Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-03-12

Nv "a sbAAAt " &ffaA4 = Elkt ~ a.
ton respecting the features Of the
creeds put upon the shelf. which we
think should be no longer cared for, bnt
allowed to fall? We answer that Of
q Erse there are good features IN all
NJ our creeds-truths which will never
fall. But with these truths are mixed
the errors which are. as the Proverb
says, Dead flies THAT cause the oint-
ment to stink iEccIesiastes x. l..
There is plenty more OF the ointment
In Gods Word. 1t is indeed the "balIi
of Gilcad' and pure-without the corr
Foding fly of error. This is what sc
all want, whatsoever our denomina
tional name. and the sooner we get 1t
the better for us, FOR the Cause and
for "the hrethren." whom we love 10
serve.
] give an illustration: Those Of ms
who are Calvinistic may well hold
fast to some of the precious Scripture
teachings so long revered but W.
want to cast out quickly and effective
ly the gross error which teaches that
all the ~non-elect. instead Of having
hope for a blessing through 1.-THE
elect" are TO be eyerlastingly 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 asid" the thought
contained in their teachings that only
the water-immersed experience for
g~iveness of sins and %recoDcilia ION 10
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 absurditiesl
removed. not only from u 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 its
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 Of 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
| doctrines of Jesus and the Apostles
allowing these to displace the doctrines
which Christendom 10Y holds but dis
esteems. and which were formulated
in a time of less light than the present.
Instead. therefore. of di~scouraging
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 aud 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 10 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 W. should be looking for the har-
monies, instead of rejoicing in the err
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 10 pieces and each
Christian stood forth unshackled as re-
spects UNCONVENTIONAL bonds, the re-
suit would be a great improvement so
far as individual thought, study. and
relationship 10 God would he con
cerned? In a word, each Christian
should have his own creed, his individ-
ual faith; and none should do more or
less than to assist his mind TO a full
understanding of the Word of the Lord
in respect TO every subject.
Doctrines Of Men.
All doctrines which cannot show a
foundation and full authority in the
teaching of Jesus and the Apostles and
Prophets, are doctrines of men. The
teachings from above com TO us
through heaven-appointed channels.
The jargon which prevails in Christen-
dom in res1ects to Christian doctrines
proves that they are OF human origin.
The Scriptures alone furnish TO us
The Doctrines of Christ.
Briefly stated they declare, ITO us
there is one God, the Father, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ" q Corinthians viii.
@. To us there is one Holy Spirit; to
us there is lone Church of the Living
| God, whose names are written in
heaven" to us there is zone Lord and
one faith and one baptism; one God
| apd Rathor of anu IHpbacfa,s ;u An