The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-03-07

ii give an Illustration: Those OF MS
who are calvinistic may well hol,i
fast to some OF the precious scripture
teachings so long reyercd. but We
want 10 cast out tquickly4and elective
ythe gross error which teaches thnt
NIL the non-elcct. instead of having
hope for blessing through .:tlle.
elect" are to be ererlastlnsly tor,
, mented. Those or us who are. Ar.
minlnn In doctrine have much that Is
precious. but need also to cast away
from us the thought that our loving
1 Heavenly Father is merely good-tn.
lentloned and lacks the power. tile.
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-lmmcsed experience for-t
giveness Of sins and reconciliation 70
God and salvation from eternal tor,
ment. Similarly those of us who are
yRnntists, 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
perplexcd us. namely. that no others
than the whter-lmmersed could be
I! members OF the Church OF Christ.
/, heirs of glory. and be saved from dam.
.iatlon. Once We get these absurditlcs
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 Its
harmonlcs. "EIe that scekcth hndeth;
and to him that knockcth 1t shall be
opened" (Atntthcw vii. 81. But SO long
rs we hold to the fallncics 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 u.s.. TO receive
Into good and honest hearts nfrcsh the
doctrines .of Jesus aud the Apostles
allowing these to dlsplace tile doctrines
which Cliristenlom now holds but dis
esteems. and which were formulated
) In n time of less light than the present.
4 Instead. therefore. OF dlscournglng
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 ottr time
[. God would be able to mike clear 10
'icrpretations 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 Ms members. On every
'iitie we should be looking for the hnr-
(. monies. instead OF rejoicing In the err
rors which have long divided us Into
hundreds Of sects and parties.
However. In some respects sectarlan
energy is better than federated death.
Might we not even say that II all the
creeds were dashed 10 pieces and each
Christian stood forth unshackled as re.
sDects denonlna tlonal bonds. the re-
suit would he n great Improvement so
far Ms inClvilua .in"rht. study. ana
relationship III God Mttlli,! liz con.
cerned? In Il word. rirh Christian
should hnvc his own creed. Ills lulivid-
ual filth: and nui:e. should do ninre or,
less than 10 assist Ills mind to n full
untlerstandln. Of t!ir Wn:d OF tile Lord
In respect to every subicrt.
Doctrines of Men.
All doctrines which cannot slow n
foundation aud full authority In the
teaching of Jesus and the Apostles aud
Prophets. are doctrines of men. The
teachings from above come 10 us
through hearrn-appoIntcd channels.
The jarson which prevails III Chrfsten.
dom In respect to Christian doctrines
proves that they are OF human origin.
The Scriptures alone furnish to us