The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-01-26
PULPIT.
THE COST OF
CHURCH
FEDERATION
TO CONCREGATlONALISTS
PRESBYTERIANS
METHODISTS
METHODISTS


may say that this theory was still
older than Calvin, for did not st. Au-
gustine first declare the danger OF In
fants to eternal torture and the neces-
sity of their being brought into the
Church of Christ by baptism in order
to escape eternal torture? And Is not
the force of this teaching still manifest
amongst both Professionals and Catho-
lies, as evidenced by their fear to
have an infant die unbaptized-so that
some. In extreme cases. even practice
baptism In utero?"
Doctrinally Methodism is Indirectly
opposed to Calvinism In every sense
of the word Possibly Methodists Will
have less to concede than Calvinists,
because. although In Wesley's day the
doctrine Of Free Grace was combatted
on every hand. 1t Is now the tacit faith
of the vast majority Of Christendom.
The doctrine that God had premedi-
tated and irrevocably foreordained the
eternal torture Of our race except
handful OF the Elect was too horrible
one to stand. So the Methodist doc
iIfu0 VI DtV uC LoNO Aoh Oil uhu . ~
Grace as respects salvation has ap-
pealed more and more TO the growing
intelligence OF mankind. Nevertheless
we cannot do otherwise than concede
that It will matter little to the thou
sands of millions which all "orthodox"
creeds consign to eternal torture
whether they shall suffer eternal
agonies as a result OF Divine loyeless
ness IN foreordaining their sufrerings
or to Divine inability to outwork for
their benefit the supposed advantages
of Free Grace arranged for them by
Divine Love.
The More Excellent Way.
Our suggestion is that now. In the
tapping time Of this Gospel Age with
the oneoming Millennial Age. as the
are electric light casts the candle Of
the past Into the shadow, so the clear
er Eight now shining from the pages
Of Gods Word casts into the shadow
all the doctrines OF the dark ages"
relieving us Of the horrible nightmare
which once beclouded our hearts and
lives and made us fearful of our Gre
ator as an all-powerful but merci-
less sovereign. In this blessed light
now shining from Gods Book have We
not a basis for Christian uaionf Let
us see. II we can fnd In Gods Word
that he doctrine of Election and the
doctrine OF Free Grace are both true,
both Biblical. but that one belongs to
the Church IN this Gospel Age and the
other To mankind In general In the
coming MI!cnnial Age will not this
solve our problem and give US doc
trinai union Instead OF a mere federG-
ton based upon the Ignoring OF dec
trine? We can all assent to this there
fore let us examine the facts.
The Bible assuredly declares Il d.
vine election according to Divine
purpose foreordained-but not such an
election as Brother Calvin outlined.
God foreordained the selection of
Church, predestlnating the number
who would constitute Its membership
and the character Of each one who
would be acceptable as member. He
foreordained tests OF the worthiness Of
these members and the glorious re-
ward that should be theirs and n great
work which they shall be privileged to
do for ma Enthusiastically now. fully
during the Millennium. Accustomed to
the election Of fellow-citizens 10 the
Presidency. to Congress. etc. where
they will have the opportunity for
blessing the non-e.ect. we should have
carried this same thought to the Di-
vine election Of the Church. We should
have discerned that the elect Church.
the Seed Of Abraham" Galatians iii.
29,. IL specially intended 10 be the
channel Of Divine blessing to "all the
families OF the earth" Genesis xviii,
| N.
How strange that we overlooked this
and the assurance that with the COM
nietion Of the Church Messiah would
exalt her in the First Resurrection"
to be his Bride and jont.heir In his
Millennial Kingdom. to be established
for the blessing Of all mankind. How
strange that we did not notice that
every text Of Scripture used by our
Methodist brethren 10 substantiate
their doctrine Of Free Grace belongs to
the Millennial Kingdom. Az for In
stance, the Bible. after telling US Of
the completion OF the Church now
cspoused 10 the Lord and after her
marriage or union with him at his
Second Coming. as the Bride, the
Lambs WIFE" tells that then 1.-The
Spirit and the Bride shall say. Come
and whoscever Will may come and take
Of the water OF life freely" (Rev elatioi.
xii. ~.
All. yes. we failed disastrously to
keep the Apostles command. Study
to show myself approved unto God,
workman that needeth not to be
ashamed. rightly dividing the word Of
Truth" I'll Timothy il. l5,. We failed
TO thus divide the Truth and to note
the portion applicable now and the
other portion applicable during the
Millennium Thank God, we are not
yet too old TO learn. We surely have
been thoroughly sickened by our mis-
taken interpretations Of the past.
which made nonsense Of both the doc
trines-- Election and Free Grace--and
worse than this. DETAINED and vilited
our Heavenly Father. "the God OF all
Grace"
In the light now shining We may see
that the terms Of the Divine election
Of the Church are In every sense Of the
word without Partially. except as re-
CARDS character and faithfulness.
Those now called with the heavenly
calling to be Of 1.-The elect" are indeed
invited to eternal life on the spirit
plane. to be like unto the angels, but
more exalted. while the opportunities
to be granted to the world In general
during the Millennium will be inferior.
earthly. restitutionary-yet grand (Acts
i'll. 1920. But this difference Of re-
ward 10 counterbalanced by the Sc
verer trials and testings Of those now
called to be of the elect. They must
walk by faith and not BY sight. They
must take up their cross and follow
the Lamb whithersoeyer he goeth.
They must count their lives not dear
unto them, but willingly sacrifice their
| a. r&hlw gnt chat thai ma ho