Progressive Presbyterianism.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5434, 26 March 1889, Page 4

Progressive Presbyterianism.

THE CONFESSION OF FAlTtl. : At the General Assembly of tho New Zealand Presbyterian Church held at Auckland the Revr. Mr Sommerville made a rather important speech »'v the Confession, which he wants to see harm nised with modern ideaß. From the report in the Auckland Star we make the following extracts : — Starting by a luding to » pre.vioua paper on the Bubject Mr Smnmervillo to show that he has not newly eet foot, on thr downgrade said THE HERETICAL VIEWS . fen given expression to were not condemned and si I have gone nn in the way o! natural development until 1 have come f> mnintain that the Confession ia considerably out of keeping with the living faith of tho Church. In that paper I B'Htod tlv.t the top of tho treo i f knowledge can never bo reached by man. Howtver great, then the wisdom, and foaming, and faithfulness of interpretation and expression shown by thechurch s chosen men in formulating her creed, their work ia imperfect. It may be n perfection judged by the light of the age in which it takes shape ; but intellectual light is increasing d»y by day and the li«ht of last century is as darkness when eotnpArod with this. Probably the loudMtBB Btrongeßt, and most auccessf ul. OBJECTIONS TO THE CONFESSION indeed by the influence they have upon the jublic are those that are preferred against Its representation of the future of the wicked. Their name ia legion who rail against the teaching of the Confession in this direction, and they rail successfully for no one likes the thought of such an aternity of existence as is therein presented. Unpopularity, however, is no proof of error ; the Master himself became the most unpopular man of His time simply because he persisted m preaching, truths that were in opposition to the popular desire. If the teaching "i the Confession in regard to an eternity of punish mont fur the wicked, be in keeping with the Word of God, it will live through all opposition must give way to what is, I do not believe in future probation for the wicked, i cannot hnd that in the Bible. Ido believe in fu uro punishment. I believe ib is -Impossible to get it rooted out of the Bib>e. I believe that the doctrine of rewards and the doctrine of punishments, are bo interwoven that no arguments can separate them ; that they aro equally eternal, and that all the efforts that have been put forth to rob the one, and not the other of eternity have miserably failed and must, continue to fail. But while I thus be lieve I likewise believe that the representation of future punishment made in the Confession are not in keeping with the most enlightened interpretation of tne Word of God What that punishment will be no mortol can tell, but that it will be of the nature of the AWFDL MOMENTS REPRESENTED IN THS CONFESSION Ido not believe. True, the Confession does not Bpeak of hell fire, but the Larger Cateohism does,and read in that light and in tho light of the theology of the age in which the Confession was drawn up there oan be no doubt of tho intention of theframera when they speak of eternal torments. Opinions have modified very considerably since the framers did their work, and there aro few who will now accept of theHerribly painful picture of eternal torments in body and soul. We look back with horror upon the teachings of earlier yeara in regard to tha punishment of the lost, and; wonder why men continued «o long to speak of the God of love as if it were His very delight to take vengeance on hiß adversaries by inflicting npon them the mostindeßcribable tortures in a lake burning with fire and b imstone. PREDESTINATION. Look at another portion of the Confession in which tho statement of doctrine is equally unfortunate, viz., the charter of God's eternal decree. 'By Jihe decree of God,' the Confession says, 'for the manifestation of Hia glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life,andothersfo:eordained to everlasting life. Theße men and angels thuß predestinated and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.' Now, I presume no minister would care to go into his pulpit and tell his congregation that God for the manifestation of his glory has foreordained a ceitain number of the human family to everlasting death and that the number of those so foreordained is so fixed and definite that It cannot be oither increased or diminished. I would shudder to utter such a statement to men having bouls to save. Tell them that this ia the only conclusion that ia possible, according to the teaching of the Scripture, and you may preach to them till Doomsday about the goodness of God, but they won't believe it The two statements to the popular mind are bo contradictory that reconciliation ia impossible. Predestination is A DARK DOCTBINE AT THE HEST, and in the Confession it is set in its darkeat and most repulsive colourings. No man in these days would dare to represent God as the Confession represents him for ordaining the great mass of anregenerate mankind to everlasting death for 'the manifestation of his glory.' The grander, fuller, and more beautiful manifestations of his glory surely we hive in this — That God ao loved thu world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Certainly the best medicine known 13 Pa.ndsi; and Sons' Eucalypti 1 xtract. Test ita eminently power ful effects in coughs, colds, influenza ; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scalding, brui>es, sprains, it is the safest remedy— no swelling— no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, influnmation of the lungs, swellings, etc ; diarrhoea, dyscntiy, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over tne globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, and reject all others.