The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-02-01
METHODISTS


VI LuC WOIu. O6SlOly AOIAO04DSo WAAA
have less to concede than Caivinists.
because, although in Wesley's day the
doctrine of Free Grace was combatted
on every hand, it 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 a
handful of the Elect was too horrible
a one to stand. So the Methodist doc
trine of Divine Love for all and Free
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 loveless-
ness in foreordaining their sufferings
or to Divine inability to outwork for
their benefit the supposed advantages
of Free Grace arranged for them by
Divine Love.
ne wore Excellent way
Our suggestion is that now, in the
tapping time of this Gospel Age with
the oncoming Millennial Age as the
arc electric light casts the candle Of
the past into the shadow, so the clear
er light 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 basis for Christian unions Let
us see! II we can find in Gods Word
that the 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 Millennial Age, will not this
solve our problem and give us doc
trinal union instead of a mere fedora
ton based upon the ignoring of doc
trine? We can all assent to this, there
fore let us examine the facts.
The Bible assuredly declares a Di-
vine election according to a Divine
purpose foreordained-but not such an
election as Brother Calvin outlined.
God foreordained the selection of a
Church, predestinating the number
who would constitute it's 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 a great
work which they shall be privileged to
do for mankind-limitedly now, fully
during the Millennium. Accustomed to
the election of fellow-citizens to the
Presidency. to Congress, ETC., where
they will have the opportunity for
blessing the non-elect. 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), is specially intended to be the
channel Of Divine blessing to "alI the
families Of the earth" Genesis xviii,
IA.
How strange that we overlooked this
and the assurance that with the CON-
pletion Of the Church Messiah would
exalt her in the First Resurrection
to be his Bride and joint-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 to subStant1ate
their doctrine of Free Grace belongs to
the Millennlal Kingdom. As for in
stance, the Bible. after telling us Of
the completion of the Church now
espoused TO the Lord and after her
marriage or union with him at his
Second Coming, as the Bride, the
Lambs Wife" tells that then the
Spirit and the Bride shall say. Come
and whosoever will may come and take
of the water Of life freely" (RevelatioL
xxi, III.
All. yes, we failed disastrously to
keep the Apostles command, Study
to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be
ashamed. rightly dividing the word Of
Truth" III Timothy Ii, 15,. 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
vet 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 vilitied
our Heavenly Father, 1.-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
iii, 1921. But this difference of re-
ward is 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 whithersoever be goeth
They must count their lives not deal
unto them, but willingly sacrifice theiI
earthly interests that they may be par
ticipators with their Redeemer in glo
ry, honor and Immortality. and in his
great work of the Millennium-tht
blessing of the world of mankind witt
a mental, moral, social and physica
uplift.
Cannot we all, Congregationalists
Presbyterians and Methodists. and al
others of Gods people, unite as on
body upon this Scriptural hypothesis
Are we not satisfied with the terms o.
this election-that they are sufficiently
stringent ~ eXcluue Ill eASePl III
sanity? Hearken to the Apostles dec
laration, which we once so grievousl!
misunderstood: He says of Gods cleo
ton, Whom he did foreknow he ais
did predestinate to be conformed Il
the image Of his Son." In other words
when our Heavenly Father foreknev
and predetermined to gather an cleo
Church as the Bride of Christ, he ais
predetermined that none could b
members of it unless they attaine'
through faith and obedience in tn
School of Christ character-likeness 0
Jesus-heart likeness to him-hence, a
nearly as possible, an obedience of tn
flesh to his Law.