REV. DR. MARSHALL ON THE REVISION OF THE STANDARDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 4

REV. DR. MARSHALL ON THE REVISION OF THE STANDARDS.

Rev. Dr Marshall, Coupar Angus, made a vigorous speech recently. on the overture as to the revision speech' in the course of the debate at .the U. P. Synod of the Standards. The rev. Doctor said he had been for 1 many years in favour of a periodical revision of -the subordinate Standards of the Church,, but he was against any proposal to relax the formula of subscription. He proceeded as follows : With reference to this great controversy about the creation — (laughter) — surely, those friends who are pronouncing the Confession of Faith utterly* unscriplural and horrible would have .better, material to serve their purpose if they would make, less noise about this creation matter — '. (renewed laughter) — for it does. not at all belong to the system of idivine, truth' re-j vealed in the Bible. Consciences; it is. stated, are also afflicted on the question of infant salvation. Now, to relieve inys dear afflicted friends 'on' that, subjectdaughter) — Toy- interpretation "of what the ! Confession says on' the question of infantsalvation is this, that according to the' wisdom given to the Westminster Divines, they most studiously. avoid pronouncing) on the question .whether<the-whoieior only a portion of persons dying in infancy, are saved. I not only hold- that the snbordi-! nate Standards ought to be reviewed from; time to time,. but I think that buripreseht Standards are susceptible in some respects.' of great improvement, and if thatimprove- i ment could be easily made, «o, far aa .we ourselves are. concerned^ I§;hink that it should be done. There is just one remaining point in this -motion; /It-, is a censure .gently .administered '..upon: theerring brethren. (Laughter.) Thatisayery; important part;of the motion. I Bhall not: say ' the . censure pronounced ;in this motion iB deserved, but I. would Jike, >to hear any brother say that it is not;. (Great laughter:) I have heard nothing approaching to that ;.in, fact,, I have, heard "from all the brethren who have spoken -.aa" !strong,a condemnation .of the conduct' of, these erring .brethren: as ."this, resolution could well pronounce. { Ijihink it>is<,just; the thing that in the, spirit of /the^Bihle! injunction we are called upon .toadminisT' ter to them, not merely as discipline for the past, but, to arrest them, if" .possible, in a course .which^ threatens. worse .evils; than they have yet come to or haveid,one,i. for they cannot remain .where; they are^they must either. go back .or, forwards A • very shrewd jperaon in ; Coupar the other week said to- me^^These mep,>are makin' a great noise aboot the Confession,] and aboqt alterin' it; .: If, they, wad only haud on as they arg dpm', we shall.hae.nae , faith, to {confess^" 'I • say therq jis ,sober, , solemn, .truths Ih^ that, { tand if you do what you can I ' to -.arrest, ,the erring brethren, .and keep.ithemj frp,m going further in error, X believe in, .plain speaking , such as this. Ii ia a duty, to .ourselves to vindicate ourselves from, the foulest charges which language can .utter. (." Hear, hear," loud applause, and hisses.) The charge is that all but themselves, , or at least very, many belonging to, the Synod — elders and ministers^- whft' have, subscribed the subordinate .Standards, do not believe, arid the ministers do. not .preach,' the doctrine to which they gave adherence. I say that the months of .such,, libellers, should, be stopped. (Loud applause and hisses, and cries of ". Chair, : chair."),,' As. :a Synod we- ought to, take this .present, j opportunity of giving caluminpus 1 falsehood the lie direct. .(Renewed interruptions, hisses, and applause.) You are, called upon to do it for your own Vindication. r I say. further^ when,, men. err so greatly— and they have erred, notwithstanding all the * explanations, apologies, and extenuations, which have been, given since I came to .Glasgow — you, areV called upon as- defenders of, the" truth, to' lift a" present testimony ,f or the . 0 truth which these men are so ready in/denying^lf the doctrine, of divine grace be as tb^ey say — fate, I mean that doctrine as taught in our Standards— if it be; Turkish, fate, and if the sovereignty of grace 4estr,oys man's free agency, and his responsibility;, i£ that is wha,t they ; are saying about the truth, I think it, is time for you. to' say the, reverse very, strongly, /and, to, teLL themi they are committing a great scandal which! : you cannot stand. (Loud applause; hisses,' and uproar.), , ■ •' . '"' '