The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-10
I give an Illustration: Those of ia

give an illustrations: Those Of us
who are Calvinistic may well hold
fast to some of the precious Scripture
teachings so long revered, but we
want to cast out quickly and effective
ly the gross error which teaches that
all the non-elect, instead of having
hope for blessing through "the
elect" are 10 be everlastingly tor
mented. Those Of us who are Ar
minian in doctrine have much that is
precious, but need also to cast away
from us the thought that our loving
Heavenly Father is merely good-in-
tentioned and lacks the power the
ability, to make his benevolent desires
effective towards any except a small
handful of humanity. Our Disciple
friends should cast aside the thought
contained in their teachings that only
the water-immersed experience for
giveness Of sins and reconciliation to
God and salvation from eternal tor
ment. Similarly those of us who are
Baptists, while holding to the precious
truths which so long have comforted
and strengthened us, should insist now
on casting away as unscriptural and
irrational the thought that has long
perplexed us, namely, that no others
than the water-immersed could be
members of the Church of Christ,
heirs of glory, and be saved from dam
nation. Once we get these absurdities
removed not only from our heads and
hearts, but also from our professions
we shall be ready and anxious to have
the doctrines of Christ on these sub
jects. Then we will search the Word
and have Gods blessing in finding it's
harmonies. HE that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened" (Matthew vii, 81. But so long
as we hold to the fallacies how can
we seek or pray for or find the Truth
The Value of Doctrines.
The word doctrine signifies teaching.
The doctrines of Christ. therefore, are
the teachings of Christ; the doctrines
of men, the teachings of men. What
the Church needs today is, to receive
into good and honest hearts afresh the
allowing these to displace the doctrines
which Christendom now holds but dis
esteems, and which were formulated
in time of less light than the present.
Instead, therefore, of discouraging
each other in respect to the study OF
the doctrines of Christ, we should, as
Christians, become more earnest in the
study every day, hoping and expecting
that in the wonderful light of our time
God would be able to make clear to
our understanding the harmonious in.
terpretations of his Word. We should
study to find the relationship between
Election and Free Grace. We should
clearly understand what is meant by
baptism and what kind of baptism is
necessary for our induction into the
Body of Christ as members. On every
line we should. be looking for the har-
monies, instead of rejoicing in the en-
rors which have long divided us into
hundreds of sects and parties.
However, in some respects Sectarian
energy is better than federated death
Might we not even say that if all the
creeds were dashed to pieces and each
Christian stood forth unshacked as re
spectS denominational bonds, the re
suit would be a great improvement sc
far as individual thought, study. and
relationship to God would be con
cerned? In word, each Christian
should have his own creed, his individ
ual faith; and none should do more oil
less than to assist his mind to full
understanding of the Word of the LORD
in respect to every subject.
Doctrines of Men.
All doctrines which cannot show 9
foundation and full authority in the
teaching of Jesus and the Apostles anC
Prophets. are doctrines of men, The
teachings from above come to Us
through heaven-appointed channels
The jargon which prevails in Christen
dom in respect to Christian doctrines
| proves that they are of human origin
The Scriptures alone furnish to us
The Doctrines of Christ
Briefly stated they declare. "To Us
there is one God, the Father, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ q Corinthians viii
g. TO us there is one Holy Spirit; t.
us there is 'one Church of the Living
| God, whose names are written il
heaven" to us there is zone Lord ant
one faith and one baptism; one Goo
and Father of ALL Ephesians iv, AZ,
However impossible these statements
! may have appeared during the "darl
Rges, they are no longer so. The light o.
Divine Truth is now shining. God ha:
not only put into our possession won
derful Bibles, and wonderful helps fol
Bible-study, but has also given us thu
| ability IN rpoI tn Stu1v tho Word crit