Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-28
DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.

The doctrine Of Predcstination that
has again been called 10 public atten-
ton by the discussions at Atlantic
city. Is one that has caused more per
plexity more mental distress more
theological augmentation and subtle
exegesis than any other. Many an
honest soul has suffered agony Of
doubt as to whether he was predestined
to glory or to damnation. firmly believ-
ing that no effort Of his could change
the eternal decree II there We're no
otter proof Of the necessity Of the
continuance Of inspired men. capable OF
interpreting the mind ana will OF God,
the futlity OF finding the truth con-
corning this important doctrine. and
others. without some such inspired
guide. would be sufficient
The Scriptures seem 10 teach the free
agency Of man. and also foroordina-
tlon which seems TO nullify this free
agency. They seem TO teach the re-
sponsibnlty Of man. but also his inabil-
itv 10 determine his own course How
can these apparent contradictions be
harmonized? That has been the great
question Of the ages
During the first centuries Of our era,
while the Spirit Of God was living
power in the church. there was no con-
troversy concerning this doctrine. The
teachers maintained the free agency
OF man against pagan fatalism aud
they rejoiced In the election that had
made the Christians the bearers Of
truth. OF light and eternal salvation
10 an mankind Augustine, In the
fourth century. became the father Of
predestination. and the controversy has
been raging even since.
Augustine. before his conversion TO
Christianity was a believer in the IA
taiism or necessitarianism, OF the
Manlchean system OF philosophy. which
was mixture Of the teachings Of
Buddhists and the disciples Of Zoroas-
ter. His viows as "a Christian teacher
were clearly influenced by his former
opinions.
He taught that Adam fen Of his own
free choice. God for reasons Of His
own. decided TO save some Of the race
Of Adam. and Co suffer the rest TO he
destroyed. salvation, ne taught was
possible within the visible church
alone But not an who belong 10 the
church are assured Of salvation, for
all have not been given the grace OF
perseverance and without this gift
they cannot attain unto glory
Many great scholars have adopted
this view Il has even caused schisms
and dissensious bon the churches cal
vim. In his Institutes, WAS the most
decided Augusuuiau among the re-
formers Whitehead followed Calvin;
the weslcys took the opposite view.
Doddridge, Veun Newton. Scott were
moderate. and Romaine and Toplady.
strong Calvinists.
Various solutions Of the difficulty
have been proposed. Some have held
that election as taught in the Scrip
lures Is 20 national election. God has
selected some nations 90 receive the
gospel message and not others They
point To the election of tho Jews ass am
instance OF predosunuuon Others say
that All the members of the visible
church are chosen others teach
conditional election Their idea is that
the man whom God forescos win be-
lIevo Is elected chat ls Co say that every
means Is afforded him 90 hcartho gos-
pei while those who IL is forsccn win
not believe. arc lcu alone God they
say. "gracIously chose believers, as 70
class. 90 Iifc cntrruaI Whocvcr,making
use of grace. entered that class be-
came ips1 flcto one OF the chosen
s.u Others ,aaoh ana election within
election "AU the baptized they say
"are chosen. but the living and loving
among tnem are chosen IN AN inner
sense. Nnc;nor the choice n their ease
be conditional or not" AN believers,
they hold, are a chosen people. but
only some of them have the divine sin
OF perseverance 10 secure final glory
and these are the elect boo tho higher
sense such are the solutions offered.
Such are the moaudcriugs of the hu-
man mind among the mysteries 'of
the Word which is said 90 bc given for
the guidance of the inquirer after
truth some. dcspairing of ever fnd-
ing the truth IA this matter have given
up the search.
The Scripture doctrine is, first of an.
that the work Of our Lord for the re-
demption Of mankind Is universal He