The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-12

"A: 0en8 now IN Sos.
S7T775<7 zz N sion outshines all
k4n9lSzks A422hkAy the in-seasOn AS
semblies Of many
years. The program IL an extensive
one
During the ten days OF the Con-
vention addresses win be given by
sixty ministers and instructors Of the
Association. The teachings are inter
denominational, unsectarian. Pastor
Russell Of Brooklyn Tabernacle, and
now also of London Tabernacle, is the
President Of the Association. His was
the principal address Of today The
auditorium was crowded. Probably in
compliment to Methodists, Pastor Rus
sell took for his text what he claimed
was John Wesley's favorite-- "And the
Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and
whatsoever viii, let him take the water
Of life freely Revelation xii, ID.
he said:
What Wesley Could Net Rsllsvs.
Our Methodist friends who own this
spacious Auditorium have generally
forgotten the special teachings Of
Brother Wesley, which brought them
to the front of his denomination at
time when Calvin's theory OF the cleo
ton Of saints to glory and the predes-
tination of all others to eternal torture
was the basic thought Of Professionalism
Brother Wesley's voice rang out clear
and full-'.I cannot believe that God
predestinated to eternal torture the
masses Of mankind before they were
born. l must believe that God is Love
and that His love and His justice
would give to every sinner full OPP
portunity for return to Divine favor
and to everlasting life through Christ.
Brother Calvin, indeed, has certain
Scriptures difficult to apply. respecting
election and the elect but l have one
Scripture at least which tells Of a free
dom Of Divine grace. The river OF
the water Of life is not declared to be
for the elect, but for whatsoever will
l take my stand upon that text"
Brother Wesley's battle-cry-"God Is
Love and will surely give every men,
Der of Adams race an opportunity for
eternal life through Christ" come
ringing down to our day. And al
though Christians have become sick
and tired OF their endeavor to harmo-
nize the doctrines Of Election and Free
Grace and are now trying to forget
doctrines altogether, nevertheless John
Wesley's theory has overwhelmed John
Calvin's. The vast majority Of Pres
byterians, Baptists. Congregationalists,
etc, processing Calvin's tenets, really
believe Wesley's-t that God is Love and
viii surely give every member Of our
race a full opportunity for salvation,
and that He predestinated none OF
them to eternal torture.
Truth In Both Theories.
There are elements Of truth In both
theories, as we now see: The path
Of the just Is as the shining light
which shineth more and more-unto
the perfect day" We are nearing the
perfect day, and hence should under
stand the Bible better than did our
forefathers, who did not have the won.
derful Bibles Christians now possess,
with marginal references, concordances
and other helps! Ability to read also
is universal today. Oh, what manner
of Bible students we should be! Many
Christians, however. discouraged by
the inconsistencies and contradictions
Of the various creeds, Catholic and Pro
testant, have abandoned their creeds
and abandoned their Bibles also. erro-
neously believing the latter to be the
basis of the former. We must not
share this mistake. While doing all In
our power. to remove all the creed |
fences which divide Gods people into
sects and parties, let us hold fast to
the Bible. the most wonderful Book
in the world. 1t is only beginning to
be understood: its true light is shining
today as never before. We are In the
time mentioned by the Prophet. when
the "wise shall understand" Daniel |
XII, 10Y.
Brother Calvin was right In part |
to the extent that he was In harmony |
with the Bible, which teaches us to
strive to fulfil our Covenant with the |
Lord, that thus we may make our |
calling and election sure" 1t does not |
teach the predestination which Calvin
taught and which Wesley objected to
the predestination Of the wicked to |
an eternity Of torture. The only pre-
destination mentioned in the Bible is |
connected with the Church. the saints. |
God predestinated that none could be |
Of the Church class. the Bride class,
except such as would become copies |
of His Son, the Redeemer. That pre-
destination stands unalterable, but 1t |
has no effect upon others than the |
elect. 1t merely says that none ex-
cept the sanity shall participate in the
election. 1t says not one word about |
the fate of the non-elect. Read Ro-
mans viii, $3.50 and you win see this
for yourself. To this, the Scriptural
predestination. none can object. 1t is
the unscriptural deductions which have
caused us difficulty.
Brother Wesley was In exact accord
with the Bible In his declaration that
every member Of our race must have
share in the grace Of God In Christ.
However, what Brother Wesley did not
see was that the great Plan Of the
Ages IL not confined to one century
nor to one Age. He did mot see that.
While this Gospel Age Y exclusively