ever oc-
cur to you that whatever is born of
the Holy Ghost is absolutely inde-
structible?
This new system recognized and
embraced the basal facts of both Cal
vinism and Arminianism-D Divine
Sovereignty and Human Free Agency,
and its great central teaching is that
it is by the cooperation OF both the
divine and the human agencies that
mans salvation is brought about.
1t was upon this theory of truth
that the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church was founded, has stood for
ninety-seven years and, as / believe,
will stand until time shall be no more.
Because l know of no better or
clearer statement of the difference
between Cumberland Presbyterianism
and Calvinism on the one hand and
on the other, l here
quote from an article written jointly
by Rev. j. M. Howard and Rev. J. M.
Hubert, and published in a book
called "Presbyterians," In 1892:
''The creed of Cumberland Presby-
terians, as it differs from Calvinism
on the one hand and Arminianism on
the other, may be stated in connec-
tion with the doctrine of the new
birth-The Central theme of the re-
vival OF 1900 as follows:
81. All men must be born again or
perish
80. All may be born again and not
perish.
'S. None who are born again will
perish.
"The first proposition, while it Is
accepted by all, means more to Cum
berland Presbyterians than to others,
for they believe that the SOULS saliva
lion is made certain in the hour OF the
new birth, while Calvinists believe
that this certain election OF the soul
10 eternal life was made by divine de-
,ree before the foundation of the
world, and Arminians hold that the
'oul's decision or choice cannot be
70 made as to secure it from reversal
,r failure until after death. The
second proposition Cumberland Pres
W fians think is contradicted by the
.lvinistic doctrine of election, and |
he third by the Arminian doctrine Of |
Lpostasy.n
Whatever these brethren now be-
ieve 1t is clear that they did not be-
ieye the Cumberland Presbyterian
ystem Of theology to be Calvinistic
n 1892, nor do we believe it to be SO
low.
But the differences between Cum
'erland Presbyterianism and Calvin
sm may also be clearly seen in con-
ection with the doctrine Of DEGREES
Calvinism says that ''By the decree
4 God, for the manifestation of His
lory, some men and angels are pre-
estined unto everlasting life, and
theirs foreordained to everlasting
cath These angels and men thus
and foreordained are Ii
and unchangeably de-
gned. and their number is so certain
nd definite that 1t cannot be in
reased or diminished.
That Is what Calyinism says. and /
ow let us see how Cumberland Pres 1
puts the question Of
acrees.
God, Tor the manifestation OF His |
ory and goodness by the most wise
ld holy counsel of His own will, It
eely and nnchangeably ordained and Is
stermined what He Himself would /
B, what lie would require His intel {
gent creatures to do, and whatshouldl +
} the award respectively OF the obe- G
ent and disobedient.
Where Calyinism makes mans t
lvation dependent upon predestina- II
Dn and unconditional election, Cum e
rland Prezbyterianism makes 1t de- d
ndent upon mans repentance to-