The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-31

protestant churches. Christians OF all
denominations, Lutheran and Reform
ed, Presbyterians and Congregational
lists, Methodists and Baptists could
join hands and unite with us on our
platform. Realizing that the differ
ences are on point non-essential to
salvation, we not only tolerate the
different inclinations, but respect them
the more highly, as we note the
earnest endeavor of our brothers and
sisters to find the truth We submit
to the word OF God, we hold to Christ
above all and present to God and the
world a people of single purpose;
heaven; of single faith; Christ; and
OF single principle. practical love to
all men. Nothing could be palmer and
simpler: nothing greater and more
glorious. And happy are we to note,
that the differences which once divid-
ed the church are much less promin-
ent today than they formerly were. A
new generation is growing up which
has buried the arms of religious war
fare. Let others invoke the thunder
of God upon those, who believe not as
they would dictate, we would rather
emulate the example and follow the
precept of the sanctified John, whose
exhortation is: Little children love
one another And what qualification
to note, that the Evangelical spirit
has forged its way into wider field OF
activity, in that the efforts of many
christians all over the globe are today
. directed toward reaching that ground
SO long familiar to us, liberation and
cooperation in the cause of God.
could stop here. The princip' es
of the Evangelical church are clearly
stated in what has been said. But in
order to show that our doctrine is In
harmony with our principles want TIC
refer to these doctrines in very con.
else form.
Concerning God we teach that Goo
is one God, spirit: that is, He is life
light and love; and therefore eternal
, Interchangeable, omnipresent; true
omniscient, allwise, holy, omnipoten
Just; blessed, good, gracious anc
merciful. We believe that He Great
!, ed heaven and earth by the power o
His almighty word and that He con
!. tinually preserves and governs al
;. things.
, OF Jesus Christ we teach and be
I lieve that He is true God and tru
man in one person, our Savior, Re
: deemer and Lord.
!, Regarding the Holy Ghost we be
6 lieve, that the Holy Ghost is the thir
i person in the holy trinity, with TIL
Father and the Son true and eterna
= Cod Lord and distributor of a
;, gifts, who enables us to come t
: Christ, our Lord, and remain wit
:, Him forever.
! Regarding man we teach that he
: the principle creature on earth, crea
. ed in the image of God, so that h
: communion with God Our first p
- rents were led astray from God /
i satan. Man lost therefore the imas
of God, came under the power of sa
an, sin and death and this corruptic
u is transmitted from Adam upon a
le mankind. Man is therefore prepare
for and inclined to evil
~ Concerning Gods attitude to ma
we believe that God willed that a
= men should be saved and to come
ie the knowledge of truth, we believe tn,
~ He calls and enlightens men, that n
70 leads them to repentance and fait
le to justification and sanctiicatio
Predestination in a stronger Or mildt
" form we consider as things non-esse
~ tial and avail ourselves to that libert
80 of conscience, which prevails in IL
ie Evangelical church.
el We consider regeneration as a VOL
.. of God and conversion as the work
al man Regeneration is the beginnir
~ of the new life in man, as wrought
~ the triune God through baptism
- water and spirit Conversion is II
~ faithful acceptance of the new lif
" wrought by God, hence turning fro
~ the broad way and entrance upon IL
ie Strengthened way. That one is r
~ generated and converted is essenti
. to us, how this great change has bee
'e brought about is non-essential and v
40 avail ourselves of that liberty Of co
- science which prevails in the Eva
~ gelical church.
: Prayer we consider as a convers
:, ton of the heart addressed to God
- making applications in giving than
10 and in offering praise.
Ar Baptism and the Lords supper '
an call sacraments, although the wo
m. does not appear in the New Test
he ment 1t is an indisputable fact, tn
he they are, to a certain degree my