The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-09-05

years. The program Is an extensive
one.
During the ten days of the Con-
vention addresses will be given 10y
sixty ministers and instructors of the
Association. The teachings are inter
denOmnational, unsectarian. Pastor
Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle, and
Low 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
whosoeyer will. let him take the water
Of life freely" Revelation xii, 10.
He said:
What Wesley Could Not Believe.
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 a
time when Calvin's theory of the cleo
tioh Of saints TO glory and the predes-
tlnatiUn Of II others to eternal torture
was the basic thought OF Professionalism
Brother Wesley's voice rang out clear
and full cannot believe that God
predestinated To eternal torture the
born. must believe that God is Love
and that His love aud His Justice
would give TO every sinner n full op-
portunity fo- 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 | have one
Scripture al least which tells Of free
dom Of Divine grace. The river Of
the water of life Is not declared to he
for the elect but for 'whosoever will.'
| take my stand upon that text"
Brother Wesley's battle-cry-"God is
Love and will surely give every mem
ber of Adams race an opportunity for
eternal life through Chrlst"-has come
ringing down TO our day. And al
though Christians have become sick
and tired. Of their cndeavor to harmo-
niZc the doctrines OF Election and Free
Grace and are now trying to forget
doctrines altogether, nevertheless John
Wesley's theory has overwhelmed John
Calyln's. The vast majority of Pres
byterians, Baptists. Congregatonalists,
etc, protesting Calvln's tenets, really
believe Wesley's-that God is Love and
will surely give every member of our
race full opportunity for salvation.
and that lie predestlnated none Of
them TO eternal torture.
Truth In Both Theories.
There are elements of truth in both
theories, as we now see: 1.-The path
of the Just Is as the shining light,
which shincth 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, crro-
neously believing the latter 10 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 II 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, 1M.
Brother Calvin was right in part
10 the extent that ne was in harmony
with the Bible. (which teaches us TO
strive TO fulfil our Covenant with the
Lord, that hHs we may make our
railing and election sure" II does not
teach the predestinatlon which Calvin
taught and which Wesley objected to
the predestination Of the wicked 10
mn eternity of torture The only pre-
destination mentioned in the Bible is
connected with the Church, the saints.
God predestnatcd that none could be
" the Church class, the Bride class,
except such as would become copies
II His Son, the Redeemer. That pre-
destination stands unalterable. but II
has no effect upon others than the
elect. 1t merely says that none ex-
cept the sanity shall participate in the