Part 25

We turn our eyes to the infant in a manger in Bethlehem, and place them upon the child of promise, born according to the divine purpose, to whom God had been pointing from the beginning of time, who is to be the rise and fall of many nations, and the hope of the world, and find that all the divine prophets, and holy Seers of olden times, have been looking to him; that the attention of all heaven is directed to him, and, that the object now is, to engage the attention, enlist the hearts, and center the affections of the whole family of man in him who is called Jesus. Accordingly, wonders surround him of a stupendous character, when he is born. Angels of heaven appear, exclaiming, “We bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people. Unto you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior is born, which is Christ the Lord.” After a few incidents connected with his birth, and up till he is two years of age, he passes pretty much without observation, through the period of his minority, and the time comes for the Lord to make him known to Israel. We look and see him approach John the Baptist, demanding baptism at his hands. The good man knew him not as the Messiah, though he knew him as a kinsman, and, in humility says, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me.” The Lord replied, “Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.” With this righteous explanation, the Baptist walked by the side of his Lord, not knowing him to be his Savior, for he says, “I knew him not, but he who sent me to baptize, said, ‘On whomsoever you see the Holy Spirit descending and remaining, that is he.’” Down they enter, hand in hand, into the water. The immerser takes his Redeemer in his hands, and lowers him till his person is buried in the waters of Jordan, and then gently raises him up. As they ascend from the water, they lift their eyes and behold the opening heavens, and the descending Spirit as it forms a visible appearance, and rests upon him whom God would have revealed to Israel. At this moment, the Almighty Father spoke from heaven, in the audience of the people, announcing: “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”

CAN NOT A MAN KNOW THAT HE IS A CHRISTIAN?

The grand question to be solved, in this generation, is, whether men can follow the Lord, the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, as their only Leader, receive his truth as their only guide, his faith as their only faith, his religion as their only religion, and be simply his disciples and no more. Is there such a thing in this world as christianity? All the conflicting parties around us admit that there is. Can we determine what it is? If we can not, no man knows whether he is a christian or not. If we can determine what christianity is, then, why not adopt it, and nothing else? Can we determine what the gospel is? If we can not, then, no man knows whether he is a believer or not, and knows not whether he will be saved or lost. If we can determine what the gospel is then, why in the name of reason not preach the gospel and nothing else? If we can not determine what the church of Christ is, then no man can determine whether he is in the church of Christ or not. If we can determine what the church of Christ is, there can be no excuse for forming any other church, or belonging to any other.

If we can not determine what christianity is, we can not determine who is near to it, or far from it. If we can not determine what the gospel is, we can not decide who comes near to it, or swerves far from it. If the right way can not be known, no man can tell who is near the truth and who is far from it. If we can not tell which the way to heaven is, we can not tell who is near and who is far from it. The world is lost. We are enveloped in impenetrable darkness. The light of heaven is blown out. Hell has triumphed. All is thrown into chaos. An eternal confusion spreads a universal reign. Doubt, uncertainty and gloom extend over the whole habitable earth. The purpose of God has failed, and the malignant purpose of hell has triumphed. The hope of all nations is lost. Our world is ruined!—Black, fearful and awful despair prevail everywhere among men. Is this the condition of our world? Tell us, all you who think that the man is a bigot, a simpleton and pretender, who says he can know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent—that he can know the truth that makes man free—that he can know the gospel—that he can know christianity—that he can know that he is a christian—that he can know the true church; tell us, all you who despise this man for claiming that he can know all this, if you say you cannot know these things, how do you know whether you are right or wrong, in the way to heaven or hell? How can you tell, if you know not these things, whether you are near right, or far from it? How can you tell anything about it?

EXALTED POSITION OF JESUS.

This glorious person is the soul of the Bible, the center of the whole spiritual system, the attraction for all nations, the ruler, not only among the saints on earth, but also the armies of heaven. God gave him honor and glory, the apostle says, when he proclaimed him his Son in the holy mountain. He walks at the head of the army of God, the true Israel, and among the inhabitants of the earth, proclaiming with all authority, both in heaven and on earth, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me.” “I am the resurrection and the life”—“I am he who was dead and am alive, and behold I live forever and ever”—“I have the keys of hell and of death; I can open, and no man can shut; I can shut, and no man can open”—“I am the bright and the morning star, the root and the offspring of David”—“I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me.” “If any man would be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.” Such are a few of the many expressions setting forth the exalted position of the Christian’s King and the Christian’s Lord. When he was coronated in heaven, crowned Lord of all, the Almighty Father swore that he should reign till all his enemies should be put under his feet—that to him every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess. Lift up your hearts, all you saints, and behold your King! He is the head of the church. Set your affections on him, follow him, and consecrate yourselves to him forever more.

PUBLIC OPINION—INFANT DAMNATION.

ST. LOUIS, MO., May 18th, 1874.

_To the Editor of the Globe_:

I will give a reward of fifty dollars to any one who will give the name of a Presbyterian minister, who is a member of a Presbytery, under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, of the United States of America, who has, at any time, preached the doctrine of infant damnation; and I will give fifty dollars additional reward, to any one who can point out any article in the Confession of Faith or Catechism of this Church, teaching this horrid doctrine. As infant damnation has been charged upon Presbyterians in an editorial, of recent date, in the _Globe_, the above reward is offered for the proof. That the elect are incapable of sin, is also stated in the same editorial, to be a doctrine of the Presbyterian Church. This also is untrue.

W. H. AUGHEY.

We publish the above to show where the _pressure comes_, and not that we expect any “fifty dollars reward,” for such men as the writer of this, always have a loop-hole through which to escape, but we will see whether the Presbyterian ministry believe “this horrid doctrine.” If they do not believe the Confession of Faith, they are sailing under _false colors_ and their profession is a sham. If they do believe their Confession of Faith, we leave the reader to judge whether they believe “this horrid doctrine.” Let us hear the Confession: “God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the Author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor is the liberty of contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.” _Con., page 18, God’s Eternal Decree, chap. iii._

The reader will see nothing about infant damnation in that. Very well; let us see what is in it. This is in it—that God did foreordain unchangeably whatever comes to pass. There is more than this in it—he did this “from all eternity.” Now let us hear the Confession tell what one of these decrees is: “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.” _Con. page 18._ When was this done? “From all eternity.” What was it done for? “For the manifestation of his glory.” What was done? “Some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained unto everlasting death.” That makes a plain case of it.

Let us hear the Confession again: “These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number is so certain and definite that it can not be either increased or diminished.” _Con. page 19._ This decree of predestination and foreordination is _particularly_ and _unchangeably designed_, and the number thus particularly and unchangeably designed can not be _increased_ or _diminished_. But it will be said that this is not said of _infants_, but of “angels and men.” So it is. But _when_ was this decreed? “From all eternity.” These _men_ “foreordained to everlasting death” were thus “particularly and definitely designed” “from all eternity.” We may not be able to explain precisely the meaning of the words “from all eternity,” but they evidently mean before they were created. Before they were born, then, some men were foreordained to everlasting death. When they were born they were _infants_; yes, _infants_ “particularly and unchangeably _designed_” to everlasting death. Those of these infants foreordained, “particularly and unchangeably designed to everlasting death,” who die in _infancy are lost_. Here, then, in the Confession of Faith, which Presbyterian ministers profess to believe, is the doctrine of _infant damnation_—yes, “the horrid doctrine,” whether they believe it or not.

But then infant damnation is no worse than the damnation of adults who are foreordained to everlasting death, particularly and unchangeably designed to everlasting death, the number so definite that it can be neither increased nor diminished.

Let us hear the Confession again: “Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature as conditions or causes moving him thereto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace.” _Con., page 21._

In view of this, where is the difference whether infants or adults? The decree of God—his design—settled the matter before they were born, and made it so definite, that the number can neither be increased nor diminished, and that, too, without any foresight of faith or good works in the creature. The immutable _decree_ and _design_ of God has settled the matter, and that, too, before time began. The elect can never be lost, and the non-elect can never be saved, no matter whether infants or adults. To unchangeably foreordain an infant to everlasting death, is no worse than to foreordain a man to everlasting death—_design_ him to it before he was created. But we must, since the account is opened, administer yet another item or two on this matter. “Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion,” is a standard work among Presbyterians, and used as a text-book in their theological schools. Let us hear from this work, Vol. I. page 166: “Hence appears the perverseness of their disposition to murmur, because they intentionally suppress the cause of condemnation, while they are constrained to acknowledge it themselves, hoping to excuse themselves by charging it upon God. But, though I ever so often admit God to be the Author of it, which is perfectly correct, yet this does not abolish the guilt impressed upon their consciences.”

Calvin here says, to confess that God is the Author of sin, which is the cause of condemnation, “is perfectly correct.” Let us hear him again: “I confess, indeed, that all the descendants of Adam fell, by the Divine will, into that miserable condition in which they are now involved; and this is what I asserted from the beginning, that we must always return at last to the sovereign determination of God’s will, the cause of which is hidden in himself,” Inst., page 166. Here Calvin says, “Adam fell by the Divine will.” Let us hear him once more: “If God simply foresaw the fates of men, and did not also dispose and fix them, by his determination, there would be room to agitate the question, whether his providence or foresight rendered them at all necessary. But since he foresaw future events only in consequence of his decree that they should happen, it is useless to contend about foreknowledge, while it is evident that all things come to pass rather by ordination and decree.” Inst., page 171.

Here it is argued that God foreknows “only in consequence of his decree.” But we must hear this great master in the Presbyterian Israel again: “I inquire again how it came to pass that the fall of Adam, independent of any remedy, should involve so many nations, with their infant children, in eternal death, but because such was the will of God?” Inst., page 170. Is there any infant damnation in this? But he says, “independent of any remedy.” He does so say, but _for the non-elect there is no remedy_. They and _their infant children_ are involved in eternal death, and that “because such was the will of God.” In these passages we have it clearly taught that God is the Author of sin; that not only Adam, but many nations, _with their infant children, are involved in eternal death_, and that, too, _according to the will of God_, because he _willed, designed—decreed it_.

See one more item from the Confession, chap. v. sec. 4: “The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom and infinite wisdom and goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence that it extendeth itself to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men, and that not by a bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifest dispensation to his own holy ends.” It is seen from this that the Confession teaches that even the providence of God extends not only to the first fall, but to _all other sins of angels of men_, and that not _by a bare permission_, but such as has joined with it a most wise and _powerful bounding_, and otherwise _ordering and governing of them_, in a manifest dispensation to his own holy ends.

Let us hear the Larger Catechism, page 195: “They who have never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, can not be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature or the laws of that religion which they possess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body, the church.” What becomes of all those who die without remedy, with _their infant children_? If Presbyterian ministers do not believe this horrible doctrine of infant damnation, it is because they do not believe their own Confession of Faith, and standard works. We can supply them with plenty more of the same sort, if there is any demand for it.

THE WARNING.

The antediluvians would not be warned by the preaching of Noah, and suspected nothing till the flood came, and swept them all away. The Jews in like manner would not be warned by our Lord and his apostles, and could not be aroused from their apathy and indifference till their devoted city was invested with armies. So shall it be at the coming of the Son of man. Great trials are upon those who intend to maintain truth and righteousness. May we be able to stand the coming conflict. The love of many is growing cold, and those weary of the restraints of Christ are coming to the surface. Let us not slumber, but watch and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die. Let us hold fast and be faithful, lest the trying hour come on us unexpected. Let us sing, and sing with the spirit and the understanding: “Nearer, my God, to thee.” May we find grace to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

HOW THE CAUSE OF REFORMATION WAS ADVANCED.

With preachers from the farms, shops, stores, law offices, doctors’ offices, with a little learning, and many almost without it, we carried this cause forward, and in defiance of all opposition have triumphantly planted it in all directions in this and in many other countries. The power was not _in the men_ but in the truth of God; the clear and unquestionable truth, that could be made plain and reliable to all men, and that, too, with very little learning or talent. The ground taken was invulnerable, manifestly right. The Bible is from God, divine, and admitted by all to be right, and there is not a reason in the world for not taking and going by it. We have struck down all human authorities, human names, and humanism of every sort, and restored to the people of this generation to a wonderful degree the divine, the supreme and absolute authority of the Bible, and are now commanding respect in a remarkable degree, not as a _new denomination_, but as the people of God, called out from the world and from Babylon, and planted upon the Rock of God.

The man that runs against this cause and opposes it is not simply running against men and opposing them, but against God, and must come to nothing. The cause is simply right, infallibly right, and nothing opposed to it is right. In this view we started in it, and have never had a doubt about its correctness and supreme authority over everything else in the name of religion. In our incipient movements every member was a _preacher_, if not _publicly_, _privately_, and every preacher was at work, as opportunity opened the way, in private, the social circle, the prayer-meeting, the established and regular meeting on the Lord’s day for the commemoration of the suffering of Jesus, anywhere and everywhere, as a sense of propriety dictated on all occasions. There were additions at almost every meeting, whether for prayer, or on the Lord’s day, and frequently when there were no meetings. All were _missionaries_, and missionaries _all the time_. Great numbers were almost daily added to the church, of both men and women. Indeed, many of the sectarian priests became obedient to the faith.

We had _discipline_ in the church—order, and the members were looked after; not only the popular and rich, but the afflicted and the poor. All were enlisted in the work, and had time to give attention to it. The evangelists were self-sacrificing men, seeking the salvation of the people, and preached in private dwellings, school houses, in barns, mills, groves, anywhere and everywhere that a few people could be found, who would hear the word of the Lord. The people crowded out to hear, and, hearing, believed to the salvation of their souls. They were of one heart and of one soul. The Bible was their book. “Thus saith the Lord” was their watchword, and a man that would sneer at it would have been regarded as a skeptic. “It is written” would be heard in the preaching and conversations. “The chapter and verse” were demanded. It was not the _novelty_ of the cause that gave it the victory, but the certainty that it was right—that it was from God and of supreme authority—that carried it to the hearts of the people. It was not unsupportable human schemes and devices that gave it power among the people, but the invulnerable nature of the cause itself. It was not the polish of classical and plausible men that carried it through the country, but the manifest authority of God in it.

Jesuits can only excel in being Jesuits; schemers can only excel in scheming; but “the excellency of the power” that pushed this cause through this country was not of Jesuits nor schemers, but of God; the preaching of the cross, the wisdom of God and the power of God. We knew nothing but Christ and him crucified, and went ahead with our plain and unvarnished story of Calvary. God was with us.

A PHALANX OF YOUNG MEN.

A grand phalanx of younger men, with fine education, abundant talent, and as true hearts as ever beat, are rallying to the principles, coming to the rescue, and have set their seal that “God is true,” and that “the word of God is not bound.” Ten of these for every one of the old men falling are making their appearance. They are rousing up all over the country, and new pens are coming to the rescue. God is with these young men, dwells in them and will hold them up. They are not mercenary men, but men of God—men of faith. We could name scores of them. They are found in all directions. They are reading, working, preaching the gospel and bringing sinners to the Lord. These are for the old ground—“The Bible and the Bible alone.” Many of them are now wielding master pens, and are master speakers. They are becoming masters of the situation. They will walk through the progressive elements, like Sampson carrying away the gate-posts, or pulling down the pillars of the house. While others will become “offended because of the word,” these will love the word, and all the hallowed principles involved, more and more, and stand true till the Lord comes. They will hear them ringing out the old watchwords, “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” etc., etc. They will find a formidable array of these—a wall of them that can never be broken down.

They will find that the great masses of the followers of Christ have never been perverted, have never departed from their principles, and have not the least idea of ever doing so, but intend to stand by them till the last. These are the great stamina of the cause. A few city people, who read but little, have studied but little, and are governed by _sound_ and _show_, do not control in these matters, nor a few _rich men_. The great body of the numbers who are scattered abroad, hear good gospel preaching, take the papers, read them, and read the Bible, _decide the course_, tell the story. These are not led away by a few glittering words, by sound, nor by clerical pretensions. You need not read to them your dreamy philosophy, metaphysical speculations, distinctions where there are no differences, prosing through your long articles of twenty to thirty pages; they will not read all this, nor will they believe without reading. They are plain and practical people, and must known what they are doing. These know the gospel and love it. They know the right way of the Lord and will not walk in any other way.

We work in faith, rest in hope, with the strong and blessed assurance that this cause will live and go on triumphantly when our part of it shall be finished. What we are concerned with, is how to do our part, that may still remain, to the best purpose.

BODIES RESURRECTED, NOT SPIRITS.