MR JOHNSTON AND THE CONFESSION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 4 July 1890, Page 6

MR JOHNSTON AND THE CONFESSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — As I have good cause for believing that the letter signed " Con 11 try Elder " was a written by a minister, and therefore not only anonymous but deceptive in its anonymity, I take no further notice of it than to say that the whole letter is simply a begylng of the question. That is ho reads into the Confession tho meaning that 1 dispute ; and, from this assumption, reasons as if ho had proved it. In regard to Mr Dalrymple's second effusion, I have little to say. I merely note ono or two points. Tn regard to the quotations, his attempt to apply them to the party which advocates tho U. P. Declaratory Act ia disingenuous. For (i) three of them were written before it w;is known that the U. P. Act was proposed. The other two refer to tho statements of Di 1 Ouyler. (2) The party which advocates tho U. P. Act is as yet an unknown quantity, and does not include tho professors. Professor Dunlop in bringing up the committee's report said he would have preferred something else. Tho party referred to is ono that is gradually showing, itself as in bitter antagonism to tho doctrines of the Confession. He thinks I am down and groaning under tho weight of his authorities. 'There is not much fear of cither since he grants that I am supported by tho Westminster divines and Principal Canuigham. Your readers must have been amused wish the air of superiority asstnn >.d by tho minister of Puerua whenever ho condescends to address the public through tho press. Remembering that ho assumes this important air even towards his brethren in tho ministi'y, I was not surprised to find him saying, '•' There, is no evidence in his pamphlet of any aqcuniufc* ance, either through reading or otherwise, with those great currents of thought and life." But it is teazing to know that wo have ono so near us who has such an acquaintance with the " language and literature of modern theology ;" and who has such a v cool head and such a charitable frame of mind ;" but who persistently hides his light under a bushel. "If our virtues do not go forth of us, 'twere all alike as if we had them not." Why does ho not oven indicate tho direction of "those great currents of thought?" Surely your readers would like to know something about them. Are they esoteric, — too sacred for public gaze 1 Since Mr Dairy m pie, who knows thorn so well, has given no cluo to their nature, he will excuse mo if I atate what some of fcheso currents are, and what I think of them. (1) One current labours, under the name of " Modern criticism," to overthrow the infallibility of Holy Scriptura.. (2) A second, under tho plausible j phrase " fatherhood of God," so misrepresents the original relation of man to his Creator, as to constitute a claim upon God for tho salvation of all mankind. (3) A third by its use of the ambiguous expression "love of God,' ! confounds the sovereign grace of God that bringeth salvation with Hl3 goodness, that extends to all His sentient creatures ; and conveys unscriptural views of the fountain and way of life. (4) A fourth moots imifcarianism by asserting that a man can take Christ as his Supreme, whilo.donying his divinity. (5). A fifth, labours to remove . Christ' 3 substitntionary sacrifice, as a " th'eblogic fiction." But this current, like the Nile, separates into many branches [(theories of the atonement) before it reaches the sea of incertitude. It would be tedious ■to trace them, (G) A sixth gives us a " Life of Jesus" that denies the possibility of miracle, and characterises tho resurrection of Lazarus and of our Lord as holy frauds. (7) A seventh flows out into unscriptnral speculations in regard to tho future state. To currents like these Mr Dairy m pic has more than once indicated his . readiness to commit the bark of the church. But it remains to be seen whether she will entrust herself to his pilotage or to those currents that lead to tho rapids and the

plunge of Niagara. Those currents ; would sap the foundations of the Christian faith ; would throw the church back into the chaos from which the 16th arid 17th century divines delivered her ; and would feed her with a gospel of ihdefiniteness — a mixture of mysticism, rationalism, and scepticism. The more the true tendency of these currents is known, tho more it will be disliked by those who cleave to Gospel truth. — lam, &c, *; •■• " Apam D. Johnston.