The Hartford republican., 1913-08-08

day. We report |
one Of them. from |
I(oANCJR RljSSElDI the text. ELISE |
were your chill
dren unholy, but now are they holy
Corinthians 7:14.
The Pastor declared his text was
probably the basis Of much OF the pre-
yailIng confusion on the subject OF In
FAINT salvation and infant damnation.
Before discussing his text. he wished
to call attention to very advanced
theological step recently taken by the
PRESBYTERIAN General Assembly In the
United States. According to telegraph
ic DISPATCHES, 1t had altered the Con-
fession Of Faith so as to save n0n-elect
infants as well as elect ones.
The thought that God had arranged
a plau whereby some infants would
90 to Heaven at death. and other IN
fants to eternal torture, has for cen
turtles troubled the minds Of all Chris
tians-Catholic and Protestant. Some
said that elect infants would be saved.
and non-elect infants tortured. Others
held that bapdsed infants would De
saved. and other infants not baptised.
or sprinkled. would go to eternal tor
ture. Others held that none could be
saved without regeneration: ana these.
being perplexed as to how infants
could be regenerated. could hardly have
any hope of infant salvation. For CEN
turtles good people have suffered terri
bly because Of these confused ideas.
The Pastor then showed how foolish
all these theories seem when contrast
ed with the simple and beautiful teach
ing of Scripture that the salvation or
ail-young and old. Of heather lands
AZ well as Christian-is through the
resurrection power Of Messiah's King
dom. He then said, Why should we
trouble longer with the errors OF the
Dark Ages. when Gods Word Is now
shining so brightly?
Unable to Agree.
Pastor Russell declared that he felt
great sympathy for the move OF the
PRESBYTERIAN brethren: but neverthe'
less, he could not agree with their con
clusions. believing that the biDie
teaches otherwise He realized tha'
the Presbyterian view Of Election
made It difsicult for them to deal with
the uon-elect, both adults and infants
He found Scriptures declaring tna'
God is selecting the Church IRON
amongst the world. He conceded tha'
those not elect would properly be call
|, ed non-elect But he found nothing
in the Bible to Indicate that non-elec
ton to Joint -heirship in Messian''
Kingdom means predestinaton to al
eternity Of torture.
Many have been consigning aduit
and infants to the number of 9OOO'
every day 10000 infants daily. or ~
600. 900 every year. to eternal torture
because non-elect. unregenerate or un
baptised. Surely all intelligent peopi
are ont of accord with such proposl
ton. Surely some great mistake ha
been made during the Dark Ages. an
God has been slandered.
The Pastor then demonstrated tha
: God is the very personidcation OF WIS
J dom. Justice. Love and Power; wher'
= as God who would foreordain S2.Ooo
600 beings per year to pass to an etc
nity of torture would be. not Coz
but the most terrible devil imaginabl'
Rible students are realizing that u
Bible teaches nothing OF the KIND
once supposed. As their eyes OF III
derstanding open, they appreciate u
Divine character as never BEFORE
All condsmnsd Need Redemption.
After reminding his hearers that q
cording to Scripture We are saved
faith, not by being infants. the Pase
showed conclusively from the BID
that although infants share In Adam
death sentence and have provision
Jesus' redemptive work. neverthele
they can be saved only by coming to
knowledge of God and Jesus. and tn
exercising faith and obedience to t
extent of ability. His position seer
unbeatable.
The speaker then reviewed the BIZ
teaching that all mankind sinned
Adam. and came under the Divi
curse or sentence Of death-not etel
Al torment, ''In due time Christ al
for the ungodly"-those who lived
fore His crucifx xion and thoss be
since. Because Of this general reden
ton. co-extensive with the curse. TN
is to be a resurrection out Of sin a
\ death conditions back to perfection
\ life. Only those who intelligentiy
ject this grace Of God will die the .
ond Death.
Meantime. ali--infants and adult
! nt death go to sheol. Hsdes, the toa
there to await the resurrection MO
ing-Messiah's Kingdom. Then
dead shall come forth from the tom
every man In bis own order"