*
3. ~r
'%
PRINCETON, N. J.
fa
BX 9183 .P734 1890
Presbyterian Church in the
U.S.A.
Shelf. Overture on revision
/'■■vv '.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U.S.A.
OVERTURE ON REVISION
ANSWERS
PRESBYTERIES
Published by order of the General Assemhl'
CINCINNATI, 0.:
By the St a i i:n ( ILERK.
PREFACE.
This pamphlet is published in accordance with the following Reso-
lution passed by the General Assembly of 1890 :
"Resolved, That the answers of the Presbyteries to the second
question propounded in the Overture of the last Assembly on Revis-
ion be printed under the direction of the Stated Clerk, for the use of
the Assembly's Committee on the Revision of the Confession of
Faith."
In carrying out this direction, the Stated Clerk has endeavored to
secure from all the Presbyteries interested the papers or resolutions
verbatim as passed by them. Prefatory to the Answers, the following
documents will be found: (1) the Overture on Revision; (2) the
vote of the Presbyteries upon the Overture on Revision ; (3) the
action of the General Assembly of 1890, appointing the Special Com-
mittee on Revision ; (4) the names of the members of the Committee.
In accordance with the request of the Committee on Revision, the
Stated Clerk has placed a tabulated exhibit of the Answers at the
close, arranged in order of Chapters and Sections of the Confes-
sion of Faith. The arrangement of the Presbyteries is alphabetical
throughout.
Wm. Henry Roberts.
CfNCfNNATI, O., Jtlly, 1890.
(3)
INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENTS.
I. THE OVERTURE OF INQUIRY ON REVISION.
"Whereas, Overtures have come to this General Assembly from fif-
teen Presbyteries, viz.: Nassau, Mattoon, Bellefontaine, Lake Supe-
rior, Boulder, Portsmouth, Des Moines. Dayton, Geneva, Nebraska
City, Lansing, Troy, Trinity, Logansport, Austin, and Syracuse, ask-
ing for some revision of the Confession of Faith, and,
Whereas, In the opinion of many of our ministers and people,
some forms of statements in our Confession of Faith are liable to mis-
understanding, and expose our system of doctrine to unmerited crit-
icism, and,
Whereas, Before any definite steps should be taken for the revision
of our Standards, it is desirable to know whether there is any general
desire for such revision ; therefore,
Resolved, That this General Assembly overture to the Presbyteries
the following questions :
i. Do you desire a revision of the Confession of Faith?
2. If so, in what respects, and to what extent?" — [Minutes 1S89,
P- 79-]
The Presby
Aberdeen.
Alton.
Arizona.
Athens.
Austin.
Baltimore.
Bellefontaine.
Benicia.
Binghamton.
Bismarck.
Black Hills.
Bloomington.
Boulder.
THE VOTE OF 'I HE PRESBYTERIES ON REVISION.
teries voting in the affirmative were :
Brooklyn.
Buffalo.
Cairo.
Cayuga.
Cedar Rapids.
Central Dakota.
Champlain.
Chemung.
Chicago.
Chickasaw.
Chippewa.
Choctaw.
Chile.
Cincinnati.
Cleveland.
Columbia.
Columbus.
Council Bluffs.
Crawfordsville.
Dakota.
Dayton.
Denver.
Des Moines.
Detroit.
East Florida.
East Oregon.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
Elizabeth.
Emporia.
Erie.
Flint.
Fargo
Fort Dodge.
Fort Wayne.
Freeport.
Geneva.
Grand Rapids.
Gunnison.
Hastings.
Highland.
Holston.
Hudson.
Huron.
Idaho.
Indianapolis.
Iowa.
Iowa City.
Jersey City.
Kalamazoo.
Kearney.
Knox.
Lackawanna.
Lahore.
Lake Superior.
Lansing.
Larned.
Lehigh.
Lima.
Logansport.
Los Angeles.
Louisville.
Lyons.
Mahoning.
Mankato.
Marion.
Mattoon.
Maumee.
Mexico.
Milwaukee.
Monroe.
Montana.
Morris and Orange.
Muncie.
Nassau.
Nebraska City.
New Albany.
Newark.
New York.
Niagara.
Niobrara.
North River.
Northumberland.
Olympia.
Oregon.
Otsego.
Ottawa.
Peking.
Petoskey.
Pueblo.
Puget Sound.
Rio Grande.
Rochester.
Saginaw.
St. Clairsville.
St. Lawrence.
St. Paul.
Santa Fe.
Schuyler.
Solomon.
Southern Dakota.
Southern Oregon.
South Florida.
Steuben.
Steubenville.
Stockton.
Syracuse.
Transylvania.
Troy.
Union.
Utah.
Utica.
Vincennes.
Washington City.
Waterloo.
Westchester.
West Jersey.
West Virginia.
White Water.
Winnebago.
Winona.
Wood River.
Zanesville. — 134.
The Presbyteries voting in the negative were
Allahabad.
Allegheny.
Atlantic.
Blairsville.
Boston.
Butler.
Cape Fear.
Carlisle.
Cherokee Nation.
Chester.
Chillicothe.
Clarion.
Corisco.
Dubuque.
Duluth.
Ebenezer.
Fairfield.
Genesee.
Huntingdon.
Kansas City.
Kingston.
Kittanning.
Kolhapur.
La Crosse.
6
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Lodiana.
Long Island.
McClelland.
Madison.
Monmouth.
Muskogee.
Neosho.
New Brunswick.
New Castle.
Newton.
North Laos.
North Texas.
Omaha.
Osborne.
Ozark.
Palmyra.
Pembina.
Peoria.
Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Central.
Philadelphia North.
Pittsburg.
Platte.
Portsmouth.
Red River.
Redstone.
Rock River.
Sacramento.
St. Louis.
San Francisco.
The Presbyteries failing to respond were
Furrukhabad. Shanghai.
Ningpo.
The Presbyteries declining to vote were :
Alaska. Canton.
Albany. Catawba.
Birmingham.
San Jose.
Shenango.
Siam.
Southern Virginia.
Springfield.
Topeka.
Trinity.
Washington.
Wellsborough.
Western Africa.
Westminster.
White River.
Wooster.
Yadkin.— 68.
Shantung. — 4.
Oroomiah.
Zacatecas. — 7.
III. ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1890, APPOINTING THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REVISION.
" The Committee to which was referred the several resolutions on
the appointment of a Committee on Revision, presented the following
Report :
Your Committee respectfully report that they have unanimously
agreed upon the following preambles and resolutions, the adoption of
which they recommend :
Whereas, The last General Assembly directed an Overture to be
transmitted to the Presbyteries in these words : i. Do you desire a
Revision of the Confession of Faith? 2. If so, in what respects, and
to what extent? And,
Whereas, It appears from the Report of the Special Committee
appointed to canvass the answers of the Presbyteries to said Overture,
that 134 Presbyteries have answered "yes" to the first question;
therefore,
OVERTURE ON REVISION. 7
Resolved, i. That a Committee composed of one member of the
Assembly from each Synod — to wit, nineteen ministers and ten elders
— be appointed by the Moderator, to nominate to this Assembly a
Committee consisting of fifteen ministers and ten elders, which shall
be called "The Assembly's Committee on Revision of the Confession
of Faith"; which Committee, when constituted by the General
Assembly, shall consider the suggestions made by the Presbyteries in
their answers to the second of the above questions, and formulate and
report to the General Assembly of 1891, such alterations and amend-
ments to the Confession of Faith as in their judgment may be deemed
desirable.
2. This Committee on Revision shall meet at the call of a tempo-
rary Chairman to be named by the Moderator of this General Assem-
bly, and shall, upon meeting, appoint their own permanent Chairman,
and shall have power to fill vacancies.
3. This Committee on Revision is instructed to meet at an early
date, not later than October 31, 1890, and diligently to pursue its
work, that it may report promptly at the meeting of the General
Assembly of 1891. And,
Whereas, Sixty-eight Presbyteries have answered "no" to the first
of the above questions, and sixty-nine [ninety-three] Presbyteries of
those answering "yes," have expressly said that they desire no
change in the Confession of Faith to be made that impairs the integ-
rity of the system of doctrine taught therein; therefore,
Resolved, That this Committee on Revision be and hereby are
instructed that they shall not propose any alterations or amendments,
that will in any way impair the integrity of the Reformed or Calvin-
istic system of doctrine taught in the Confession of Faith." — [Minutes
1890, pp. 85-86.]
IV. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REVISION.
Temporary Chairman, Pres. Wm. C. Roberts, D.D., LL.D.
MINISTERS.
Rev. Prof. William Henry Green, D.D., LL.D., Synod of New Jersey.
Pres. Thomas S. Hastings, D.D., LL.D., Synod of New York.
Rev. Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, D. D., Synod of Pennsylvania.
Rev. Prof. Willis J. Beecher, D.D., Synod of New York.
Rev. Prof. Edward D. Morris, D.D., LL.D., Synod of Ohio.
Rev. Prof. Herrick Johnson, D.D., LL.D., Synod of Illinois.
Rev. Prof. William Alexander, D.D., Synod of the Pacific.
8 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Pres. Francis L. Patton, D.D., LL.D., Synod of New Jersey.
I'res. William C. Roberts, D D., LL.D., Synod of Illinois.
Rev. William E. Moore, D.D., Synod of Ohio.
Rev. Henry J Van Dyke, D.D., Synod of New York.
Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, D.D., Synod of Pennsylvania.
Rev. James T. Leftwich, D.D., Synod of Baltimore.
Rev. Samuel J. Niccolls, D.D., LL.D , Synod of Missouri.
Rev. Edward R. Burkhalter, D.D., Synod of Iowa.
RULING ELDERS.
Ex-Justice William Strong, Synod of Baltimore.
Ex-Senator Samuel J. R. McMillan, Synod of Minnesota.
Judge Alfred Hand, Synod of Pennsylvania. '
Emerson E. White, Esq., Synod of Ohio.
Judge Henry B. Sayler, Synod of Indiana.
Winthrop S. Oilman, Esq., Synod of New York.
Barker Gummere, Esq., Synod of New Jersey.
William Ernst, Esq., Synod of Kentucky.
George Junkin, Esq., Synod of Pennsylvania.
Charles M. Charnley, Esq., Synod of Illinois.
[Minutes 1890,/. 127.]
ANSWERS OF THE PRESBYTERIES.
The following are the answers of the Presbyteries to Question No. 2,
of the Overture on the Revision of the Confession of Faith, viz.: " If
so, in what respects, and to what extent?"
THE PRESBYTERY OF ABERDEEN.
Desiring revision, we are, nevertheless, opposed to any attempt to
remodel the Confession that will in any way destroy its doctrinal
integrity. While we do not state the exact wording of the revision,
we can indicate to what extent we desire to see it.
Chapter III. ought to be revised by omitting the last clause of Sec-
tion 3, and all of Section 4.
These omitted passages teach the doctrine of reprobation or abso-
lute foreordination to everlasting death. We recommend the omission
of this doctrine for the reason that it is not essential to Christianity.
It is not necessary to Calvinism, as there are thirty Calvinistic
creeds in existence, and but three teach it. It is not necessary to a
belief in the doctrine of election.
In Chapter X., we recommend the substitution of the following
instead of Section 3, viz.: "All elect persons who are inca-
pable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are
regenerated and saved by Christ, by the Holy Spirit, who worketh
when and where and how he pleaseth." It matters not how we may
try to evade it, this section teaches, as it was intended by its framers
to teach, that there are some infants dying in infancy who are not
elect. But the prime reason for changing this section is that our
Church believes and teaches that all infants dying in infancy are saved.
Chapter X., Section 4, is ambiguous. Equally able and scholarly
minds differ as to its meaning. We recommend a restatement that
will make its teachings clear.
We recommend the omission from Chapter XXV., Section 6, of the
second clause referring to the Pope as Antichrist.
Then, again : We would favor the addition to the Confession of
the central truth of Christianity, namely, the love of God in Jesus
Christ.
10 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
These are the main points where we desire to see our Confession
revised. There might be others, but if these changes were made, they
would relieve it of much that is objectionable, and make it a true
standard of the modern Presbyterian Church. Such changes would
in no way weaken the system that our fathers believed in, and in
which we believe as much as they ever did.
They would place us in the true light before the whole religious
world, and when assailed we could, without hesitancy, turn to the
inspired page and point out the verse that teaches without ambiguity
what we believe.
Further, we recommend that the General Assembly appoint a large
and representative committee, to which shall be intrusted the whole
question as to the extent of revision and the particular form it shall
take before submission to the Presbyteries for ratification, provided
that :
I. The integrity of the system of doctrine taught in the Confes-
sion shall be inviolate.
II. The sections named in Chapters III. and X. be modified so
as to harmonize with the other parts of the Confession.
III. God's love for the world, and his command to preach the
gospel to every creature be given a full and specific treatment.
Attest: R. H. Hooke, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ALTON.
i. That no changes be made in the venerable symbol which shall
not preserve inviolate the system of doctrine therein contained.
2. That consistently with this, those expressions and statements,
especially in the third and tenth chapters, which are infelicitous, be
modified or eliminated.
3. That God's love for the world, his full invitation to all, his com-
mand to preach the gospel to every creature, and the responsibility of
each one for individual salvation or the reverse, be given full and
definite expression. Attest: Ira C. Tyson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ARIZONA.
Chapter III., Section 3, add the words " for their sins."
Chapter III., Section 6, eliminate the last sentence, beginning with
the word, " neither."
Chapter III., omit Sections 4 and 7.
ABERDEEN TO AUSTIN. 11
In place of omitted sections, insert an expression of the love of
God and free offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Chapter X., Section 3, omit the word "elect."
Chapter X., Section 4, omit.
Chapter X., Section 1, omit the words " and these only."
Chapter XXV., Section 6, omit all after the words "Jesus Christ."
Attest: I. T. Whittemore, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ATHENS.
Chapter III. We desire that the doctrine concerning God's Decree
should be guarded by the insertion of such a section as that suggested
by the Presbytery of Brooklyn, viz.: —
" God's eternal decree hindereth no one from accepting Christ as he is
offered to all men for salvation in the gospel, nor ought it to be so
construed as to contradict the declarations of Scripture, that Christ
is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that God is not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Chapter X., Section 3, should be so revised as to set forth plainly the
belief of the Presbyterian Church that all infants dying in infancy,
and all other persons who from birth to death are incapable of being
outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are elect, and are saved
by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when and where and how
he pleaseth.
Chapter X., Section 4, the words " much less can men not profess-
ing the Christian religion " should be dropped from the revised Con-
fession.
We do not desire any revision which would eliminate from the
Confession any essential features of the system of doctrine now
taught therein.
We think it proper to state that some members of the Presbytery
believe that a briefer and simpler creed would be better for the use of
the Church than our present Confession.
Attest: David R. Moore, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBVTERY OF AUSTIN.
In reply to the second question, "In what respects, and to what
extent?" we answer as follows:
1. We desire that the system of doctrine, as contained in the Con-
fession of Faith, be preserved in its full integrity.
12 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
2. That those forms of statement, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which convey, or seem to many to convey, erroneous and
unscriptural implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be
modified or eliminated.
3. That the love of God for the whole world, and his command to
preach the gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite
expression.
4. We prefer, however, that the extent and definite form of these
changes, to be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratifi-
cation, shall be left to the wisdom of such large and representative
committee as the General Assembly shall appoint.
Attest : John Giffen, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BALTIMORE.
The Committee on the Revision of the Confession of Faith beg
leave to report :
The first question of the Assembly's Overture, viz.: "Do you
desire a revision of the Confession of Faith?" the Presbytery has
already answered in the affirmative. Your Committee was appointed
for the sole purpose of formulating an answer to the second question,
viz.: "If so, in what respects, and to what extent?'' Under the
action of the Presbytery, which the Committee accepted as their
instructions, they regarded themselves as bound to propose the mini-
mum of change, and that confined to matters which would not affect
the system of doctrine known as the Reformed or Calvinistic system
in its historic sense, as hitherto held by us.
The Presbytery recognizes that there are some who insist on
changes in the Confession which, in our judgment, would mutilate, if
not destroy, its system of doctrine. With such radical revisionists we
have no sympathy, and to their demands we can not yield. There
are others, however, holding the Calvinistic system in its integrity,
who desire for their own relief and the removal of hindrances in their
work, certain omissions, additions or changes of phraseology which
would make the real import of the Confession more clear, and so
obviate occasions of misunderstanding. To their desires the Presby-
tery is willing to yield so far as fidelity to the truth will admit, in the
interests of peace and charity and brotherly kindness, and to the" end
that all the true friends of Calvinism may be consolidated and a united
front presented to its impugners. In accordance with this position
they recommend the revision of the Confession in the following par-
ticulars and to the following extent :
AUSTIN TO BALTIMORE. 13
i. That in Chapter III. the last clause of Section 3 and the whole
of Section 4 be omitted, and that the first clause of Section 3 be pre-
fixed to Section 5, so that Section 5 will read " By the decree of God,
for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestin-
ated unto everlasting life. Those of mankind that are," etc. The
omission of these portions is suggested, nor because when rightly
understood they are either untrue or unscriptural, but because the
expressions employed are often misunderstood, and the whole truth
they are designed to teach is more fully and therefore more clearly
unfolded in the following sections, and expressed in such language as
to obviate misunderstanding on the part of all who really accept the
doctrines themselves. For the same reason the omission of the last
sentence of Section 6 is recommended.
2. That Chapter X., Section 3, be amended so as to read, "Such
elect persons as are incapable of being outwardly called by the minis-
try of the Word are regenerated and saved by Christ through the
Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth." This
change is suggested to obviate the misunderstanding of the phrase
" elect infants."
3. That Chapter X., Section 4, be amended by omitting the latter
part of it, beginning with the words, " Much less," etc., because of
its ambiguity as shown by the different interpretations put upon it.
4. That Chapter XXV., Section 6, be amended so as to read,
"There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, and in
claiming such headship he exalteth himself in the church against
Christ, and all that is called God "
5. That a new section on the proclamation of the gospel be intro-
duced in some appropriate place, say as Section 7 of Chapter VII.,
in the following or equivalent terms: ""God, having no pleasure in
the death of any, but loving the world, and desiring all men to be
saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, and having pro-
vided in Jesus Christ a propitiation sufficient for the world, has given
commission to the church under the New Testament dispensation to
preach the gospel of his grace unto all nations, wherein he freely
offers to all men forgiveness and eternal life through repentance and
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.'' The following may be inserted as
proof-texts :
Ezekiel xxxiii. 11. — "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from
his way and live.''
John iii. 16. — " For God so loved the world that he gave his only
14 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
i Tim. ii. 4. — " Who will have all men to be saved and to come
unto the knowledge of the truth."
1 John ii. 2. — "And he is the propitiation for our sins : and not
for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."
Matt, xxviii. 19. — "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations."
Mark xvi. 15. — " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature."
Also Acts ii. 38; xvi. 31; Romans iii. 25-26; 1 John i. 9; Rev.
xxii. 17, etc.
Adopted by the Presbytery, April, 1890.
Attest : J. Pym Carter, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BELLEFONTAINE.
While we would wish that the order of topics in the Confession
were so arranged as to place the chapter on "God's Eternal Decree"
after the chapters on Creation and the Fall, so as to make the Con-
fession on its face infralapsarian, yet we suggest only the following or
similar amendments:
Chapter III., Section 3. Either omit all after "life," or substitute
" and the rest are left to perish in their sins."
Chapter III., Section 4. Omit all.
Chapter III., Section 5. Substitute "not because of" for "with-
out.''
Chapter III., Section 6. Omit the last sentence.
Chapter III., Section 7. Insert after "whereby" the words, "in
infinite wisdom, goodness and truth," and add at the close, "yet so
as thereby neither does God hinder any one from accepting Christ,
nor is the sufficiency of his provision of salvation in Christ for all men
in any way impaired, nor is there put upon the free offer of this sal-
vation any limitation whatever, but whosoever will, may accept it
and be saved."
Chapter X. Section 1, substitute for "and those only" after "life''
the words "when they are capable of being called by the Word."
Chapter X. Section 2, to read thus, " This effectual call is of God's
free and special grace, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who
is altogether passive in the act of regeneration, wherein, being quick-
ened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is enabled to answer God's
call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it."
Chapter X. Section 3, to read "All infants dying in infancy, and all
BELLEFONTAINE TO BINGHAMTON. 15
persons incapable, from birth to death, of being outwardly called by
the ministry of the Word, are regenerated and saved by Christ through
the Spirit, who worketh when, where, and how he pleaseth.''
Chapter X. Section 4, substitute "not accepting" for "nut professing."
Chapter XXV. change " Catholic" to " General" throughout.
Chapter XXV. Section 6, omit all after " Lord Jesus Christ."
Chapter XXVIII. Section r, change the clause after " Jesus Christ "
so as to read " not only for the solemn recognition of the baptized as
a member of the visible church," and conform the language of the
Catechisms to this change.
Shorter Catechism, Question 107, and Longer, Question 196. In
these questions and their answers, after the word "conclusion" insert
the words "appended to" instead of "of, so they shall read " The
conclusion appended to the Lord's Prayer," etc.
Attest: S. J. Bogle, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BENICIA.
In replying to the second question propounded by the General
Assembly, the Presbytery of Benicii takes occasion to reaffirm its
loyalty to the Standards of the Presbyterian Church, and its hearty
acceptance of the Confession of Faith as containing the system of
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures. We desire therefore that
whatever changes it may be found necessary to make, in the doctrinal
statements of the Confession, shall be confined within as narrow limits
as possible.
Attest: H. B. McBriue, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BINGHAMTON.
The Committee of the Presbytery of Binghamton, to whom was
referred the second question in the Overture of the General Assembly
in respect to revision, viz:
In what respect and to what extent do you desire such revision ?
Would recommend for the adoption of Presbytery the following
answer :
I. We do not desire any such change in the Confession as will
impair the system of doctrine taught in it, which system we heartily
receive and adopt.
II. We do desire the modification or omission of certain state-
ments which we regard as not demanded by, and as subjecting our
system of doctrine itself to undeserved reproach, as well as causing
stumbling to anxious souls.
16 ANSWERS OK PRESBYTERIES.
III. While disavowing any attempt at revision ourselves, we
would respectfully indicate as changes that we deem important :
i. That in Chapter III, Section 3, the words " for their sins" be
inserted before the word " foreordained."
2. That Sections 4 and 7 of the same chapter be omitted.
3. That either in the place of Section 7, or in some other suitable
place, there be inserted an explicit declaration of the love of God for
all men, and of the fullness, suitableness and sufficiency of the pro-
vision made in Jesus Christ for all.
4. That Chapter X, Section 3, be so amended as to remove any
supposed ambiguity which to some seems to allow the inference that
there are infants dying in infancy that are lost.
5. That all after the first paragraph in Section 4 of the same chap-
ter be omitted.
6. That those statements which are contained in Chapter XXV
concerning the " Pope of Rome" be omitted, as not demanded in a
Confession of the Church faith.
The Committee further recommend that the Presbytery unite with
other Presbyteries in the expression of a most earnest desire for a
short, simple and plain creed, which shall contain the fundamental
doctrines of the Westminster Confession ; and which shall be used,
not as a substitute for that Confession, but as a helpful supplement to
it in the work of the Church.
Adopted April 22, 1890. A correct copy :
John McVey, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BISMARK.
Replying to the second question : We would suggest dropping the
word 'elect" where it occurs before "infants"; also the leaving
unsaid much that finds place relative to the Divine decrees ; also the
removing of all those passages that affirm, or imply, the impossibility
of salvation without a knowledge of the historic Christ and the Scrip-
tures. By way of addition, we would suggest the giving of a much
greater relative prominence and emphasis to the great Scriptural
doctrines of God's love and grace to the world; man's free agency
and consequent responsibility; the salvability of all who truly repent
and believe; the Church's duty to evangelize the heathen ; and the
duty and privilege of every believer to contribute to the missionary
work of the Church at home and abroad.
Attest: John B. Hobart, Stated Clerk.
BISMARK TO BLOOMINGTON. 17
THE PRESBYTERY OF THE BLACK HILLS.
We recommend in our answer to the Assembly's Overture, that we
declare our firm adherence to the Calvinistic system of theology
taught in our Standards, as being the system of truth taught in the
Holy Scriptures.
Chapter III. Section 3, omit the last clause after the word " life "
Chapter III. Section 4, strike out the entire section.
Chapter XXV. Section 6, omit all after the clause, "There is no
other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ."
We favor revision : — 1. Only so far as shall be necessary to express
the truth, where our Confession is unsatisfactory, or to remove ambig-
uous statements.
2. So as to remove all supralapsarian error.
3. So that the great love of God to men, his good faith in offer-
ing the gospel to all, and his provision for all in the atonement made
by Christ, shall receive a full and adequate statement.
4. So that our Confession shall not teach either that some infants
are not elect, or that heathen who are "diligent to frame their lives
according to the light of nature," can not be saved.
Attest : Jno. B. Pomeroy, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BLOOMINGTON.
Replying to the second question, " In what respects, and to what
extent?" Bloomington Presbytery would answer that it is the judg-
ment of the Presbytery that the extent to which the Confessional
change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall take before
submission to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification, may
safely be left to such large and representative committee as the Gen-
eral Assembly shall appoint, it being provided that in any proposed
change at least the three following points shall be secured :
1. That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained
in our Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
2. That those forms of statements, especially in the third and
tenth chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous or
unscriptural implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be
modified or eliminated ; and,
3. That God's love for the world and his command to preach the
Gospel to every creature be given fuller and more definite expression.
Attest: W. A. Hunter, Stated Clerk.
18 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BOULDER.
i. That we affirm our firm allegiance to the system of doctrine
contained in the Confession of Faith as the system of doctrine con-
tained in the Scriptures, and that we desire the revision to be accom-
plished agreeably to this principle.
2. That we desire the doctrines of the Church to be expressed as
far as possible in the plain and simple language of Scripture, and
that all doctrines be omitted therefrom which are deductions, however
logical, rather than plainly revealed truth. We believe that Confes-
sional statement should be confined to positive Scripture teaching.
3. We call attention to the following chapters and sections, among
others, that should be revised, and we so recommend :
In Chapter III., Sections 3, 4, 6 and 7.
In Chapter VI., Sections 1, 2 and 4.
In Chapter X., Sections 3 and 4.
In Chapter XVI., Section 7.
In Chapter XXV., Section 6.
In Chapter XXX., Section 2.
In Chapter XXIX., we recommend a revision that shall omit all
reference to the Roman Church as such by name, and that all other
portions of the Confession be changed to conform thereunto.
4. We recommend also that Presbytery express its desire for
additional chapters that shall set forth the great commission — the truth
that God is love (see 1 John iv. 8)— and that God loves the world,
as set forth in John iii. 16, and a section setting forth that the atone-
ment of Christ is sufficient for all, adapted to all, to be freely offered
to all, and efficient to all those that believe.
5. Furthermore, in accordance with the above, and such other
suggestions as may meet the approval of the General Assembly, we,
the Presbytery of Boulder, do hereby overture the General Assembly
to prepare and send down to the Presbyteries for adoption, a draft of
a revision of the Confession of Faith.
Attest: Jno. G. Reid, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF BROOKLYN.
In answer to the second question, this Presbytery emphatically
declares :
First. That we do not desire and should not consent to any such
revision as would change or impair the system of doctrine taught in
the Confession, which we sincerely receive and adopt in all the essen-
BOULDER TO BROOKLYN. 1 '.I
tial and necessary articles thereof as the system of doctrine taught in
the Holy Scriptures.
In entire consistency with this declaration we believe and declare —
Secondly. That there are in the Confession some statements of doc-
trine which can be and ought to be amended and improved so as to
bring them more into harmony with the teaching of Scripture and
with the faith of the Presbyterian Church; and, furthermore, that
there are in the Confession some statements which, being without
warrant of Scripture, and not essential to the integrity of its system
of doctrine, ought to be entirely omitted.
Thirdly. We declare that in our further answer to the second ques-
tion in the Assembly's overture, this Presbytery does not undertake to
revise the Confession. For the accomplishment of that work we look
to the wisdom of the whole Church as represented in the General
Assembly.
We, therefore, respectfully submit to the General Assembly the fol-
lowing suggestions :
I. That the third Chapter of the Confession be amended as fol-
lows :
(_r) That the words ''for their sins" be inserted after the word
"foreordained," in the third section.
(2) That the fourth and seventh sections, and the last sentence of
the sixth section, be omitted.
(3) That in place of the seventh section, omitted, there be inserted
a clear and explicit declaration of God's infinite love for all men, and
of the sufficiency, suitableness and free offer of the gospel for the
salvation of all. Without insisting upon the precise form of this new
section, we submit to the Assembly the third Chapter as thus amended :
Of God's Eternal Decree. *
Section i. 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 creatures, nor is the liberty or
contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
Section 2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to
pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed, anything
because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass
upon such conditions.
Section 3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his
* The word " Decrees" in the. recent editions of our Confession, issued by our
Board of Publication, is a typographical error, and ought to be corrected.
20 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life,
and others foreordained for their sins to everlasting death.
Section 4. 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 pleas-
ure 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 thereunto ; and all to
the praise of his glorious grace.
Section 5. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath
he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all
the means thereunto. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen
in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in
Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted,
sanctified and kept by his power, through faith unto salvation.
Section 6. God's eternal counsel hindereth no one from accepting
Christ, as he is offered to all men for salvation in the Gospel. Nor ought
it be so construed as to contradict the declarations of Scripture that ' ' God
so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believcth in him might not perish but have everlasting life ;" that Christ is
a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that " God is not will-
ing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Section 7. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination
is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men, attending
the will of God, revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience there-
unto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured
of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,
reverence and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence and
abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
II. We suggest the phrase " the justice of His Father" in Chapter
VIII. , Section 5, and the phrase " His Father 's justice" in Chapter
XL, Section 3, be changed to " the Divine justice" The reason for
this amendment is that the words quoted sanction the error, that justice
is in some sense the peculiar attribute of the First Person of the
Trinity.
III. We suggest the following changes in the tenth Chapter :
(1) That the ambiguous and much-disputed phrase, " Elect infants,
dying in infancy," be omitted, and that the third section be recon-
structed so as to read as follows: "All persons, including infants,
who from birth to death are incapable of being outwardly called by
the ministry of the Word, are elect, and are regenerated and saved
BROOKLYN. 2L
by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, where and how he
pleaseth."
(2) That the following words in the fourth section be omitted:
"Much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved
in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their
lives according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion
which they do profess ; and to assert and maintain that they may is
very pernicious and to be detested. "
IV. We suggest that the Confession contains statements in regard
to the Roman Catholic Church which are out of place in a symbol of
faith, which can not be sustained by due warrant of Scripture, and
ought, therefore, to be omitted.
(1) The declaration in Chapter XXII., Section 7, that " Popish
and monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty and
regular obedience, are superstitious and sinful snares in which no one
may entangle himself."
(2) The entire second sentence of the third section of Chapter XXIV.,
which reads : " And, therefore, such as profess the true reformed
religion should not marry with infidels, Papists or other idolaters ;
neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying
with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damn-
able heresies."
(3) The assertion in Chapter XXV., Section 6, second sentence :
"Nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is
that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth
himself, in the Church, against Christ, and all that is called God."
Without attempting to present in full the arguments in favor of a
revision of the Confession, or to defend in detail the amendments we
have suggested, the Presbytery of Brooklyn respectfully submit to the
General Assembly the following reasons for the answers we have given
to the Assembly's overture :
1. Such amendments as we have suggested would not in any wise
impair the historic or doctrinal integrity of the Confession. The
Shorter C.itechism, as well as the Confession, contains the system of
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, and is in all essential and
necessary articles a good form of sound words, and yet the Shorter
Catechism doe> not contain one of the statements to which we object
in the Confession of Faith.
2. The terms of subscription by which our ministers and elders
receive and adopt the Confession of Faith, "as containing the system
of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures," do not furnish the relief
which we seek for in revision. Because the Confession is not merelv
22 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
a test of orthodoxy for the officers of the Church ; it is the symbol
and standard of the whole Church, a declaration to the world of what
Presbyterians believe, and a text-book out of which all our people are
to be instructed. Such a revision as we desire would bring this
Standard, more into conformity with what the whole Church believes
to be the teaching of the Holy Scripture, make its meaning plainer,
do away with the necessity for explaining and defending its disputed
statements, and make it more suitable as a summary of doctrine for
the instruction of our baptized children in the principles of our holy
religion, according to the injunction of the Directory for Worship,
Chapter VII.. Section 4.
3. Such a revision as we desire will tend to prevent the evils of
loose subscription to our Standards. As a dead law upon the statute-
book weakens the force and impairs the authority of all law, so a
statement in our Confession which a large number of our ministers,
elders and people openly reject (as is notoriously the case with most
of the statements to which we have suggested amendments), weakens
the authority and good repute of the whole Confession, and impairs
its force as a bond of union between those who adopt it.
4. In our judgment there never has been in the history of the
past, and is not likely to be in the future, a time when such a revision
could be more safely made. We doubt whether our Church has ever
been more loyal to the Standards than she is to-day. We know of no
ministers or elders who can be justly suspected of insincerity in adopt-
ing the Confession as containing the system of doctrine taught in the
Holy Scriptures. We recognize in the desire for revision a fruit and
evidence of this sincerity. It is with us pre-eminently a time of peace.
Missionary zeal has largely taken the place of the bitter theological
controversies of the former days. The fairness, toleration and broth-
erly love which have so signally characterized the discussion of
the Assembly's overture, is a happy omen that revision can be accom-
plished in the same blessed temper, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit who abides with us, even as he dwelt m the Westminster
Assembly. For this consummation we offer up our desires to God in
the name of Christ, with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.
A true copy : Newell Woolsey Wells, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF RUFFALO.
Believing that the Confession of Faith contains the "system of doc-
trine taught in the Holy Scriptures," the Presbytery is opposed to any
revision of the Confession which would impair the integrity of the
BUFFALO TO CAIRO. 23
Reformed or Calvinistic system. But believing also that the Presby-
terian Church is now in conditions very different from those surround-
ing the churches represented in the Westminster Assembly, and that,
in the providence of God, great advancement has since been made in
the interpretation of the Bible, the Presbytery desires such revision as
will bring certain statements of the Confession into more complete
harmony with the present faith of the Church, and will most effi-
ciently help to maintain and proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus the
Christ.
In accordance with this, the Presbytery recommends :
I. That there be added to the third Chapter a fuller statement of
God's love for all mankind, of the offer of salvation through Jesus
Christ unto all, of the responsibility of all to receive and obey the
truth (in accordance with John iii. 16-19; 1 Tim. ii. 1-4; 2 Peter
iii. 9; etc.), and that there be also added to this chapter, or put
in some other appropriate place, a recognition of the responsibility
laid upon the Church by the command of our Lord in Matt, xxviii.
19-20.
II.' That in the tenth Chapter, Section 3 be revised so as not to
appear to discriminate concerning "infants dying in infancy."
III. That Section 4 of the tenth Chapter be revised by striking out
the words " not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any way
whatsoever, be they never so diligent to," and substituting therefor
the words " not called by the ministry of the Word, be saved except
by Christ through the Spirit, although they."
IV. That the last sentence of Section 6, Chapter XXV. . be omitted.
Attest : William Waith, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CAIRO.
First, That the full integrity of the system of doctrine, as contained
in the Confession of Faith, and as taught by all the Standards of the
Church, shall be kept inviolate.
Second, That those forms of statement, especially in the third and
tenth Chapters, which seem to some to convey erroneous and unscrip-
tural implications, and which are and have been occasions of stum-
bling, be modified and changed, so as to conform to the doctrines as
taught by the Church.
Third, That God's love of the world, and his commission to preach
the gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite expres-
sion, believing as we do, that it is not the will of God that any should
perish, but that all might come unto him and live.
24 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Fourth, We favor also the formulation, adoption, and publication
for popular use, of a briefer creed, to consist of from two to four
thousand words, based on the Confession of Faith, this briefer creed
to be recommended by the Church to the people, as an adequate
presentation in popular form of the system of doctrine more elabor-
ately taught in the Confession of Faith.
Attest: Ben j. C. Swan, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA.
"To the extent of revising it by so combining, abridging, and sup-
plementing the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Cate-
chisms, so as to secure a briefer and simpler statement of the system
of doctrine contained therein and in the Holy Scriptures.''
The Presbytery herewith submits to the General Assembly the
accompanying paper, "Suggestions for Revision," not as a completed
draft for final action, but as an illustration of the character and mode
of revision which seem to us desirable.
Suggestions for a Revised Confession of Faith. _ Prepared by Ransom B.
Welch, D.D., atid Edward P. Sprague, D.D., and
approved by the Presbytery of Cayuga.
I.
OF 1HE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
i. God, in his works of creation and providence, and especially
in the spirit of man, does so far manifest his wisdom, power, good-
ness and love, as to leave men without excuse ; yet it pleased the
Lord further to reveal himself, and to declare his will unto men, and
to commit the same to writing by holy men, inspired by the Holy
Ghost; so that the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments do
contain the special revelation of the mind and will of God for our
salvation.
2. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God by
their majesty and purity, by the consent of all the parts, and the scope
of the whole, by their power to convict and convert sinners, and to
build up believers unto salvation ; but the full persuasion that they
are the very word of God, is from the inward work of the Holy
Spirit, bearing witness by and with the word, in our hearts.
3. These Scriptures are the only rule of faith and life, teaching
what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires
of man; they are devoutly to be studied by all, comparing Scripture
with Scripture; and the Holy Spirit, speaking in them, is the Supreme
Judge, by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined.
CAYUGA. 25
II.
OF GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY.
i. There is but one only living and true God, who is a spirit, infi-
nite, eternal and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness,
justice, goodness and truth, most loving, gracious, merciful and long-
suffering, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and who will by
no means clear the guilty.
2. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one God,
the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
III.
of god's eternal decree.
i. 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 vio-
lence offered to the will of his creatures, nor is the liberty or contin-
gency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
2. Out of his own free grace and love, God has in Christ Jesus
elected some to eternal life, through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth. These being effectually called in due season, are
justified, adopted, sanctified and kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation.
3. God's eternal decree hinders no one from accepting Christ, as
he is freely offered to all men in the Gospel : nor is it to be so construed
as to contradict the declarations of Scripture, that Christ is the propi-
tiation for the whole world, and that God is not willing that any should
perish, but would have all come to repentance and live.
IV.
OF CREATION AND PROVIDENCE.
i. It pleased Almighty God, for the manifestation of the glory ot
his eternal power, wisdom and goodness, in the beginning to create
the heaven and the earth, and through successive periods to fashion
this world and all things therein, and to make man after his own
image, in knowledge, righteousnes and holiness, that he might glorify
God and enjoy him forever.
2. God, the Creator of all things, upholds, directs, disposes and
governs all his creatures, by his most wise and holy providence : yet
he so orders all things to fall out according to the nature of his crea-
tures, and to the operation of second causes, that God is neither the
26 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
author nor approver of sin, nor is the freedom or responsibility of
man taken away ; but all is to the praise of the glory of his wisdom,
power, justice, goodness and mercy.
V.
OF THE FALL OF MAN : OF SIN, AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
i. Our first parents, in the exercise of their own free will, through
the temptation of Satan, transgressed the commandment of God, fell
from the estate wherein they were created, became corrupt in their
nature, lost communion with God, and were made subject to his
righteous condemnation.
2. All mankind, descended from them by ordinary generation,
inherit this corrupted nature, — whence proceed all actual transgres-
sions,— are alienated from God by wicked works, indisposed and dis-
abled to spiritual good, and are thereby made liable to all the miseries
of this life, Jand of the life which is to come : and out of this condi-
tion no man can deliver himself.
3. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law
of God. While some sins are more heinous in the sight of God than
others, yet as there is no sin so small but that it deserves condemna-
tion, so there is no sin so great that it can bring eternal damnation
upon those who truly repent.
VI.
OF GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN.
i. God, when he had created man, entered into a covenant of life
with him and his posterity, on condition of perfect and personal obe-
dience; which covenant man broke by sinning against God.
2. The Lord God, who is rich in mercy, out of the fullness of his
love was pleased to enter into a covenant of grace with man ; wherein,
foresignifying Christ by all the promises, prophecies, sacrifices and
other types in the Old Testament, he did in the fullness of time fulfill
his gracious purpose to deliver men out of the estate of sin and misery,
by sending his Son to be the Savior of the world, by whom full remis-
sion of sin and eternal salvation are secured to all them that truly
believe on him.
VII.
OF CHRIST, THE MEDIATOR.
i. The Lord Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, was
chosen in the eternal purpose of God to be the mediator between God
and man, the prophet, priest and king, the head and Savior of his
church, the heir of all things and the judge of the world.
CAYUGA. 27
2. The Son of God, the eternal Word, did in the fullness of time
become man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul,
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, and born of the
Virgin Mary, yet without sin; and so was, and continues to be,
divine and human, two whole, perfect and distinct natures, insepa-
rably joined together in one person.
3. This office of mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus
did most willingly undertake ; he was made under the law and did
perfectly fulfill it; for our offences he endured most grievous suffer-
ings in soul and body, was crucified, dead and buried, and remained
under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day
he arose from the dead, with the self-same body in which he suffered;
he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of the
Father, making intercession for us : and he shall return to judge the
world at the last day.
4. The Lord Jesus by his word and Spirit reveals unto" us the will
of God for our salvation. By his perfect obedience, and sacrifice of
himself, he fully satisfied the divine justice, and purchased for us the
forgiveness of sins, reconciliation unto God, and an everlasting inheri-
tance in the kingdom of heaven. As the head of the church he rules
and defends us, restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
VIII.
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
i. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who by
the Father and the Son is sent into the world, who spake of old to the
fathers, and by whose inspiration the Holy Scriptures were given,
makes us partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ by working
faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
2. He abides ever with his church, and in the hearts of all
believers, the Comforter and Spirit of truth, taking of the things of
Christ and revealing them to men, convicting of sin, and guiding into
the knowledge of all saving truth; and without his gracious influ-
ences there is no true faith in us, nor spiritual good accompanying
salvation.
IX.
OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL.
Almighty God, who has no pleasure in the death of any, but would
have all men come to the knowledge of the truth, and to salvation,
has by the Son and the Holy Spirit given unto his church a commis-
sion to preach the gospel unto all nations ; and in this Gospel he offers
to all men the remission of their sins, and the gift of eternal life, upon
their repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
28 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
X.
OF FREE WILL AND OF EFFECTUAL CALLING.
i. God has endued the will of man with such natural liberty, that
it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity determined to good
or evil. Nevertheless, such is the state of sin into which the Fall
brought mankind, that no man is able by his own strength to convert
himself, or perfectly to keep all the commandments of God.
2. God by his word and Spirit effectually calls men out of that
state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and sal-
vation by Jesus Christ, by convincing them of their sin and misery,
enlightening their minds in the knowledge of Christ, renewing their
wills, and thus persuading and enabling them to accept Jesus Christ,
and the grace freely offered through him in the gospel ; yet so as they
come most freely, being made willing by his grace : and this effectual
call is of God's free grace alone.
3. Such elect persons, as are incapable of being outwardly called
by the ministry of the word, are regenerated and saved by Christ
through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how he pleases.
Neither is it possible for any to be saved in any other way than by
Christ, through the Spirit.
XI.
OF JUSTIFICATION.
Those whom God effectually calls to repentance and faith he also
justifies by freely pardoning all their sins, and accepting their persons
as righteous in his sight, not for anything meritorious done by them,
but only for the merit of Christ in his perfect obedience and atoning
sacrifice for their salvation.
XII.
OF ADOPTION.
All those that are justified, God makes partakers of the grace of
adoption, whereby they are received into the number of his children,
admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, sealed
to the day of redemption, and made heirs of all the promises and of
everlasting salvation.
XIII.
OF SANCTIFICATION.
i. Those, who are effectually called, are sanctified by the Spirit
and word of God dwelling in them, whereby they are renewed in the
whole man after the image of God, and are increased and strengthened
in all Christian graces, so that they more and more die unto sin, and
live unto righteousness.
CAYUGA. 29
2. This sanctification is not perfect in this life, yet through the
continual supply of strength by the sanctifying Spirit the saints do
grow in grace, toward complete conformity with the will of God.
XIV.
OF SAVING FAITH.
i. The grace of faith, whereby sinners believe to the saving of
their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts; and is
ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, by which also, and
by the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.
2. By this saving faith the sinner, convinced of his lost condition
through sin, not only assents to the truth of the gospel, but accepts,
receives and rests on Christ alone for pardon of his sins, for justifica-
tion, sanctification, acceptance with God and the life everlasting.
XV.
OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE.
i. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart by
the Spirit and Word of God, whereby the sinner, out of the due sense
of his sin, and upon apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ to
such as are penitent, grieves for and hates his sins, and turns from
them to God, with full purpose and endeavor to walk with God in all
the ways of new obedience.
2. Although repentance and faith, the doctrine of which is always
to be preached, are not meritorious as any satisfaction for sin, or
ground for pardon: yet, they are indispensable to all, so that without
them none may expect nardon and salvation.
XVI.
OF GOOD WORKS.
i. Good works, such as God has commanded in his Holy Word,
which are the fruits and evidences of a true and living faith, are to be
done with all diligence by all believers, not as a ground of acceptance
with God ; but that they may manifest their thankfulness, edify their
brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospel and glorify God : where-
unto they are created in Christ Jesus, that they may have their fruit
unto righteousness, and the end eternal life.
2. Works done by unregenerate men, although they may be things
commanded by God, and of good use to themselves and others, yet
because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done
in a right manner, nor to the right end, do not meet the requirements
of the divine law ; and hence they can not be pleaded as a ground of
acceptance with God.
30 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
XVII.
OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.
i. They, whom God graciously accepts in his Son, do neither
totally nor finally fall away from the estate of grace, but do, from the
nature of the covenant of grace, by the efficacy of the merit and inter-
cession of Jesus Christ, by the abiding of the Spirit of God within
them, finally persevere therein, and are eternally saved.
2. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan, the
corruption remaining in themselves, and their own unwatchfulness
and neglect of the means of grace, fall into grievous sins ; yet by the
mercy of God they are not utterly cast off, but are chastened, and
brought back through repentance to his favor, and kept unto life
everlasting.
XVIII.
OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION.
i. Such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, love him in sincerity,
and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, by
faith in the divine promises, by the testimony of the Spirit of adop-
tion witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God, be
assured that they are in a state of grace, and shall persevere therein
unto salvation.
2. This assurance of grace and salvation does not so belong to
the essence of faith, but that true believers may wait long before they
obtain it; they may have it weakened or intermitted through negli-
gence, temptation and sin, yet they are never without such support of
the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.
XIX.
OF THE MORAL LAW.
The moral law, which is summarily comprehended in the ten com-
mandments, is the declaration of the will of God to mankind, bind-
ing every one to personal obedience thereto. It convinces sinners of
the corruption of their hearts and lives, and thereby gives them a
clearer sight of their need of Christ; and also it restrains the regen-
erate, increases their estimate of Christ's righteousness and sacrifice
and their thankfulness therefor, moving them to express the same by
greater care to conform to the rule of perfect obedience. This moral
law Christ in no way dissolves, but strengthens and illustrates in the
gospel.
XX.
OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.
i. The liberty, which Christ has purchased for believers under
the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condem-
CAYUGA. 31
nation of God and the curse of the law ; in their being delivered from
the bondage of the world and of Satan ; in their free access to the
throne of grace ; in their willing obedience, and in the full communi-
cation of the Holy Spirit.
2. God alone is Lord of the conscience, and has left it free from
the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything
contrary to his word, or beyond it, in matters of faith and worship.
Liberty of conscience is not to be abused by the requiring of implicit
belief and blind obedience, nor to be made a cloak for sin ; but is to
the end that men may serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and
righteousness before him, all the days of their life.
XXL
OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH DAY.
i. Religious worship is to be given only to God, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Prayer with thanksgiving, made in the
name of the Son by the help of the Spirit, the reading of the Scriptures
with godly fear, the sound preaching and reverent hearing and believ-
ing of the word, the singing of psalms and hymns with grace in the
heart, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments,
and the contribution of offerings as the Lord has prospered each, are
all parts of the ordinary worship of God.
2. God has by positive, moral and perpetual commandment par-
ticularly appointed .one day in seven, to be kept holy unto himself;
which day from the resurrection of Christ has been the first day of
the week, or Lord's day, and is to be continued to the end of the
world as the Christian Sabbath.
3. This Sabbath is to be sanctified to the Lord by a holy resting
from worldly employments and recreations, and by devoting the time
to the service and worship of God, except as required for works of
necessity and mercy.
XXII.
OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS.
i. A lawful oath is one wherein, upon just occasion, the person
solemnly calls God to witness what he asserts, or promises, and to
judge him according to the truth or falsehood thereof. Such an oath
ought to be taken only in all holy fear and reverence, in matters of
weight and moment, and as duly imposed by lawful authority.
2. In like manner a vow ought to be made only with religious
care, out of faith and conscience of duty, or in the way of thankful-
ness : and it should be performed with like fidelity.
32 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
XXIII.
OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE.
i. God, the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained
civil magistrates to be under him over the people, for the defence and
encouragement of them that do good, and for the terror of evil doers.
Wherefore the people ought to pray for magistrates, honor their per-
sons, pay them proper tribute, obey their lawful commands, and be
subject to their authority, for conscience' sake.
2. As Jesus'Christ has appointed a regular government and dis-
cipline in his church, civil magistrates may not assume the adminis-
tration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, or interfere with any in the exercises of religion
according to their own profession and belief. But the civil magistrate
may lawfully hinder the practicing of crime, immorality or disorder
under pretense of religion.
XXIV.
ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
i. Marriage between one man and one woman is lawful for all
persons, who are able with judgment to give their consent, and who
are not within the degrees of consanguinity forbidden in the Word;
yet such as profess the true religion ought not to marry with infidels,
idolaters, or such as are notoriously wicked in their life.
2. Divorce, because of adultery, is lawful; yet nothing but adul-
tery, or such willful desertion as implies it, is cause sufficient for dis-
solving the bond of marriage.
XXV.
OF THE CHURCH.
i. The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of
the whole number of the redeemed, who have been, are, or shall be
received into heaven. The visible church, which is also catholic or
universal, consists of all those throughout the world, who profess the
true religion, together with their children.
2. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ,
who has given the ministry, oracles and ordinances of God for the
gathering and perfecting of the saints; and while the purest churches
are subject to error, and may contain unworthy members, yet believ-
ers ought not lightly to separate themselves therefrom, but rather live
in communion with all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus.
CAYUGA. 33
XXVI.
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
All saints are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit,
through faith, and have fellowship with Christ in his graces, suffer-
ings, death, resurrection and glory ; and they are united one to
another, have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are
to perform such public and private duties and spiritual services as
tend to their mutual assistance and edification.
XXVII.
OF THE SACRAMENTS.
The sacraments of the' New Testament, which are Baptism and the
Lord's Supper, are holy ordinances instituted by Christ in his
church ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the
covenant of grace are represented, sealed and applied to believers,
not by any outward power in the signs used, but by the inward and
spiritual grace wrought by the Holy Spirit, in those that by faith
receive them.
XXVIII.
OF BAPTISM.
Baptism is a sacrament ordained by Christ, wherein the washing
with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost, is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of ingrafting into
Christ, of regeneration and of remission of sins, of engagement to be
the Lord's, and of membership in the visible church. Baptism is
to be administered to those that do actually profess faith in, and
obedience to Christ, and to the children of one or both believing
parents.
XXIX.
OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
i. The Lord's Supper is a holy sacrament instituted by Christ,
to be observed in his church until the end of the world, wherein, by
the giving and receiving of bread and wine, according to his appoint-
ment, they that worthily communicate do, not in a corporal or carnal
manner, but by faith, feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual
comfort, nourishment and growth in grace, and to the confirming of
their union and communion with him.
2. This sacrament is not any real offering or sacrifice of Christ to
the Father, but is a reverent and grateful commemoration of Christ's
offering up himself, once for all, upon the cross; and they that would
worthily partake thereof, ought to examine themselves of their knowl-
edge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, and
34 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
of their love and new obedience, renewing their covenant with God
and their love to all the brethren.
XXX.
OF CHURCH CENSURES.
i. The Lord Jesus Christ, king and head of his church, has
therein appointed a government in the hand of the church -officers, to
whom are committed the keys of the visible kingdom of God on
earth, to open or shut that kingdom by the word and the ministry of
the gospel, or by the censures of the church.
2. Church censures, which are necessary for reclaiming offenders
and deterring others from offending, for purifying the church, and for
vindicating the honor of Christ and the profession of the Gospel, are
to proceed by admonition, by suspension from the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper for a season, or by excommunication from the church,
according to the nature of the offence, and the seeming demerit of
the offender.
XXXI.
OF SYNODS AND COUNCILS.
For the better government and edification of the church, there
ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called Synods or Coun-
cils. These are to determine controversies of faith, to set rules for
ordering the public worship of God and the government of his
church, to receive and authoritatively determine complaints of mal-
administration ; but are not to handle matters which are not ecclesi-
astical, unless by way of humble petition, or of advice for satisfaction
of conscience.
XXXII.
OF THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH AND OF THE RESURRECTION
OF THE DEAD.
i. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see corrup-
tion, but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, return to God who
gave them ; the souls of believers, being then made perfect in holi-
ness, do pass into glory ; but the souls of the wicked are under con-
demnation, reserved for the judgment of the great day.
2. At the last day there shall, by the power of Christ, be a resur-
rection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust; when they
that are alive shall be changed, and the dead shall be united again
with their bodies; and the bodies of them that sleep in Jesus shall be
made like to his glorious body.
CAYUGA TO CEDAR RAPIDS. 35
XXXIII.
OF THE LAST JUDGMENT.
i. God has appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in
righteousness by Jesus Christ, when all shall give account of them-
selves to God, who will render to every man according to what he
hath done in the body, whether it be good or evil ; when the righteous
shall enter into everlasting life, and the wicked shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the
glory of his power.
2. As Christ would have us certainly persuaded that there shall be
a day of judgment, so will he have that day unknown to men, that
they may always be watchful for his appearing, and ever prepared to
say, "Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus."
Approved by the Presbytery.
Charles C. Hemenwav, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.
We desire that Chapter III. be so recast as to omit all material that
is simply human deduction, and especially such material as can not
be made to appear consistent with the Scriptural statements that God's
love embraces all mankind, and has provided a Savior, who is freely
and really offered to every creature; according to the Word, "God,
who is the Savior of men, especially of them that believe." And we
desire that this truth of God's love for a lost world, so central to the
Gospel, shall receive positive mention in this chapter.
We desire that Chapter X., Section 3, be so recast as to state the
view that the Scriptures teach, that the Holy Spirit worketh when and
where and how he pleaseth, and that the scope of salvation is so broad
that its benefits accrue to all those who are incapable of being called
by the Word, and who thus do not by tlreir own will and in a state of
accountability reject the redemption provided by Christ.
We desire that Chapter X., Section 4, be so recast as not to seem to
deny that there may be an application of the saving work of Christ
through the Spirit, to men who are not reached by the" ministry of the
Word.
We also desire that in Chapter XXV., Section 6, all allusion to the
Pope of Rome be omitted.
In expressing its desire for these changes, the Presbytery of Cedar
Rapids would utter its profound and heartfelt conviction, that it is not
in the least proposing changes which will affect the integrity of that
system of doctrine which has been so long and so earnestly professed
36 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
by us as a Church, and which is still held so dear; but the rather are
we impressed with the fact that these proposed changes will fit with har-
mony into our noble Confession, just as these same elements of sov-
ereignty and freedom, election and love, exist side by side in the Holy
Scriptures.
Attest: W. J. Bollman, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CENTRAL DAKOTA.
It is the judgment of the Presbytery that the extent to which the
Confessional change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall
take, be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification,
and may be safely left to such large and representative committee as
the General Assembly may appoint.
Attest: Abel M. Work, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHAMPLAIN.
Chapter III., Section 3, add " For their sins."
Chapter III., Sections 4 and 7, leave out.
In place of Section 7, insert "God's eternal decree hindereth no
man from accepting the salvation of Jesus Christ as it is freely offered
in the Gospel ; nor is it to be so construed as to contradict the declara-
tions of the Scriptures, that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of
the whole world, and that God is not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance."
Chapter X., Section 3, omit the word " elect," before " infants.''
Chapter X., Section 4, substitute the word "rejecting " in place of
the words " not professing."
Insert in some suitable place in the Confession a full and definite
statement of God's love for all men ; the full and free offer of salva-
tion to all; and the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel of
salvation to all the world.
Attest: P. J. H. Myers, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG.
The Presbytery of Chemung gives the following answer to the Gen-
eral Assembly's second question on revision :
Inasmuch as the Westminster Confession of Faith has held a com-
manding position among the creeds of Christendom for more than two
hundred years ; and.
CENTRAL DAKOTA TO CHICAGO. 37
Inasmuch as its articles are so logically articulated that emendation
can scarcely fail to partake of the nature of mutilation, which we
should deplore; and,
Inasmuch as there is a diversity of opinion in the Church as to what
changes, if any, by addition or excision, should be made; and
Inasmuch as it is inevitable that no uninspired creed can exactly
express the mind of the Church as led by the Spirit in successive cen-
turies ; and,
Inasmuch as there is now, we believe, under this guidance, a
demand for more adequate expression of the love of God to men,
with the deductions flowing therefrom ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the deliberate opinion of the Presbytery of
Chemung that, instead of revising the old creed, it will be better and
more conducive to the harmony, stability and spiritual development
of the Presbyterian Church to formulate a brief and simple expression
of the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession
and in the Word of God.
To this end the Presbytery of Chemung overture the General
Assembly to formulate a brief, simple and evangelical statement of
belief, as held and taught in the Presbyterian Church to-day ; which
statement shall be regarded as an interpretation of our existing Stand-
ards. Attest: Charles C. Carr, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHICAGO.
Replying to the second question, " If so, in what respects, and to
what extent?" the Presbytery would answer that in the judgment of
the Presbytery, the extent to which Confessional change shall be
carried, and the particular form it shall take before submission to the
Presbyteries for Constitutional ratification, may safely be left to such
large and representative committee as the General Assembly shall
appoint, it being provided that in any Confessional change at least the
three following points shall be secured :
i. That the full integrity of the system of doctrines as contained
in the Confession of Faith shall be kept inviolate.
2. That those forms of statement, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous or unscrip-
tural implication, and which are occasions of stumbling, be modified
or eliminated.
3. That God's love for the world, and his commission to preach
the Gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite expres-
sion.
Attest : Edwin R. Davis, Stated Clerk.
38 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHICKASAW.
i. That we desire no revision which will eliminate any biblical
doctrine from our Confession of Faith.
2. We desire such sections revised as are now charged with cast-
ing a shadow on the doctrine of God's love.
3. We have no desire for a new Confession, but we would be
glad to have a brief statement of doctrine for the use of our church-
members, young people and inquirers.
4. We fervently pray that the divine wisdom may guide the
General Assembly in the work of revision, and that God's truth may
be so presented as to win souls to our Lord and Master.
Attest : W. J. Moffatt, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHILE.
Resolved, That this Presbytery does not think best to bind itself to any
one plan of revision, but would suggest the following in order of
preference :
1. That the General Assembly formulate a new, shorter and sim-
pler statement of the necessary and essential doctrines of the West-
minster Confession.
2. That the General Assembly clearly define the terms of sub-
scription, giving to the words "containing the system of doctrine" a
broad and catholic meaning.
3. Revise the present Confession by omitting Sections 3, 4 and
7 of Chapter III., Section 6 of Chapter V., Sections 3 and 4 of
Chapter X.; by revising Section 2 of Chapter X., Section 3 of Chap-
ter XXIV., Section 6 of Chapter XXV. On Sections 2 of Chapter
III. and 2 of Chapter XXX. the vote was even to omit and to revise.
Attest : W. H. Lester, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHIPPEWA.
1. We desire that the third Chapter, after first section, be so recast
as to include these things only: The sovereignty of God in election;
the general love of God for all mankind ; the salvation in Christ Jesus
provided for all, and to be preached to every creature.
2. We desire that the tenth Chapter be so revised as not to appear
to discriminate concerning infants dying in infancy, or so as to omit
all reference to them (Section 3); and so as to preclude that explana-
tion of Section 4 which makes it teach the damnation of all the heathen,
or makes it deny that there are any elect heathen, who are regen-
CHICKASAW TO CHOCTAW. 39
erated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, and who endeavor to
walk in penitence and humility, according to the measure of light
which God has been pleased to grant them.
The above statements are identical with those of the New York
Presbytery in its answer to the same questions ; and it is the wish of
Presbytery as expressed by vote, to make the entire answer of New
York Presbytery the answer of the Presbytery of Chippewa.
Attest : C. C. Todd, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTEKY OF CHOCTAW.
Chapter III., Section 4, strike it out.
Chapter III., Section 7, amend to read thus: "The rest of man-
kind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his
own will, whereby in infinite wisdom, goodness and truth he extend-
ed! or withholdeth mercy, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor
and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice ; yet so, as
thereby neither does God hinder any one from accepting Christ, nor
is the sufficiency for all men of his orovision of salvation in Christ in
any way impaired, nor is there put upon the free offer of this provision
of salvation, so that whosoever will may accept it and be saved, any
limitation whatsoever."
Chapter X., Section 2, strike out the words, "is altogether passive
therein until."
In place of the present Section 3 put the following new section :
Section 3. This effectual call is to be distinguished from, yet does
not exclude or antagonize, but consists with, that general call which
is made through the Gospel, and which has its justification in the
infinite love of God for the world as expressed in the gift of his
beloved Son as an atoning sacrifice. And this atoning sacrifice, being
sufficient for all men and adapted to all, and taking every legal
obstacle to salvation out of the way of all, is to be freely offered to
all, as the complete and most gracious divine warrant for the assur-
ance that whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.
Chapter X., Section 4, amend to read thus: "Others not elect,
although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may
have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly
come to Christ, and therefore can not be saved. Nor can any who
reject the Gospel, or who have never heard the Gospel, be saved on
the ground of their good works. Yet this is not to be understood as
denying to any sinner who is penitent for sin and devoutly seeking
after God, the possibility of salvation by Christ through the Spirit,
40 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
working without the Word, in the liberty and sovereignty of his
regenerating power."
Chapter XXV., Section 6, strike out all after the word " Christ."
Attest : John Edwards, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CINCINNATI.
The Presbytery is opposed to any change in the Standards that will
impair the system of doctrine known as the Calvinistic system.
Chapter III., Section 3, omit last clause after the word " life."
Chapter III., Section 4, omit the entire section.
Chapter III., Section 5, insert the words "not because of" in the
place of the word " without."
Chapter III., Section 6, eliminate the last sentence, beginning with
the word " Neither."
Chapter III., Section 8, insert the following : " Moreover, the doc-
trine is not to be construed as limiting the free offer of the Gospel to
all men, or as contradicting the Scripture declaration that God so
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Chapter VIII., Section 5, that the phrase in the Shorter Catechism
(Answer 25) "the divine justice " be substituted for the phrase " the
justice of his Father."
Chapter X., Section 3, amend so as to read, "All infants, dying in
infancy, and other elect persons who are incapable, from birth to
death, of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are
regenerated and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh
when, and where, and how he pleaseth."
Chapter X., Section 4, instead of words "not professing" insert
words "not accepting."
Chapter X., Section 4, after the word "whatsoever," insert the
words " than by Jesus Christ."
Chapter XI., Section 3, substitute the phrase in the Shorter Cate-
chism (Answer 25) " the divine justice " for the phrase " his Father's
justice."
Chapter XVI., Section 7, referred to the General Assembly for such
changes as may free the statement from practical misconceptions.
Chapter XXV., Section 6, strike out all after the word "thereof"
in the third line of the section.
Also, Presbytery recommends the insertion in some suitable place
in the Confession of a full and definite statement of God's love for all
CINCINNATI TO CLEVELAND. 41
men, the free offer of salvation to all, and the obligation of the
Church to preach the Gospel of salvation to all the world.
Attest : Edward T. Swiggett, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CLEVELAND.
We qualify this expression by the proviso that we desire no
change whatever which in our judgment would mutilate or weaken
the biblical system of doctrine contained in our time-honored and
noble Confession, and to which system our office-bearers subscribe.
We desire only such minimums of alteration as would eliminate
redundant propositions — or philosophical deductions and speculations
not clearly stated in the Word of God — such as would exhibit a truer
and more scriptural balance between the doctrines propounded, and
emphasize the great commission of Christ resting on the heart of the
modern Church, to preach the Gospel of his salvation to every crea-
ture.
In regard to the other question, " If so, in what respects, and to what
extent?" we decline at present to particularize by verbal emendation,
but only to present general topical suggestions. * For the reason that
some statements and forms of statement have proved themselves
peculiarly liable to misunderstanding; and others are so liable as to
lay open our cherished system of divine truth to unmerited reproach,
while at the same time, having very questionable authority from the
Bible, as understood by the mind of the Church to-day, we would
prefer :
i. To strike out in Chapter III. the third, fourth and seventh Sec-
tions— or so to have the Chapter recast as to exclude the statement of
sovereign, eternal, unconditional reprobation for any of God's crea-
tures.
2. In reference to Chapter X., Section 3, we should approve a
clear expression of our belief that none dying in infancy shall eter-
nally perish.
3. In Section 4, Chapter X., and elsewhere, we disclaim the cer-
tain damnation of all the heathen world as part of our faith or as our
understanding of the Word of God.
4. In Chapter XXIV., Section 3, eliminate the mention of-
Roman Catholics as necessarily idolaters, and,
5. In Chapter XXV., Section 6, strike out our assertion that the
Pope of Rome is that Antichrist.
6. Especially we desire to have more prominently stated full on the
face of our Confession the love of the triune God for all men, as revealed
42 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
in redemption ; also the fullness and freedom of offered salvation,
wrought by Christ and applied by the Spirit, with a special emphasis
laid upon the missionary duty of the Church.
Attest: E. Bushnell, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF COLUMBIA.
Chapter III. Revise in respect to its treatment of the doctrine of
preterition and its possible fatalistic interpretation.
Chapter X. The revision of this chapter so that it shall not appear
to discriminate concerning infants dying in infancy, it being the belief
of the Church that all infants dying in infancy, baptized or unbaptized,
are saved.
Attest : Geo. C. Yeisley, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF COLUMBUS.
The Presbytery of Columbus continues sincerely to receive and
adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system
of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.
It would not consent to any change in the doctrinal standards which
would destroy or impair the integrity of the system commonly known
as the Calvinistic, but it recognizes the fact that, to many, certain
statements and expressions in the Confession seem to teach what the
Church does not hold, and so are occasion of stumbling to many good
Christians, in the Church, and out of it.
To the second question it answers : We respectfully overture the Gen-
eral Assembly of 1890 to appoint a competent and judicious committee
to examine carefully the Confession, and report to the next Assembly,
whether in its judgment, such changes are needed, or may be made
by way of elimination, explanation or addition, as without impairing
the integrity of the system, shall remove any just cause of criticism ;
and shall set forth more fully the free offer of salvation to all men,
the office of the Holy Spirit, and the duty of the world's evangelization.
Attest : John A. Ewalt, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.
i. That the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of
Faith be maintained in its entire integrity.
2. That such changes be made in certain portions of the Confes-
sion, especially in the third and tenth Chapters, as will, if possible,
free them from all doubtful or erroneous implications.
COLUMBIA TO CKAWFORDSVILLE. 43
3. That a more full and definite expression be given in the Con-
fession of Faith, to God's love for all mankind, to the fullness and
freeness of salvation provided in Christ for all, and to be preached to
all mankind.
Attest: Albert L. Sarchet, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF CRAWFORDSV1LLE.
The Presbytery answers that in its judgment no new doctrine is
wanted, but that such a revision of the Confession is desirable and
necessary as will express the faith of the Church in more scriptural
proportion, giving much less relative prominence to statements of the
divine sovereignty and foreordination, and much greater emphasis and
prominence to the divine compassion and fatherly love, freely offering
salvation to all mankind, which is the distinguishing characteristic of
the Gospel.
If, however, a more specific answer is required, we recommend
especially the following, viz. :
We concur with the Presbytery of New York with regard to Chap-
ter III. " We desire that the third Chapter, after the first section, be
so recast as to include these things only : ' the sovereignty of God in
election, the general love of God for all mankind, the salvation in
Christ Jesus provided for all, and to be preached to every creature.' '
Chapter X. With regard to the tenth Chapter we recommend that
the first section be amended by omitting the words "and those only;"
that in the third section the word "elect " be omitted before the word
" infants " and before the word " persons."
Chapter XXV. With regard to the twenty-fifth Chapter, we recom-
mend that after the word "Christ" the words " who is the supreme
and only " be inserted, and that the word " thereof" be omitted.
Chapter XXX. We recommend that the second section of the
thirtieth Chapter be omitted.
These recommendations are not intended to include all the points at
which the Presbytery would welcome revision, but to indicate the
spirit and tone of such revision as we desire. Whatever other changes
in the Confession these recommendations may render necessary in
order to its consistency as a whole, we feel may safely be left to
such committee as the General Assembly may appoint. It is the
judgment of this Presbytery that a summary or supplemental state-
ment of our doctrine, in such brevity and simplicity, as to adapt itself
to use in the public services of the Church and in the family, should
without unnecessary delay be prepared and authorized, believing
44 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
that such a statement would be most helpful and beneficient for the
work of the Church."
Substantially a correct report: Jno. M. Bishop, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DAKOTA.
i. In those respects in which the present forms of statement are
either ambiguous or over-strong and extra-scriptural, and to such an
extent in those cases as is necessary to make the statements of the
particular beliefs clear and scriptural.
2. By such additions as shall set forth more clearly and strongly
God's love for the world and his wish that all persons should believe
in Christ and be saved ; also our belief that all dying in infancy are
saved by sovereign grace in Christ.
Attest: John P. Williamson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DAYTON.
Answer No. i. Yes, provided that the integrity of the system of
doctrine contained in our Confession of Faith be left unimpaired.
We prefer to leave large discretion to the Assembly and to such
Committee on Revision as the affirmative answer of the first question
will call for, but would suggest changes as follows :
That Chapter III., Sections 2 to 8 inclusive, be so revised that the
doctrines which it contains may be set forth in more scriptural language,
and such as will emphasize human responsibility and the love of God
for all men.
Chapter VI., Section 4, be so revised that while the malignity of
the corruption of our nature in original sin, in so far as all spiritual
powers and works are concerned, beset forth, yet that the natural vir-
tues which we see exemplified even among the heathen may not seem
to stand in the same condemnation.
Chapter VII., Section 4, be revised so that the word "frequently "
disappear, inasmuch as there is but one place in the Scriptures in
which the word "testament" is used in the sense intended by the
Confession, viz.: Hebrews ix. 15-17.
Chapter X., Section 3, be so revised that it will read : ''All per-
sons dying in infancy, and all other persons who, from birth to death,
are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word,
are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Holy Spirit, who
worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth."
Chapter X., Section 4, be so revised that the operations of the Holy
Spirit, "who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth," be not
DAKOTA TO DENY EI!. 45
limited by the profession of the Christian religion, or of a necessity
by a scriptural knowledge of the truths of that religion.
Chapter XV., Section 4, has the word "damnation" twice. For
the first we would substitute " punishment," and for the second,
" final condemnation," as this would maintain the doctrine taught
with equal truth and plainness.
Chapter XXV., Section 1, fourth line, supply, after " Christ," the
words, " who is the supreme and only," so that it will read : " The
catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole
number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one
undir Christ, who is the supreme and only head thereof, and is the
spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Then
omit the sixth or last Section, which calls the Pope " that Antichrist,
that man of sin."
Chapter XXIX., Section 1, be so revised that where the " Lord's
Supper" is said to be obligatory to the end of the world, the more
scriptural idea be substituted, viz.: " That it should continue until
Christ come again."
Chapter XXX.. Section 2, be so revised that the power of the
keys there committed to the ministry according to Scripture teaching,
be plainly set forth as only " ministerial " and " declarative."
Attest : W. W. Colmery, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DENVER.
Amend Chapter III. of the Confession by eliminating Sections 3
and 4, causing Section 5 to take the place of 3, and be changed so as
to read : "By his decree, for the manifestion of his glory, God, before
the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and
immutable purpose, and the secret and good pleasure of his will, hath
chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory those of mankind predestinated
unto life, 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 thereunto,
and all to the praise of his glorious grace."
2. That Section 3 of Chapter X. be amended so as to read:
"Infants dying in infancy, and all other elect persons who are inca-
pable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are regen-
erated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when,
and where, and how he pleaseth."
3. That Section 6, Chapter XXV., be amended so as to read:
"There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ."
46 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Only some such changes as the above is the Presbytery of Denver
prepared to support ; radical or extensive amendments are not desired
by this Presbytery.
Attest: John Wilson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DES MOINES.
In answer to the second question in the Overture — In view of the
manifest difficulty of formulating, in the brief time we can give to the
consideration of the subject, a statement which would accurately
represent the views on the subject, of the majority of the Presbytery,
we are willing to commit the work of revision to a committee which
will fairly represent the whole Church, with the earnest prayer that
the Spirit of God may guide them in such way that the result of their
deliberations may be in thorough accord with the teaching of the
Holy Scriptures, and greatly promote the unity and growth of Christ's
kingdom.
Attest : Eugene A. Walker, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF DETROIT.
We desire a modification of certain statements of Chapters III. and
X. as are liable to misunderstanding and misinterpretation, and
expose our system of doctrine to unmerited criticism ; and we believe
that the Confession can be so amended as to set forth the same doc-
trines in language which shall be in more exact accord with the
teaching of the Scriptures.
But we desire no recasting or revision which shall impair the
integrity of the Pauline system which is set forth in the Confession.
Attest : Wm. A. McCorkle, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF EAST FLORIDA.
Presbytery thought it best to leave the formulating of amendments
to the General Assembly or to such committee as it might appoint.
Attest: J. K. Wight, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF EAST OREGON.
By referring the matter to a special committee or commission, with
instructions to recast the same throughout in clear, simple and concise
Bible language, setting forth as briefly as possible the doctrine of our
church as accepted and taught at the present day.
DES MOINES TO ELIZABETH. ,47
We further recommend that said committee or commission be elected
at the next meeting of the General Assembly, with instructions to
report at the meeting next held after the appointment of said com-
mittee or commission.
Attest: T. M. Boyd, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ELIZABETH.
To the second question we submit the following in reply:
i. That Presbytery is a unit in its cordial acceptance of and adher-
ence to the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith,
and is wholly adverse to any change which could be justly regarded as
surrendering or compromising any of the essential doctrines con-
tained in our Standards.
2. That while the truth itself, revealed in the Word of .God and
formulated doctrinally in Creed or Confession, abideth, like its
Author, " the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," nevertheless, the
intellectual apprehension of the truth, and the method of setting it
forth in terms, are subject to change in the lapse of time, as the con-
tinued searching of the Scriptures presents familiar truths in clearer
light. Hence it has come to pass, in the judgment of Presbytery,
that the form of doctrinal statement in our Confession appears, in a
few instances, needlessly severe, narrow, and repelling ; and in one
or two instances, at least, to lack the clear warrant of Scripture; the
effect being to burden the minds of not a few in our Church — minis-
ters and laymen — with a sense of bondage. In illustration of the
above statement, and as indicating the desire of Presbytery in regard
to revision, we cite —
(a) Chapter III., Sections 3, 4 and 7. The objection we offer to
these passages is that they contain statements as to the purpose and
pleasure of God, which — whether they are or are not true in fact
— have not been so clearly set forth in Scripture as to demand or
justify the terms in which they are presented in the Confession of
Faith ; and which are not essential to a clear and positive declaration
of belief in the Decree of God.
(b) Presbytery would call attention to Chapter X, Section 3, in
regard to "elect infants," as being ambiguous, and capable of being
construed — as has been affirmed — in three different ways. In the
judgment of Presbytery, the belief of the Presbyterian Church of
today would be better stated, and a stone of stumbling removed, by
substituting for the above section the following: "All elect persons
who are incapable in this life of being outwardly called by the min-
48 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
istry of the Word, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the
Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth."
(7) We would recommend that Section 4 of Chapter X be stricken out.
(d) We desire the insertion in some suitable place in the Confession,
of a fuller statement of the clear and explicit declarations of Scripture
concerning God's love for ail men, the free offer of the Gospel for the
salvation of all who believe on Jesus Christ, and the obligation of the
Church to preach the Gospel of Eternal Life to all the world.
Presbytery is content with submitting the above, as, in its judgment,
presenting sufficient reasons in support of its affirmative answer to
the first question of the Overture. We have not deemed it essential
or advisable to present a more detailed statement of desire as to the
precise form of change to be made in these sections of our Confession.
This will properly result from careful consideration on the part of those
to whom General Assembly may be pleased to commit the work of
amending' the Confession, (if it be called for by the Church), prepara-
tory to final submission to the Presbyteries. We would therefore
await such submission of proposed chinges by the General Assembly,
rather than suggest amendments in more precise form in this our reply
to General Assembly's Overture.
Attest : Samuel Parry, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF EMPORIA.
It is the judgment of the Presbytery that the extent of Confessional
change to be attempted may safely be left to such committee as the
General Assembly may appoint, it being provided that in any pro-
posed change at least the three following points shall be secured :
1. That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained in
our Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
2. That the forms of statements, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous or unscriptural
implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be modified or
eliminated.
3. That God's love for the world, and his command to preach the
Gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite expression.
Attest: Jno. H. Bright, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
We desire such revision as will not impair the system of doctrine
taught in the Confession ; and which Will bring the Confession into
fuller accord with the present belief of the Presbyterian Church in
EMPORIA TO FLINT. 49
the United States of America as to the teaching of the Holy Scrip-
tures. In accordance with this desire, we recommend that Chapters
III. and X. be amended.
Chapter III., Section 3, insert "for their sins" after the word
"foreordained."
Chapter III., Section 4, omit this section.
Chapter III., Section 6, omit the last sentence, beginning with the
word " neither."
Chapter III., Section 7, omit this section.
Insert as a separate section, to precede Section 8. the following in
substance: " God's decree hindereth no one from accepting Christ,
as he is freely offered to us in the Gospel ; nor ought it to be so con-
strued as to contradict the declarations of Scripture that Christ is the
propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that God is not will-
ing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Chapter X., Section 3, omit the word "elect" in the two places in
which it occurs.
Chapter X., Section 4, omit all which follows the words "can not
be saved," and substitute the following: "Nor can any who reject
the Gospel, or who have never heard the Gospel, be saved on the
mere ground of their good works. Yet this is not to be understood as
denying to any sinner who is penitent for sin and devoutly seeking
after God, fhe possibility of salvation by Christ, through the Spirit,
working without the Word."
Insert in some suitable place in the Confession a full and definite
statement of God's infinite love for all men, the free offer of salvation
to all, and the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel of sal-
vation to all the world.
Attest : Am/i Wilson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF FLINT.
Resolved, First, That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as
contained in the Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
Second, That those forms of statement, especially in the third and
tenth Chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous impres-
sions, and which are the occasion of stumbling, be modified or elim-
inated.
Third, That God's love for the world and his commission to preach
the Gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite
expression.
Attest: Geo. S. Woophull, Stated Clerk.
50 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF FARGO.
We adhere with unshaken loyalty to the system of doctrine con-
tained in our subordinate Standards, and recognize them as products
of master workmen, so harmoniously wrought and so logically consis-
tent, that essential change in one will destroy the symmetry of the
whole; and also, that elimination of any particular doctrinal phrase
or sentence will not obviate external objections to that doctrine. We
desire, therefore, the minimum of revision that will remove the
unmerited reproach under which we now labor.
Attest: G. Sumner Baskervill, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF FORT DODGE.
That the General Assembly shall appoint a judicious and conserva-
tive committee, which shall draft overtures for the action of the
Assembly, and if approved, to be sent down to the Presbyteries for
their consideration. Said overtures to contain changes in the Con-
fession of Faith only where it may be deemed liable to misunder-
standing. But such changes shall in no wise impair the integrity of
the Calvinistic system of doctrine as at present subscribed by us.
Attest : Harvey Hostetler, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF FORT WAYNE.
i. We are opposed to any revision which would impair the integ-
rity of the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith,
and we hold that among the doctrines essential to the system are those
of the divine foreordination of whatsoever comes to pass, and the
divine sovereignty of election to everlasting life.
2. We believe that within the lines which define the integrity of the
system of doctrine, changes may be made and ought to be made by
way of eliminations, additions, substitutions and modifications of
language.
3. We believe that a satisfactory, desirable and practical way of
accomplishing revision is for the General Assembly to appoint a large,
competent and judicious committee who shall take notice of all points
regarding which a desire for revision shall be expressed by the Pres-
byteries, give the whole matter a thorough examination and consider-
ation, and prepare an overture containing definite propositions of
revision, to be sent down by the Assembly to the Presbyteries.
4. We would eliminate from Chapter III. and Section 3 the words
"and others foreordained to everlasting death ;" (2) Would eliminate
FARGO TO FORT WAYNE. 51
the whole of Section 4, and substitute a statement of God's certain
knowledge of the number of his people.
Chapter III., Section 6, we would eliminate the last sentence begin-
ning with the words, "Neither are any others redeemed."
Section 7, eliminate the words, " For the glory of his sovereign
power over his creatures to pass by, and." Also the pronoun " them "
after the word " ordain."
Section 8, incorporate a statement of God's love in the gift of his
Son, corresponding to John iii. 16, with a declarative expression of
the truths that election hinders no man's salvation, and that God is
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to a
knowledge of the truth ; or make a separate section of this. Also,
make necessary changes in the numbers of the sections.
In Chapter IV., from Section 1 eliminate the words "of nothing,"
and also the words " In the space of six days."
Chapter VI., Section 4, let the words "good" and "evil" be
strictly denned, or change the form of expression.
Also make a corresponding change in Section 2 going before.
Chapter X., Section 2, eliminate the words " who is altogether
passive therein," and make the necessary reconstruction in what
follows.
Section 3, instead of the first statement, "elect infants dying in
infancy," etc., substitute "Infants dying in infancy are regenerated
and saved," and eliminate the word "elect" from the later statement
of the same section.
Section 4, for " Not professing the Christian religion," etc., substi-
tute " who reject the Christian religion," etc.
Chapter XVI., modify Section 7 as respects the declared sinfulness
of all acts good in themselves done by unregenerate men.
In Chapter XXIV., Section 3, eliminate the word "other " before
the word "idolaters."
Chapter XXV., Section 6, for " but is that Antichrist," etc., substi-
tute these words and no more, " But is an usurper of the prerogatives
of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Finally, we are not oblivious to the consideration that slight verbal
changes in other places might be found needful to harmonize the whole
with those proposed.
Attest: M. M. Lawson, Stated Clerk.
52 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF FREEPORT.
While holding with loyal devotion to the system of truth contained
in our Standards, we believe that the Confession of Faith should be
so revised that God's love and the universal invitation of the Gospel
shall have proper emphasis, and that any statement of doctrine not
based upon the clear teachings of Scripture shall be eliminated.
We recommend in particular as follows :
Chapter III., omit the last clause of Section 3, and all of Sections
4 and 7.
Chapter X., omit Sections 3 and 4.
Chapter XXII., omit last clause of Section 3.
Chapter XXV., Section 6, omit all after the words "Jesus Christ"
in the first clause.
The above includes all changes in phraseology which these changes
may make necessary.
Attest: Thomas A. Robinson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
The Presbytery here assumes that it is not called upon by the terms
or by the intent of this question to formulate a revision that would be
acceptable to it. Since the Presbytery also further assumes at once
that the work of so preparing the changes, if the Confession is to be
altered or amended, will be entrusted in due time by the General
Assembly itself to a committee very competent to the task, and fairly
representing the ascertained desire of the Church, and then that
revision will come before the Presbyteries in the constitutional way,
and for their votes upon it. And yet, too, the Presbytery does desire
to express its judgment in certain and very important respects, and
to do this also consistently with the integrity of our system of doctrine.
The reference here is to the third and tenth Chapters of the Con-
fession. Here is the chief ground of contention. Presbytery would
advise the omission or else urge the reconstruction of all those state-
ments or forms of statement which assert or imply the following things :
1. Reprobation as an act of simple, absolute, divine sovereignty in
a prior eternity, whereby a part of mankind were "passed by" or
excluded from the chance of salvation, being " foreordained to ever-
lasting death." The respects in which the Confession presents this
view of the moral government of God might very well be omitted.
2. Related to the subject of reprobation, and specifically pre-
sented in the Confession, is the perdition of the whole heathen world,
FREEPORT TO GRAND RAPIDS. 53
»
no matter how diligent men may be to live up to the best attainable
light. This, too, should be omitted, or else modified into a very dif-
ferent statement.
3. Furthermore, Presbytery would express its desire that the com-
mon inference of a non-elect class of infants, dying in infancy,
according to the Confession, be removed by a plain statement, which
shall relieve the Confession of that burden, and shall declare what is
the belief of the Church on the subject.
We plead here (a) the fact that such an inference is generally
drawn from the language of the Confession, and so the Confession is
represented to teach the damnation of infants; (b) when this implica-
tion is denied, there is the hard and unsatisfactory effort, to most per-
sons, at least, to find some way of interpretation out of the difficulty;
(/) the subject is so serious that everything equivocal should be dis-
placed by a distinct statement of what is actually believed.
Referring now to the points which have passed under notice, to-
wit : reprobation, the destiny of the heathen world and destiny of
infants, as presented in the Confession, it may be said in general
apology, that it is very questionable whether any body of uninspired
men is competent to formulate in absolute, or at least in specific,
metaphysical, propositional statement, the deepest things of God
from eternity, in his administration over angels and men and a world
of heathen souls, and a world of infants, and then to put all this into
a Confession of Faith, to be used in the work which the Church has
to do in the world.
4. Presbytery advises that the statements of the Confession as to
the Pope and the Romish Church be omitted in the revision.
5. But the question of amending the Confession in certain respects
can not be closed by Presbytery, without most earnestly expressing its
desire for the insertion, in some place deemed proper for the addition,
of the distinct declaration, that the salvation revealed in the Gospel is
offered to all the world, and that these offers are freely and fully and
sincerely made for all, through the love of God, in Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Attest : J- Wilford Jacks, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF GRAND RAPIDS.
That the integrity of the Confession of Faith, as " containing the
system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures," should above all
things be maintained.
Chapter III., Section 2, omitted.
54 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter III., Section 3, so changed that it shall not be susceptible
of the construction that God has created any beings in order to
destroy them.
Chapter III., Section 4, omitted.
Chapter VI., Section 4, so stated as to modify or explain the
expression of the disability of man to all good.
Chapter VIII., Section 8, to be so changed that it shall not limit
the atonement made by Jesus Christ to those to whom it is certainly
and effectually applied and communicated.
Chapter X., Section 3, so stated that it shall not contain an implica-
tion that any dying in infancy are not elect, and are not regenerated
and saved by Christ.
Chapter X., Section 4, to be so changed that it will preclude any
interpretation, which will make it teach that there can be no elect
brethren who are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,
and who endeavor to walk in penitence and humility according to the
measure of light which God has been pleased to grant them.
Chapter XXV., Section 6, omitting all that follows the first state-
ment.
We desire also that in its appropriate place there shall be inserted
a full statement of God's love for all men, and of the sufficiency and
adaptation of the atonement made by Jesus Christ for the salvation of
all men, so that the offers of salvation may be freely made to all men,
and whosoever will, may come to Christ and be saved.
Attest : D. A. Jewell, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF GUNNISON.
First of all, it is the desire of this Presbytery to have formulated a
briefer and simpler statement of our belief, setting forth the essential
doctrines of redemption, to take the place in our Church of the pres-
sent Confession.
In the event that the Assembly deem the adoption of such a creed
inexpedient, we would propose the following answer to the second
question.
1. That the Confession be so modified as to more fully represent
the love Of God for all mankind.
2. That the Confession be so changed that the free moral agency
and responsibility of all men shall receive due recognition.
3. That such changes* be made as shall simplify the .statement of
our faith, and render it more easy of comprehension.
Attest: Chas. Fueller, Stated Clerk.
GUNNISON TO HIGHLAND. 55
THE PRESBYTERY OF HASTINGS.
That the extent to which Confessional change may be carried, and
the particular form it shall take before submission to the Presbyteries
for constitutional ratification, may be left to such large and represen-
tative committees as the General Assembly shall approve ; but we
recommend that the statements of the Confession in regard to the salva-
tion of infants dying in infancy, preterition and reprobation, may
express more perfectly the belief of the Church, and afford
less just ground for misunderstanding, while the integrity of the system
of doctrine shall be preserved.
Attest : A. B. Byram, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF HIGHLAND.
The Presbytery of Highland is opposed to any change in the Confes-
sion of Faith that will essentially impair the system of doctrine
known as the Calvinistic System, but would ask to have removed
from the Confession some extra-biblical statements ; to have the vari-
ous truths set forth in the Confession emphasized in the same degree
that they arc in God's Word, and to have introduced into the Con-
fession more of the warmth and glow of the New Testament Scrip-
tures. To this end the following changes were adopted.
i. Omit last clause of Section 3, Chapter III, inasmuch as Repro-
bation is not essential to the Calvinistic System, not being found in
any other Reformed Confession now in use.
2. Omit Section 4, Chapter III.
3. Omit list clause Section 6, Chapter III.
4. Omit Section 7, Chapter III.
5. Insert as a separate section before Section 8, the following :
"God's eternal decrees hinder no one from accepting of Christ, as he
is freely offered to all men in the Gospel ; nor is it to be so construed
as to contradict the declarations of Scripture that Christ is the pro-
pitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that God is not willing
that any should perish, but would have all come to repentance and
live."
6. So modify Sections 5 and 8, Chapter VIII. , that they will declare
in accordance with the Scriptures that Christ is the Savior of all men,
especially of them that believe.
7. Change Section 3, Chapter X., so as to read "All infants dying
in infancy," etc.
8. Insert in Section 4, Chapter X., the words " not accepting" in
place of " not professing."
56 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
9. Remove from Chapter XI. whatever may imply that Christ died
for the elect only.
10. Instead of the last two clauses of Chapter XVI., beginning with
the words "They are therefore sinful," substitute the following: 'They
do not meet the requirements of the divine law, and hence they can
not be pleaded as a ground of acceptance with God."
11. In Section 6, Chapter XXV., substitute for all after the clause
" There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ,"
the following : " And for any man or body of'men to claim such head-
ship is unscriptural and antichristian."
12. Insert in some suitable place in the Confession a full and definite
statement of God's love for all men, the free offer of salvation to all,
and the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel to every creature.
Attest: Geo. Hageman, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF HOLSTON.
The Presbytery of Holston is satisfied with the doctrines of our
venerable Confession of Faith, and mainly with its statements of those
doctrines.
They also regard the terms of subscription to that Confession, as
tolerating every variety of opinion consistent with its scriptural and
Calvinistic system of religious truth.
Yet, in the interest of harmony among its true friends, we recom-
mend the following reply to the second question, u In what respects,
and to what extent?"
It is the judgment of the Presbytery that the extent to which the
Confessional change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall
take, be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification,
and may be safely left to such large and representative committee as
the General Assembly may appoint; provided, that in any proposed
change, the following points be secured :
1 . That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained in
our Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
2. That those forms and statements, especially in Chapters third
and tenth, which are occasions of stumbling, be modified, or elimi-
nated.
3. That there be inserted, in suitable places, some fuller and
clearer expression of God's love to all men, of his desire that all
should be saved, and of the duty of the Church of Christ to preach
the gospel to all the world.
Attest: J. E. Alexander, Stated Clerk.
HOLSTON TO HURON. 57
THE PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON.
The Presbytery is satisfied that the Church is not prepared, and
never will be, to give up aught of her Calvinism, rightly defined, or
abandon any of her scripturally grounded doctrines of faith.
We reply as follows :
i. That the third Chapter, after the first Section, be recast so as
to present :
a. In addition to God's sovereignty in election, add a scriptural
statement of the love of God for all mankind.
b. A scriptural statement of God's abundant provision for the sal-
vation of all men in the atonement of his Son, and his sincere offer
of mercy and grace to every creature.
c. A scriptural statement of the facts of human responsibility in
the choice or rejection of the salvation freely offered in the Gospel.
2. In Chapter X, Section i, omit the words, " and those only."
3. In Chapter X, Section 3, omit the first "elect" and read "all
infants."
4. In Chapter X, Section 4, substitute for the portion beginning
'; much less" the following: " Much less can men not accepting the
Gospel as revealed to them be saved in any other way whatsoever."
5. Substitute for the word " damnation " wherever it occurs words
of equivalent meaning, as follows: Chapter XXXIII., Section 2,
"endless punishment"; Chapter XXIX., Section 8, "condemna-
tion"; Chapter XV. , Section 4, " everlasting punishment " ; Chapter
XXIV., Section 3, for " damnable heresies " substitute "destructive
heresies"; Chapter XX., Section 1, for "everlasting damnation"
substitute " everlasting punishment."
6. In Chapter XXV., Section 6, omit "but is that Antichrist,"
etc., to the end of the section.
Attest : David F. Bonner, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF HURON.
The Presbytery is opposed to any change in the Confession that
will impair the system of doctrine known as the Calvinistic system.
To the second question we answer :
Chapter III , Section 3, omit last clause after the word " life."
Chapter III., Section 4, eliminate the whole section.
Chapter III., Section 5, insert the words " not because of" in place
of the word "without."
Chapter III., Section 6, eliminate the last sentence beginning with
" Neither."
58 WSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter III., insert as a separate section to precede Section 8 the
following in substance, viz.: " God's eternal decree hindereth no one
from accepting Christ as he is freely offered to us in the Gospel, nor
ought it to be so construed as- to contradict the declaration of Scrip-
ture that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,
and that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance."
Chapter X., Section 3, drop the first word.
Chapter X., Section 4, insert the word "rejecting" in place of
"not professing."
Chapter XXIV., Section 6, change to read "Yet nothing but
adultery or such willful desertion as implies it, is cause," etc.
Chapter XXV., Section 6, amend to read, '-The only head of the
Church is the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, without any earthly vice-
regent, all authority in heaven and earth is committed."
Insert in some suitable place in die Confession a full and definite
statement of God's love for all men, the free offer of salvation to all,
and the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel of salvation to
all the world.
Attest : Charles E. Barnes, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF IDAHO.
We deem it expedient to revise Chapter III., Sections 3, 4 and 7;
Chapter X., Section 3; Chapter XXV., Section 6.
In thus expressing our views on the revision question, the Presby-
tery of Idaho desires emphatically to affirm that we do not favor any
change in the system of doctrine taught in our standards.
Attest : T. M. Gunn, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
To the second question we return the following answer :
The changes which we desire are such as will in no wise impair the
integrity of our system of doctrine, but will preserve it from misun-
derstanding and unmerited criticism, and will make it more symmet-
rical and well balanced as a statement of the truths of Scripture. We
would suggest briefly the following as being, among others, desirable
changes :
1. That Chapter III., Sections 2-8 inclusive, be so revised that the
doctrines there set forth be expressed in simpler and more scriptural
IDAHO TO IOWA. 59
language, thus more positively to emphasize human responsibility and
the love of God for all men, as manifested in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, provided for all, and to be preached to every creature.
2. That Chapter X. be changed so that it shall appear to teach, as
do the Scriptures, that God is calling men by his truth and Spirit to a
saved life; that those who willfully reject this call are personally
responsible for their own condemnation; that those who are incapable
of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are regenerated
by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how
he pleaseth, and that it shall not appear to teach the damnation of
all those who have never had the privilege of hearing and knowing the
letter of the Gospel.
3. That Chapter XXX., Section 2, be so revised that the "power
of the keys " there asserted to be committed to the ministry according
to the Scriptures, be plainly set forth as only ministerial and declarative.
These recommendations do not include all the points at which the
Presbytery desires revision, but simply indicate the general spirit and
tone of such revision as we desire; at this stage of procedure, a
minute declaration is neither necessary nor desirable. The many
minor changes which may be imperatively demanded in order to a
consistent and felicitous statement as a whole, may safely be left, as
they must be, to the future action of the Church.
We further recommend the preparation of a short and simple sup-
plementary statement of our doctrine, that shall be suitable for pop-
ular use, and for the public services of the Church, and we overture
the General Assembly to appoint a committee for this purpose.
Attest: John W. Pugh, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF IOWA.
The Presbytery reaffirms its belief in the system of doctrine taught
in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as the teaching of the Word
of God, and stances pledged to oppose any and every change that
would in the least degree take from or in any way impair any part of
our Calvinistic system of doctrine. At the same time this Presby-
tery believes that there are expressions in our Confession of Faith
open to misconstruction by the enemies, and to misunderstanding by
the friends and lovers, of the Calvinistic system of doctrine; and that
a revision, or restatement of these parts of the Confession, in lan-
guage clear and unmistakable, would remove many of the objections
made by our enemies; and at the same time strengthen the hands,
and establish more firmly the belief, of all those who receive the Cal-
60 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
vinistic system of doctrine as that which is taught in the Word of God.
The second question of the overture is two-fold : First, " in what
respects?" and second, " to what extent?"
As to the first part of the question, the Presbytery of Iowa uses
the term "revision" solely and only with reference to forms of state-
ment in the Confession, and not with any reference to system of doc-
trine.
As to the extent of this revision, the following changes are suggested
by this Presbytery :
i. That in Chapter III., Section 3, the phrase " for their sin" be
inserted in the last sentence, so that the last part of Section 3 will
read : " and others foreordained for their sin to everlasting death."
2. Omit Section 4, Chapter III., because unnecessary, — the doc-
trine has been stated in Section 3.
3. Substitute for Section 7, Chapter III, the following: "God's
eternal and sovereign decree hindereth no man from accepting Christ,
as he is offered to all men for salvation in the Gospel ; nor ought it to
be so construed as to contradict the declarations of Scripture, "That
Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance."
4. Chapter X., Section 3, change so as to read as follows : "Infants
dying in infancy, also others who are incapable of being outwardly
called by the ministry of the Word, are of the elect, regenerated and
saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where,
and how he pleaseth.
5. Chapter X., Section 4, strike out the phrase " not elected."
6. Chapter XXV., Section 6, strike out the latter part of the sec-
tion. It will then read : " There is no other head of the church but
the Lord Jesus Christ."
Attest : J. C. McClintock, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF IOWA CITY.
i. We desire only such a revision as that by which the full integ-
rity of the system of doctrine now contained in the Confession shall
be kept inviolate.
2. We favor the following changes :
In Chapter III., omit in Section 3 all after the word "life." Omit
Section 4 entirely. Omit in Section 6 the last sentence, beginning
with the word " neither." Omit all of Section 7.
IOWA CITY. 61
In Chapter X., omit in Section 2, after the word "who," in the
third line, the words " is altogether passive therein," and insert instead
the words " is enmity thereto."
Insert new section, to be numbered three, and to read thus : " This
effectual call is to be distinguished from, yet does not exclude or
antagonize, but consists with that general call which is made through
the Gospel, and which has its justification in the infinite love of God
for the world, as expressed in the gift of his beloved Son as an aton-
ing sacrifice, being sufficient for all men, and adapted to all, and taking
every legal obstacle out of the way of all, is to be freely offered to
all, as the complete and most gracious divine warrant for the assur-
ance, that whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be
saved.''
In Section 3, substitute the word "all " for the word "elect," before
" infants," and insert after the word "infancy " the words "since they
are of the elect."
In Section 4, strike out all of the section after the word " saved," in
the fifth line, and insert in lieu thereof the words : " Nor can any who
reject the Gospel, or who have never heard the Gospel, be saved on the
ground of their good works, since a man is not justified by the works of
the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ ; yet this is not to be understood
as denying to any sinner who is penitent for sin and devoutly seeking
after God, the possibility of salvation by Christ through the Spirit
working without the Word, in the liberty and sovereignty of his
regenerating power."
This Presbytery proposes the foregoing amendments to Chapters
III. and X. tentatively and illustratively as to the language suggested,
but we feel that the particular verbal form which such amendments
shall take before submission to the Church for constitutional ratifica-
tion, may safely be left to such a large and representative committee
as the Assembly may approve.
In Chapter XXIV. omit the word "other" in the sixth line of Sec-
tion 3.
In Chapter XXV*., after Section 3 insert a new section on missions.
In Section 6 omit all after the word "thereof," and insert instead the
words, " but in that he proclaimeth himself so to be, he exalteth him-
self in the Church against Christ and all that is called God."
3. After Chapter VIII., and parallel thereto, insert a new chapter
on the work of the Holy Ghost.
4. It is the judgment of this Presbytery that revision should at this
time be confined to those portions of the Confession we have herein
62 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
named, to wit: Chapters III., X., XXIV., XXV., and the addition
with respect to the work of the Holy Ghost.
Attest : George B. Smith, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF JERSEY CITY.
We desire :
i. That the system of doctrine as contained in the Confession of
Faith be preserved in its full integrity.
2. That the Confession be made to contain a definite and full
expression of the love of God for all mankind, and of the salvation in
Jesus Christ provided for all, and to be preached to every creature.
3. That certain forms of statement, particularly in the third and
tenth Chapters, which convey, or are understood by many to convey,
erroneous and unscriptural implications, be changed or stricken out.
We prefer, however, that the extent and definite form of these
changes, to be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratifi-
cation, shall be left to the wisdom of such large and representative
committee as the General Assembly shall appoint.
Attest: Edwin A. Bulkley, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF KALAMAZOO.
It is the judgment of the Presbytery that the extent to which the
Confessional change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall
take, be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification ;
and may be safely left to such large and representative committee as
the General Assembly shall appoint ; it being provided that in any
proposed change, at least the following points be secured:
1. That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained in
our Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
2. That the forms and statements, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous and unscrip-
tural implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be modified
or eliminated.
3. That God's love for the world, and his command to preach the
Gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite expression.
Attest : Joseph A. Ranney, Stated Clerk.
JERSEY CITY TO LACKAWANNA. 63
PRESBYTERY OF KEARNEY.
i. We disclaim any desire to make any change which will in any
way impair the integrity of the Calvinistic system, but that such
changes be made in the Confession of Faith as shall make clearer to
the understanding of the members of our churches, the system of doc-
trine taught by our Church.
2. We also suggest that there be prepared, for popular use in our
churches, a short compendium of the teachings of "The Confession''
which shall in no wise supersede the Confession of Faith.
Attest: J. H. Reynard, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF KNOX.
Resolved, That we desire a revision, or elimination of Sections 3
and 4, of Chapter III., and Section 3, of Chapter X.
Presbytery would prefer to leave the Confession as it is, if a creed
could be formulated that would be acceptable to all parts of the
Church, as a bond of fellowship, which all ministers, officers and
members could cordially subscribe.
Attest: J. T. H. Waite, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LACKAWANNA.
i. While confiding in the conservative judgment of the Presby-
terian Church, they insist that the full integrity of the system of doc-
trine contained in our Confession of Faith be preserved absolutely
inviolate.
2. They desire, that those forms of statement, especially in the
third and tenth Chapters, which seem to many to convey erroneous or
unscriptural implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be
modified or eliminated.
3. They ask, that there be added to the Confession of Faith, a
fuller and more definite expression of God's love, and of Christ's
death for the whole world, and of the commission given by Christ to
his Church to preach the Gospel to every creature.
Attest : P. H. Brooks, Stated Clerk.
64 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LAHORE.
i. The full integrity of the system of doctrine contained in the
Confession of Faith should be kept inviolate.
2. Those forms of statement, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which seem to some to convey uuscriptural implications,
and which are occasions of stumbling, should be modified or eliminated.
3. God's love for the world, and his command to preach the Gos-
pel to every creature, should be more fully and definitely expressed.
4. The latter part of the sixth Section of Chapter XXV., which
declares that the Pope is the Antichrist and man of sin, should be
omitted.
Attest: Kali Chun Chatterjee, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
While we could wish that the Confession had more of the spirit
and tone of the New Testament, as well as be wholly in accord with
the entire Bible in its teachings, we would suggest that as few changes
be made as possible, consistent with the removal of stumbling-blocks.
In our judgment these are confined to four points, viz.: Reprobation,
the damnation of infants, the damnation of the heathen world, and
the assertion that the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist.
Attest: C. D. Jacobs, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LANSING.
We insist that no method of revision shall be adopted that would
impair the integrity of the system of doctrine contained in the Con-
fession of Faith.
We desire a revision in the interests of greater clearness and sim-
plicity in the Confession ; so that those statements of doctrine, as, for
example, certain statements in Chapters III. and X., now often mis-
understood, misconstrued, and which are occasions of stumbling, may
be modified, or eliminated, or relieved from all ambiguity.
We desire a fuller expression in the Confession of the love of God
for all sinners, of his desire that all should be saved, and of his offer
of salvation to all mankind.
We believe that it will be wise and safe to commit the whole sub-
ject of revision to a committee of the General Assembly, composed of its
most learned, discreet and devoted members, with instructions to com-
pare the statements of the Confession with the Holy Scriptures, and,
LAHORE TO LEHIGH. 65
seeking the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, to eliminate from the
Confession anything not either clearly taught in the Word, or fairly
deducible therefrom; and to make such additions to the Confession from
the Word- as shall give to our Standards Bible symmetry and propor-
tions of truth.
Attest : C. P. Quick, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LARNED.
Chapter III., Sections 3, 4 and 7, modify and add to, so that all men
may know that there is a divine breadth to the divine declaration that
"God so loved the world," etc. John iii. 16.
Chapter X., Section 3, omit the word "elect" from the well-known
phrase "elect infants."
Chapter X., Section 4, change the phraseology so as to do away
with the ambiguity involved in its grammatical structure.
Presbytery requests the Assembly to take the regular constitutional
steps to secure the revision as above indicated.
Attest: B. F. Powelson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LEHIGH.
That while we express our unshaken loyalty to the Pauline system
of doctrine as embodied in our Confession of Faith, we nevertheless
think that a revision of certain chapters and sections is desirable to
prevent their misinterpretation, viz.,
Chapter III to be recast so as to include :
1. The sovereignty of God in election.
2. The general love of God in Christ for all mankind.
3. The salvation which is in Christ Jesus provided for all and to
be preached to every creature.
Chapter X, Section 3. Such revision as shall prevent its appear-
ing to teach that some children dying in infancy may be lost.
Chapter X, Section 4. Such a revision as shall preclude it from
teaching that it is impossible that any heathen may be saved by
Christ through the Spirit, though they may not have the revealed
Word.
Chapter XVI, Section 7. A recasting of this section so that it
shall not appear to teach that every act of unregenerate men is in
itself sinful.
60 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter XXIV, Section 3. Recast so as to prevent the indiscrimi-
nate designation of all papists as idolaters.
Chapter XXV, Section 6. To be recast so as to include all who
usurp the prerogatives and functions of Christ in his own House.
Attest : A. M. Woods, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LIMA.
We desire the revision to be limited.
1. To certain forms of expression that seem liable to misapprehen-
sion.
2. To the elimination of some phrases and sentences which seem
unnecessary to the true meaning of the chapters and sections to
which they belong.
3. To the introduction in a suitable connection of a statement of
the fullness of the love of God in Christ, and of the full and free
offer of the Gospel to all.
4. That the revision shall not in any particular change or modify
the system of doctrine known as Calvin istic, and now embraced in the
Standards of our Church, and to which we adhere with unabated loy-
alty, as the system of doctrine that has long been a bond of union,
and a tower of strength to our beloved Church {vote unanimous). The
remaining part of the report, consisting of suggestions as to the form
of particular changes in the language of the Confession, eliminations
and additions, intended to make the general answer more specific,
was laid upon the table, and to be kept on file for any future use the
Presbytery may choose to make of them.
Attest : R. H. Hollyday, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTEKY OF LOGANSPORT.
I. That this Presbytery is a unit in its cordial acceptance of and
adherence to the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of
Faith, and is wholly adverse to any change which would be justly
regarded as surrendering or compromising any of the essential doc-
trines contained in our Standards.
II. That while the truth itself, revealed in the Word of God and
formulated doctrinally, in creed or confession, abideth, like its Author,
"the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," nevertheless the intel-
lectual apprehension of the truth, and the method of setting it forth
LIMA TO LOGANSPORT. 67
in terms, are subject to change in the lapse of time, as the continued
searching of the Scripture presents familiar truths in clearer light.
Hence it has come to pass, in the judgment of this Presbytery, that
the form of doctrinal statement in our Confession appears in a few
instances needlessly severe, narrow, and repelling, and in one or two
instances at least, to some minds, seems to lack the clear warrant of
Scripture, the effect being to burden the minds of not a few in our
Church— ministers and laymen — with a sense of bondage.
III. We declare further in our answer to the second question of the
Assembly's overture, that this Presbytery does not undertake to
revise the Confession or any part thereof. For the accomplishment
of this work we look to the wisdom of the whole Church as repre-
sented in the General Assembly, or such committee or commission as
it may appoint for the purpose.
IV. While we thus decline, as a Presbytery, at this time, to under-
take the specific work of revision, yet we desire to name the following
parts of the Confession, and principles which will illustrate the spirit
and manner of the revision which we desire :
i. We desire that Chapter III., after Section r, be so recast as to
include these things only : the sovereignty of God in election ; the
general love of God for all mankind ; the salvation in Christ Jesus
provided for all and to be preached to every creature.
2. We desire that Chapter X. be so revised as not to appear to
discriminate concerning "infants dying in infancy"; and so as to
preclude that explanation of Section 4 which makes it teach the dam-
nation of all the heathen, or makes it deny that there are any elect
heathen who are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,
and who endeavor to walk in penitence and humility, according to
the measure of light which God has been pleased to grant them.
3. We suggest that Chapter XXV., Section 6 ; Chapter XXIV.,
Section 3, and Chapter XXII., Section 7, so far as they have refer-
ence to the Roman Catholic Church, are not sustained by Scripture,
and are out of place in the symbol of the Church's faith.
4. We hereby overture the General Assembly to raise a large and
representative committee or commission, taken from the Church at
large, to which shall be entrusted, (cz) the work of revising the present
Confession under such instructions as the Assembly may impose.
(b) The work of preparing a short and simple statement containing the
essential and necessary articles of the Westminster Confession. In
making this last request we desire expressly to state that it is our wish
and purpose to have the Westminster Confession, after the proposed
68 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
revision, hold precisely the same position and use in the O.urch which
it now has ; but in addition to this we desire a simpler and briefer
statement of our faith for such use as pastors often require, in dealing
with members of the church and congregation.
Attest : Wiley K. Wright, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LOS ANGELES.
Resolved, That we desire no revision which would impair the integ-
rity or weaken the force of the Calvinistic system of doctrine con-
tained in our Confession of Faith.
Resolved, That we especially desire such modification of statement in
the third and tenth Chapters of the Confession as shall remove ground
for misrepresentation on the part of those who oppose our doctrines,
and furnish occasion of stumbling from those who are friendly to us,
and shall set forth more conspicuously the infinite compassion of God
for our fallen race in his most glorious decrees respecting the plan of
salvation revealed to us in the Gospel.
Resolved, That we are not averse to any such changes in other parts
of the Confession as may, in the wisdom of the Assembly, be deemed
necessary or appropriate to give larger and fuller expression to the
brotherly love cherished by our Church toward other denominations
of Christians, or the grand missionary spirit which is moving her to
large gifts and untiring labors for the evangelization of the world.
Attest: P. D. Young, Acting Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LOUISVILLE.
i. We desire revision only so far as it shall relieve the Confession
of ambiguous and mis'eading statements, and so far as it shall tend to
a clearer, stronger and more consistent expression of the Calvinistic
system of doctrine which it contains.
2. Were we to specify, we would mention at least three particu-
lars:
{a) Such a restatement of the third Chapter as shall more fully
express the love of God for all mankind.
(b) Such a modification of Chapter X., Section 3, as will make it
express the belief of the Church in regard to the salvation of infants.
LOS ANGELES TO MAHONING. 69
(V) The omission of all such polemic statements in regard to Roman
Catholics and the Pope of Rome, as are found in Section 7 of Chap-
ter XXII., and in Section 3 of Chapter XXIV., and in Section 6 of
Chapter XXV.
Attest: J. R. Collier, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF LYONS.
The Presbytery recommends that the Westminster Shorter Cate-
chism be adopted for a Confession, with a few changes and omitting
the questions.
In case this Confession can not be adopted, this Presbytery desires
the Westminster Confession revised as follows :
Chapter III., omit all that refers to reprobation or pretention.
Chapter X., omit the reference to elect infants, and let that to the
heathen be in harmony with the Scripture statement, "That God is no
respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and
worketh righteousness is accepted with him."
Attest: Henry M. Clark, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MAHONING.
Chapter III., Section 3. Change so as to state that God's connec-
tion with the ruin of men is that of a permissive decree.
Chapter III., Sections 4 and 7. Omit. In their place, this :
' ' God's eternal decree hindereth no one from accepting Christ, as he
is freely offered to us in the Gospel, nor ought it to be so construed
as to contradict the Scripture declaration that Christ is the propitiation
for the sins of the whole world, and that God is not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Chapter X., Section 3. Omit the word "elect " wherever it occurs.
Chapter X., Section 4. Omit.
Chapter XVI., Section 7. Omit.
Chapter XXIV., Section 3. Omit the words "papists or other."
Chapter XXV., Section 6. Omit all after first sentence.
Add a new chapter on the Fatherhood of God and the Mission of
the Church.
Attest : E. D. Vance, Stated Clerk.
70 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
PRESBYTERY OF MANKATO.
We do not favor a revision which will in the least particular impair
the integrity of the Calvinistic system. We desire only a revision
which is reasonable, scriptural, conservative and safe. In accordance
with this, we desire the reference of this matter, — in case revision is
undertaken, — to a large and representative committee, who shall sub-
mit a revision of the Confession better adapted to the uses of the
Church.
Attest: S. W. LaGrange, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MARION.
It is the judgment of the Marion Presbytery that the extent to
which the Confessional change should be carried, and the particular
form it shall take before submission to the Presbyteries for constitu-
tional ratification, may safely be left to such large and representative
committee as the General Assembly may appoint, it being provided
that in any proposed changes the following points be secured :
i. That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained in
our Confession of Faith be kept inviolate.
2. It is desirable that changes should be made in those parts of the
Confession which relate to pretention, reprobation, elect infants, and
to those who have not heard or are unable to understand the Gospel,
and that Section 7, Chapter XVI., and Section 2, Chapter XXX., be
restated.
3. We also suggest the propriety of making a full and definite state-
ment of the love of God to all men, and the free offer of the Gospel
to all.
Attest : W. S. Eagleson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MATTOON.
i. We would not abate one jot or tittle of the system of doctrine
therein contained; we hereby reaffirm our belief in., and re-express
our admiration for, that interpretation of Scripture commonly known
as Augustinian or Calvinistic.
2. We favor such an abridged Confession as would admit of more
frequent popular perusal (if not of use in public teaching and wor-
ship), while it should not omit any vital doctrine, and should observe
a greater symmetry and more scriptural proportion in their statement.
MANKATO TO MAUMEE. 71
3. If this may not be had, then such a revision of the Standards as
will remove as far as possible ambiguity ; will lop off all excrescences,
if any there be, and will exalt to their proper place the leading facts
of revelation. Suffice it to suggest:
1. That the redeeming love of God, sufficient for the salvation of
repenting sinners, is a prominent fact of Scripture side by side with
his glorious justice, and should be accorded greater comparative
prominence in a standard of faith.
2. That the actual belief of the Presbyterian Church with regard
to the salvation of infants dying in infancy and of others incapable of
intelligent faith, should be either stated with clearness and precision,
or all reference to it be omitted.
3. That redeeming traits in the characters of men otherwise wicked
and impenitent, while not sufficient to save them, are worthy of due
recognition and grateful appreciation as evidence of that common
grace whereby God has visited all and saved from utter blight a sin-
cursed world.
4. That designation of the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist of
prophecy, while plausible, is unwarranted and unnecessary in a Con-
fession of Faith.
5. That the essential doctrine of the decrees of God is sufficiently
stated in the language of Holy Writ without attempt at elucidation
or limitation. Objectors and gainsayers must then beware lest haply
they be found to fighl against God.
6. Finally, we would suggest that the great commission given by
our Lord to evangelize the world, well deserves a place in a Confession
of Faith, as it is fast finding it in the hearts of the people.
Attest : J. A. Piper, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MAUMEE.
i. We desire that the third Chapter shill be so modified as to
include only the sovereignty of God in election ; the general love of
God for the human race, and the fullness of the salvation through
Christ for all mankind; that the word "elect" in the tenth Chapter,
Section 3, before infants, be omitted, and that Section 4 be so altered
that it shall not deny the possibility of the salvation of any heathen
who may follow the light of nature in faith.
2. That the reference to the Pope of Rome in Chapter XXV., Sec-
tion 6, be omitted.
Attest : B. W. Slagle, Stated Clerk.
72 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF THE CITY OF MEXICO.
The Presbytery has such confidence in the General Assembly, and
in any committee it would nominate, that we do not hesitate to leave
to its discretion the determination of the necessary changes. We
wish merely to express our desire that nothing be done to modify our
system of doctrine, known as Calvinistic, Augustinian or Pauline.
Attest: Hubert W. Brown, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MILWAUKEE.
That it is the judgment of this Presbytery that the extent to which
Confessional change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall
take before submission to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratifica-
tion, may safely be left to such large and representative committee
as the General Assembly shall appoint, it being provided that in any
proposed change at least the three following points shall be reached :
i. That the full integrity of the system of doctrine as contained in
the Confession of Faith shall be kept inviolate.
2. That those forms of statement, especially in the third and tenth
Chapters, which convey, or seem to convey, erroneous or unscrip-
tural implications, and which are occasions of stumbling, be modified
or eliminated.
3. That God's love for the world and his commission to preach
the Gospel to every creature, be given fuller and more definite expres-
sion.
Attest : S. W. Chidester, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MONROE.
1. [Yes,] provided, the changes introduced are not such as to affect
the system of doctrine to which we as a denomination have always
held.
2. To the second question we reply: Strike out of Chapter III.,
Section 4, which only reiterates and reflects a needless emphasis on
Section 3, immediately preceding. Strike out also Section 7, of
Chapter III, which is no more than an amplification of the closing
statement of Section 6, immediately before it. That God passes by
all but the elect, and leaves them to their sins, is plainly stated in Sec-
tion 6. This is enough, in our opinion, of a very painful subject. We
do not believe in saying that God was pleased to ordain any of his
creatures to dishonor or wrath, even for their sins. We can not but
believe he did it with infinite reluctance. The expression, " God was
CITY OK MEXICO TO MONROE. 73
pleased to pass by and punish," has to our ears an unpleasant sound.
The omission of the sections named does not weaken the teaching of
the Confession on the doctrine of election, neither does it expunge
its testimony on the subject of reprobation. For Section 3 of this
same chapter gives both sides of the doctiine of election. It says
God predestinates some to life and ordains some to death. But we
would like to have this section revised so that the last clause will
read, "And others, in his infinite wisdom, goodness and truth, are
passed by, to suffer the just consequences of their sins, even everlast-
ing death." Passing now to Chapter X., Section 2, we would revise
by leaving out the words " Who is altogether passive therein until,"
and by introducing the word "who" before the words "being quick-
ened." Section 3, of Chapter X. : From this section we would simply
leave out the word "elect," leaving it to stand in all other respects
as it is. Section 4, of this Chapter X., we would expunge, as not
being in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel. A heathen may
possess a spirit which is acceptable to God, though we have reason
to believe that very few have ever possessed such a spirit in the lands
whither the truth of God has not gone. In Chapter XXV., Section
6, we would like to have the last sentence, relating to the Pope of
Rome, stricken out. The Roman pontiff may be the man of sin and
son of perdition, but that he is, is only an inference from certain pas-
sages of Scripture, not a positive declaration. It is wrong to bind the
faith of the Church to that which can not be proved to be a positive
teaching of Holy Writ. Besides, a creed or a confession is a place for
doctrine, but it is no place for expressions in regard to the justice of
Papal or any other claims. We all believe the Papal system to be
at variance with the Gospel, and the Papal Church in doctrine and
practice to be exceedingly corrupt. But this is no part of our system
of theology, and we object to being made to subscribe to it as if it
were. Finally, we would revise, by the addition of a section in some
suitable place in the Confession making mention of the warm-hearted
love of God for men, as men and as the creatures of his hand; of
his yearning desire to save them all through Christ, and of the fact,
that if all men would but repent of their sins and believe in him whom
God has sent, they would all be saved. We would have connected
with this an emphatic statement concerning the duty of the Church
to obey the command of her ascending Lord, to go unto all the world
and disciple all nations, and concerning the sin of letting so many
perish in their ignorance, when, if we did our duty, they would many
of them undoubtedly be saved.
Attest: H. P. Collin, Stated Clerk.
74 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MONTANA
i. We should like to see the following portions eliminated from the
Confession of Faith: Chapter III., Section 4; in Chapter X., Section
3, the word " elect" before the word "infants," and in Section 4, all
following and including the words "much less;" in Chapter XXV.,
Section 6, all following and including the words "but is that Anti-
christ," etc.
2. That Chapter III., Section 7, be modified so as to teach that
God condemns men to eternal death on account of their own sins.
3. We should like to see the language of the Confession made more
exactly to correspond with the actual words of Scripture.
4. We should like to see articles added to the Confession, of the
following import : (a) An article setting forth the love of God to all
men, even to the unbelieving and the rebellious; (£) an article recog-
nizing the Church's duty to evangelize the whole world.
Attest: George Edwards, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MORRIS AND ORANGE.
Instead of a revision of the text of the present Confession, the
Presbytery expresses its preference for a new and shorter Confession
of Faith, containing only the essential doctrines of the Presbyterian
system of faith, and to which a harmonious subscription could be
expected.
If, however, a more specific answer is required, while the Presby-
tery does not believe that there is any desire in the Church for any
essential change in the Presbyterian system of doctrine, it expresses
the belief that the statements of the doctrine of predestination and
reprobation (or pretention), as contained in Chapter III., and
especially in Sections 3, 4 and 7 ; the statements of the doctrine
of the fall of man, as contained in Chapter VI., the last clause of
Section 2, Section 4. together with the declaration in Section 3, that
" they being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed
* * * to all their posterity;" the declaration in Chapter IX,
Section 3, that " man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath lost all abil-
ity of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation " ; the state-
ment in Chapter X., Section 4, " Much less can men not professing
the Christian religion be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they
never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature,
and the law of that religion they do profess " ; and the statement of
doctrine in the same Chapter, in Section 3, concerning " elect
MONTANA TO MUNCIE.
75
infants" ; are expressed in form and measure so as can not be clearly
proved in Holy Scripture, and are not so held with any unanimity
by the Church ; and that such expressions give rise to much misun-
derstanding and misrepresentation, to the injury of the Church, and
the cause of Christ, and are burdensome to the consciences of very
many, and for these reasons the Presbytery thinks that such parts of
the Confession should be revised.
The Presbytery makes these further suggestions, viz: That in
Chapter XXIV, Section 3, all after the words " marry only in the
Lord" should be omitted; that in Chapter VIII, Section 4, the
words " with which also " should be omitted.
The Presbytery finds a lack of certain things in the Confession
which it is inost desirable that it should contain. It finds (1) a
deficiency in the declaration of God's infinite love to the world, and
his full and free offer of salvation to all men through the atonement
of our Lord Jesus Christ; (2) no full and clear statement of the doc-
trines of the person and work of the Holy Spirit; (3) no clear recog-
nition of the great commission of Christ to go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature. The Presbytery recommends
that suitable declarations on these points be added to the Confession.
[This resolution was adopted January 29, 1890.]
Resolved, That the following language in the action taken by this
Presbytery on the subject of revision, viz: "While the Presbytery
does not believe that there is any desire in the Church for any essen-
tial change in the Presbyterian system of doctrine," was and is
intended to be in all respects equivalent to a direct statement, that
neither does this Presbytery desire, nor does it believe that the Church
at large desires, any change in the Confession of Faith which shall
"impair the integrity of the Reformed (or Calvinistic) system of doc-
trine."
[This resolution was adopted June 10, 1890, and by a unanimous
vote.]
Attest : William F. Whitaker, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF MUNCIE.
Muncie Presbytery protests against any change impairing the integ-
rity of the system of doctrine always heretofore taught in the symbols
of the Presbyterian Church.
Let Section 3 of the third Chapter be as follows :
"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some
men and angels are predestinated to everlasting life; and others, in
76 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
view of their final perseverance in sin, are foreordained to everlasting
death. Those thus predestinated to life are given to Christ as a reward
for his obedience unto death."
Leave out Section 4, Chapter III.
Omit last clause of Section 6, beginning with the words, " Neither
are any others redeemed by Christ," etc.
Substitute the following for Section 7, Chapter III.:
"To the rest of mankind not given to Christ, God is pleased in his
mercy to offer sincerely and cordially the salvation in Christ on the
same terms as to the elect, not willing that any should perish, nor
taking pleasure in the death of any, but that all should come to the
knowledge of the truth and live. And if any of this class, led by the
Word and Spirit of God, should repent and believe in Christ, they
will be saved. But if they will not, they must perish forever, as mon-
uments of the divine wrath toward sin."
Let Chapter X. be revised so as to prevent ambiguity in Sections 3
and 4.
Let Chapter XXV. be amended by removing the words "but is
that Antichrist," et seq., to the end of the Chapter.
Let a statement be added to Chapter III., sufficiently declaring
God's love for the world, but discriminating between this love and that
for his elect ; declaring the free offer of salvation to all who will
accept it on the terms of the Gospel, viz., repentance and faith ; and
the obligation lying on the Church to declare this Gospel to the whole
world.
Attest : Charles Little, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NASSAU.
The Presbytery of Nassau, while not desiring to remodel the Con-
fession, nor to revise it so as to impair the essential articles of our
faith, answers the second question as follows :
It desires, according to its original overture, a revision of Chapter
III, and of other sections related thereto, so that all may be brought
into harmony with this chapter as revised, said revision to set forth
on the one hand the sovereignty of God, and on the other most fully
the love of God to man, as it shines so brightly in the Gospel.
We also recommend :
1. The omission of Section 3, Chapter X., on the ground that it is
not " Confessional" matter.
2. The revision of Chapter X., so as to preclude that explanation
of Section 4 which makes it teach the damnation of all the heathen,
NASSAU TO NEW ALBANY. 77
or makes it deny that there are any elect heathen, who are regener-
ated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, and who endeavor to
walk in penitence and humility, according to the measure of light
which God has been pleased to grant them.
3. The omission of all of Chapter XXV., Section 6, after the
the clause " there is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus
Christ."
4. The omission of the words " Papists " and " other," in Chapter
XXIV., Section 3, making the section read thus: "And therefore
such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry infidels or
idolaters."
Furthermore, we are of the opinion that there are other matters in
the Confession of Faith which stand in need of revision, but, recogniz-
ing the many difficulties attending a general revision, we suggest that
the General Assembly formulate a short, simple and comprehensive
creed.
Attest: A. G. Russell, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NEBRASKA CITY.
We desire only such changes in forms of statement as shall make
our Confession of Faith less liable to misunderstanding.
We think such changes may be made in Chapter III, in Chapter
X, and in Chapter XXV, either in the way of emendation, addition
or elimination.
We desire these changes to be formulated, with a wise conserva-
tism and after due deliberation, by a carefully appointed committee of
the General Assembly.
While desiring these changes, we wish to emphasize our devotion to
the system of doctrine contained in our Confession of Faith, because
we believe it to be a faithful mirror of Bible truth.
Attest : S. B. Neilson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW ALBANY.
In view of the great interest, deep feeling and various sentiments
developed by the discussion of the subject, we desire revision in such
respects as in the best judgment of the Assembly will remove dissatis-
faction, secure harmony and peace in the Church, as well as tend to
prevent misjudgment and misrepresentation from without.
ib ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
To the third question in the overture, viz: "To what extent is
revision desired?" we answer in general, but moderate terms,
by leaving the changes to be made, if any, to the united wisdom and
discretion of the Assembly, provided that the Calvinistic system of
doctrines contained in the Confession shall in no wise be confused or
impaired.
Attest: A. Y. Moore, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NEWARK.
That in answer to the second question, this Presbytery asks that
the sections herein specified be amended : yet so amended as not to
impair our system of doctrine, but so as to remove just cause of mis-
understanding and of misrepresentation of these articles of our faith.
In specifying the amendments desired, this Presbytery asks :
t. That in Chapter III (Of God's eternal decree), all the sections,
after the first, be so recast as to include these things only, viz.:
A simpler statement of the sovereignty of God in election ; the
general love of God for all mankind, and the abundant provision
in Jesus Christ for the salvation of all, to be preached to every crea-
ture.
2. That in Chapter VI (Of the fall of man, of sin, and of the
punishment thereof), the fourth Section be so restated, that while not
abating its statement of the prevalence of original corruption through-
out man's entire nature, it shall not seem to exclude entirely all kind
dispositions, such as, in fact, are found in many unregenerate persons.
3. That in Chapter VIII, (Of Christ the mediator), in the fifth
Section, for the words, "the justice of his Father," there be substi-
tuted the words " the divine justice," to obviate an appearance of
attaching the attribute of justice to the Father particularly, among
the persons of the Godhead ; (and that a similar change be made in
Chapter XI, Section 3).
4. That the eighth Section of Chapter VIII be amended to read :
" to all who come to Christ for salvation, he doth certainly and
effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for
them, and revealing unto them," etc., as in the present text.
5. That in Chapter X. (Of effectual calling) the first Section be
amended by omitting the words, "and those only," in the second
line, in order to remove a possible misunderstanding that it restricts
the free offer of salvation.
6. That the third Section of the tenth Chapter be so recast as to
avoid the possible implication that persons dying in infancy are lost.
NEWARK. 79
7. That the fourth Section of the same Chapter (X.) be so recast
(a) as to remove all excuse for the neglect of the Gospel on the
ground that there are some who " can not be saved " ; and (p) as not
to seem to teach that none may be regenerated by the Spirit, and
saved through Christ, without professing the Christian religion.
8. That in Chapter XV., (Of repentance unto life) in the fourth
Section, the word "condemnation" be substituted for the word
" damnation."
9. That in Chapter XVI., (Of good works) the seventh Section be
so restated, that while preserving its teaching concerning the charac-
ter and the insufficiency for salvation, of the morality of the unregen-
erate, it will also show fuller appreciation of the ethical difference
between what is good and what is bad in their lives.
10. That in Chapter XXI. (Of religious worship and the Sabbath
day) the fourth Section be amended by the omission of all after the
word "dead" in the third line.
11. That the eighth Section of the same Chapter (XXI.) be
amended by omitting the words "the whole time."
12. That in Chapter XXII. (Of lawful oaths and vows) in the third
Section the last sentence be amended to read : " And it is a duty to
make oath or affirmation touching anything that is good and just,
being imposed by lawful authority."
13. That in Chapter XXIV. (Of marriage and divorce) the third
Section be amended by omitting all after the first sentence; i. e., after
the word " Lord" in the fourth line, the declaration of the first sen-
tence covering the whole ground and being sufficient, without giving
needless offense.
14. That in Chapter XXV. (Of the Church) in the second Section
all be omitted after the phrase " together with their children."
15. That the sixth Section of the same Chapter (XXV.) be
amended by omitting all after the word " thereof" in the third line.
16. That a new section be added to this (XXV.) Chapter, which
shall set forth the duty of the Church "to make disciples of all
nations" in accordance with our Lord's last command.
17. That in Chapter XXVII. (Of the sacraments) the fourth Sec-
tion be amended by omitting the words, "neither of which may be
dispensed by any but a minister of the Word lawfully ordained."
The restriction of the administration to ministers being doubtless
wise as a rule for practice, but not to be made a doctrine of faith.
18. That in Chapter XXVIII. (Of baptism) the second Section be
amended by omitting the words "by a minister of the Gospel lawfully
called thereunto."
80 ANSWERS OF* PRESBYTERIES.
19. That in Chapter XXIX. (Of the Lord's Supper) the eighth Sec-
tion be amended by substituting the word " condemnation" for the
word "damnation."
20. That in Chapter XXX. (Of church censures), the second Sec-
tion be so recast as to obviate the construction that church officers
are able to forgive sins.
Attest : William T. Findley, Stated Clerk.
Per Jul. H. Wolff, Assistant Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW YORK.
i. The Presbytery would regard with apprehension any attempts
to remodel the Confession of Faith, as endangering the integrity of
our system of doctrine. We deprecate most earnestly all such changes
as would impair the essential articles of our faith, contained in that
Confession, which has so long served as our standard, and to which
we are bound by so many historic and personal ties.
2. We ask only such changes as seem to us urgently needed and
generally desired, to-wit :
We desire that the third Chapter, after the first Section, be so
recast as to include these things only : The sovereignty of God in
election ; the general love of God for all mankind ; the salvation in
Christ Jesus provided for all and to be preached to every creature.
3. We desire that the tenth Chapter be so revised as not to
appear to discriminate concerning infants dying in infancy, or so as to
omit all reference to them (Section 3") ; and so to preclude that expla-
nation of Section 4 which makes it teach the damnation of all the
heathen, or makes it deny that there are any elect heathen who are
regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, and who endeavor
to walk in penitence and humility, according to the measure of light
which God has been pleased to grant them.
4. While there are other points which the Presbytery would be
glad to see modified or changed, as conspicuously Chapter XXIV.,
Section 3, and Chapter XXV., Section 6, nevertheless we prefer to
confine our suggestions for revision to the third and tenth Chapters,
as above indicated.
Attest: S. D. Alexander, Stated Clerk.
NEW YORK TO NIOBRARA. 81
THE PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA.
We, the Presbytery of Niagara, believing that the Westminster Con-
fession of Faith contains in substance the system of doctrine taught in
the Holy Scripture, affirm our loyalty to the Confession, and oppose
any revision which would deny any fundamental doctrine therein
taught. We suggest the following changes in the interest of unity
and progress :
I. — That the third Chapter be so recast as to include a fuller state-
ment of God's love for all mankind, of the offer of salvation through
Christ unto all, of the responsibility of all to receive and obey the
truth, in accordance with John iii. 16-19; 1 Tim. ii. 1-4; 2 Pet. 3-9,
etc.; and that there be added to this chapter, or put in some other
appropriate place, a recognition of the responsibility laid upon the
Church by the command of our Lord in Matt, xxviii. 19-20.
2. That Chapter X., Section 3, be so revised as not to discriminate
against infants dying in infancy, or others incapable of being out-
wardly called by the Word.
3. By inserting in Chapter X., Section 4, the words " not accept-
ing" instead of "professing."
4. In Chapter XXII., Section 3, substitute for "it is sin," "no
one ought."
5. In Chapter XXIV., Section 3, omit "other" before the word
"idolaters."
6. That the last sentence of Section 6, Chapter XXV., be omitted,
beginning with the words, "nor can the Pope."
Attest: Edward P. Marvin, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NIOBRARA.
That those statements of God's decrees of reprobation in Chapter
III, Sections 3 and 4, of preterition in Chapter III, Section 7, and of
election of infants in Chapter X, Section 3, be modified; that the
references to the Papists in Chapter XXIV, Section 3, and to the ' 'Pope
of Rome" in Chapter XXV, Section 6, be left out. And that the
entire revision be such as to make the Confession of Faith a firm and
clear Calvinistic formula of God's purpose of love in redemption.
Attest: Wm. E. Kimball, Stated Clerk.
82 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NORTH RIYER.
The Presbytery of North River, while reaffirming its unswerving
loyalty to the doctrines of grace set forth in our Confession of Faith,
declares its conviction that, in order to express these doctrines so as
to render them less liable to misunderstanding, the Confession of
Faith should be revised as follows :
i. The doctrine of the divine decrees should be so restated as to
preclude the inferences — (i) that God foreordains any man to ever-
lasting death, irrespective of character; or, (2) that the decree hin-
ders any man from obedience to God or from acceptance of Christ,
when offered him.
2. Human free agency, with the responsibility it involves, should
be set forth explicitly, prominently, and with emphasis biblically pro-
portionate to that placed on the doctrine of the divine decrees.
3. Especial prominence and clearness of statement should be given
to God's gracious attitude toward all men; embracing his fatherly and
compassionate love for all, the sincere offer of eternal life in Christ,
made, in his Word, to every sinner, and his assurance that he hath no
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from
his way and live. And, therefore, no statement should be retained
which explicitly or implicitly denies these truths.
4. The common operations of the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of all
men, and the witness and work of conscience, should be set forth
with plainness and emphasis, as constituting that common grace which
God vouchsafes to every sinner, to lead him to repentance.
5. No statement should be retained which implies, or may fairly
be held to imply that any infants, dying in infancy, are not saved; or
that salvation, through Christ, is withheld from those who have not
lveard the Gospel, but strive to obey the light given them and are
penitent for their sins.
6. The statement of the doctrine of the Church should explicitly
affirm that, by Christ's appointment, it is the Church's duty and
privilege to carry the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, and
to offer salvation to every sinner.
7. While the sole headship of Christ over his Church, and the
falsity of all human claims to headship thereof, should be affirmed,
statements should not be retained which appear to reflect upon the
Roman Catholic Church with a larger measure of harshness than is
necessary to the most faithful maintenance of Protestant principles.
The Presbytery therefore recommends that the Confession of Faith
be amended by insertion, removal and alteration of statements, in all
NORTH RIVER TO OLYMPIA. 83
such parts and to such extent, as shall be necessary and sufficient to
accomplish revision, in all the foregoing particulars.
We believe that a new creed is needed, especially for popular use,
to express the conceptions of biblical truth to which the children of
God have been led by a devout study of Holy Scripture in our own
time, and to equip the Church for the conquest of the world to Christ,
to which God's providence so signally calls us.
Such a creed should be short, simple and biblical. It should be as
free as possible from technical terms. It should express the essential
truths held by churches of our faith and order.
Attest : Duncan C. Niven, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
In reply to the overture of our General Assembly on the subject of
a revision of our Confession of Faith, the Presbytery of Northumber-
land, while declaring its firm adherence to the system of doctrine of
our Church, known as "Calvinism," is in favor of such revision as
shall remove all question of the conformity of phraseology in the
Confession to the teaching of the Sacred Scriptures, which are the
primal standard of truth.
That any form of statements, especially in the third, fourth and
tenth Chapters, and in Chapter XXV., Section 6, which conveys, or
seems to convey, erroneous or unscriptural implications, and which
are occasions of stumbling, be modified or eliminated.
The scope of the New Testament manifestly demands a more
explicit Confessional declaration of God's love to the human family,
as manifested in the plan of redemption ; and the grand developments
of God's providence, call for a more prominent statement of the
acceptance by the Church of the great commission of our ascended
Lord.
Attest: Robert Laird Stewart, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF OLYMPIA.
It is the judgment of this Presbytery that any proposed Confessional
change may safely be left to any committee which the Assembly may
appoint, subject to the following provisos :
84 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
i. That said committee shall be composed of representatives from
every Synod belonging to the General Assembly.
2. That no changes shall be made which shall destroy the integrity
of the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith.
3. That forms of statement which seem to convey unscriptural im-
plications, which are occasions of stumbling, especially those in the
third and tenth Chapters, be modified or eliminated.
4. That more full and explicit expression be given to the doctrine
of the divine love, and our Lord's command to preach the Gospel
to every creature.
Attest : J. Osmond, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF OREGON.
That while this Presbytery accepts and adheres to the system of
doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, we believe that some
changes are necessary ; and while we think it wise that the changes to
be made should be suggested by a committee appointed by the Gen-
eral Assembly, their report to be ratified afterward by the Presbyteries ;
we desire at least the following :
First. That Chapter III, Section 7, be omitted, and the whole
chapter, after the first Section, be recast so as to give it a tone more in
harmony with that of Scripture, introducing a fuller statement of God's
love for the world, salvation through Jesus Christ, and our obligation
to preach the Gospel to every creature, all of which has been so long
emphasized in the teaching of the Church.
Second. That the ambiguous expression " elect infants," which
occurs in Chapter X, Section 3, be so changed as to express clearly
the belief of the Church upon the subject of infant salvation.
Third. That all of Chapter XXV, Section 6, which refers to the
Pope be omitted, retaining only the first sentence, which reads,
''There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ."
Attest: T- V. Milligan, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF OTSEGO.
While this Presbytery would regard with apprehension any attempts
to so remodel the Confession of Faith as to endanger the integrity of
its system of doctrine, yet it desires revision and modification in sev-
eral important particulars, viz.:
OREGOX TO OTTAWA. 85
i. That the third Chapter, after the first Section, be so recast as to
include these things particularly: the sovereignty of God in election,
the general love of God for all mankind ; the salvation in Christ
Jesus provided for all mankind, and to be preached to every creature,
and that the responsibility for the rejection of this salvation rests
wholly with the creature.
2. That the sixth Chapter be so revised as to preclude that expla-
nation of section Third which makes it teach that mankind are guilty
of Adam's sin.
3. That the tenth Chapter be so revised as not to appear to dis-
criminate concerning "infants dying in infancy," or to omit all refer-
ence to them (Section 3), and so as to preclude that explanation of
Section fourth which makes it teach the damnation of all the heathen,
or makes it deny that there are any elect heathen who are regenerated
and saved by Christ through the Spirit, and who walk in penitence
and faith according to the measure of light which God has been
pleased to grant them.
4. That Chapter XXV, Section 6, be stricken out.
There are other changes and modifications that this Presbytery
desires to see in order to harmonize the Confession of Faith with the
Scriptures as understood in the light of modern research and exegesis,
but as the whole matter, if revision is determined upon by the General
Assembly, will doubtless be placed in the hands of a wise and judi-
cious commission, it is willing to commit these to the learning and dis-
crimination of such a commission as the General Assembly may
appoint.
Furthermore, while this Presbytery desires the changes above indi-
cated, it also desires the General Assembly to formulate a statement
of doctrine containing the essential teachings of the Confession of
Faith as revised.
Attest: Frank H. Coffran, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF OTTAWA.
Whereas, We have such confidence in the wisdom, orthodoxy, integ-
rity and stability of the body of the Presbyterian Church, as gives us
faith to believe that any revision which would be consented to and
adopted by the Church, would preserve the full integrity of the system
of doctrine as now contained in the Confession of Faith, and in
the fulfillment of this confidence, we do consent and give an affirmative
answer to the Assembly's overture.
86 ANSWERS TO PRESBYTERIES.
The Presbytery would answer that, in its judgment, the extent to
which the revision should be carried, and the particular form it should
take before submission to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification,
should consist in a few verbal changes in phraseology which seem to
be misunderstood, and expose our system of doctrine to unmerited
criticism. To particularize, we would note the third and tenth Chap-
ters, in which there might be some eliminations and modifications.
And to subserve the purpose intended by a Confession, we desire to
express our belief that it should be a just expression of the integral
sense of the whole Scripture. And while it states truths with scrip-
tural accuracy, it should present these truths in the proportion of the
emphasis which in the Scriptures those truths have laid upon them ;
therefore, we would suggest that God's love for the world, his com-
mission to preach the Gospel to every creature, and his offer of salva-
tion to all, and his expressed desire of saving all who will accept and
believe on his name, might well be given fuller and more definite
expression.
Attest: Thomas Galt, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF PEKING.
The Presbytery would prefer a thorough revision, aiming to secure
a Confession clearer, more concise, less technical, more practical, and
manifesting toward all evangelical Christians more of an irenical
spirit. The Presbytery thinks such a Confession would be better
adapted to the edification of all believers, and more conducive to the
spirit of unity among all orthodox churches.
The Presbytery would point particularly to Chapter III., Sections
3, 4, 6, 7 ; Chapter IV., Section i ; Chapter VI., Section 4; Chapter
IX., Section 3; Chapter X , Sections 3, 4; Chapter XXV., Section 6;
as specially objectionable, either for statements not warranted by Scrip-
ture, or for doctrines infelicitously expressed.
Attest: J. L. Whiting, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF PETOSKEY.
i. We do not desire a revision which will impair the integrity of
our system of doctrine, embodied in the Confession of Faith, and
taught, as we believe, in the Holy Scriptures.
PEKING TO PUEBLO. 87
2. But, on the other hand, we are not in bondage to any form of
words, however venerable, which do not bear the impress of the Holy
Spirit; and would welcome a briefer and simpler formulation of our
Creed, in which such extra-scriptural, controversial, inferential, and
explanatory statements, as are not essential to a clear apprehension of
the truth, shall be omitted, and the redundant and antiquated style of
two centuries and a half ago shall be simplified and modernized.
3. But, failing in that, we desire, at least, the following changes.
(a) The elimination from Chapter III., of Section 7, setting forth the
doctrine of pretention or reprobation, which, however logical, as an
inference from the doctrine of election, has no sufficient warrant in any
clear declaration of the Scriptures, (b) In place of the section thus
omitted we desire the introduction of the doctrine of a full and free
provision and offer of salvation to all men, through the rich mercy
and grace of God in Jesus Christ, who will have all men to be saved
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (V) We desire Chapter
X., Section 3, to be so amended as to express, without ambiguity, the
almost universal belief of the Protestant world, touching the salvation
of infants, and of those who are incapable of being outwardly called
by the ministry of the Word. (d) We desire the omission from
Chapters XXV. and XXIX. of those statements concerning the
Church of Rome and its constituted head, which, however true, have
no proper place in a church creed.
Attest : W. P. Gibson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF PUEBLO.
i. By adding to Section 3, of Chaper X, "all infants dying in
infancy are elect, and hence saved."
2. By amending Section 6, of Chapter XXV, to read "nor can
the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but has in him
many elements of that Antichrist, that man of sin," etc.
3. By omitting Section 7, of Chapter XVI, concerning good works
of unregenerate persons.
4. By giving fuller expression to the doctrine of the love of God,
and to the duty of the Church to evangelize the world.
Attest: Jas. W. Stark, Stated Clerk.
88 ANSWERS TO PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF PUGET SOUND.
Chapter III., Section 3. Add "for their sins" at the close.
Chapter III., Sections 4 and 7. Also the last sentence of Section
6. Omit.
In their place add this: "God's decree is a divine secret not
revealed as a rule for human conduct, and hinders no one from
accepting Christ as his Savior; and ought not to be construed as
contradicting the declaration of Christ, that ' God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.' "
Chapter X., Section 3. Omit the word "elect" at the beginning
of the section.
Chapter X., Section 4. Omit.
Chapter XVI., Section 7. Omit.
Insert in some suitable place in the Confession, a full and definite
statement of God's compassionate love for all men, the free offer of
salvation to all, and the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel
of salvation to all the world.
Attest: Geo. F. Whitworth, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF RIO GRANDE.
In reply to the second question, "If so, in what respects, and to
what extent?" the Presbytery answers by respectfully proposing the
following changes :
1. Change and combine Sections 3 and 7 of Chapter III., so that
the resulting section after consolidation shall read: " By the decree
of God, for the manifestation of his glory, according to the unsearch-
able counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth
mercy as he pleaseth, some men and angels are predestinated unto
everlasting life, and the rest are passed by, and left to the just penal
consequences of their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice." The
above section to stand as Section 3, and Sections 3 and 7, as they
now stand, to be omitted from the Confession.
2. Omit from the Confession all of Chapter III., Section 4.
3. Change Chapter X., Section 3, so as to read : " Infants dying
in infancy, and those of the elect who have never been, or are inca-
pable of being, outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are
regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh
when, and where, and how he pleaseth."
PUGET SOUND TO RIO GRANDE. 89
4. Change the latter part of Chapter X., Section 4, so as to read:
" Much less can men not professing the Christian religion be saved
by framing their lives according to the light of nature and the laws of
that religion they do profess ; and to assert and maintain that they
may is very pernicious, and to be detested.''
In support of these proposed changes, the Presbytery begs leave to
present the following reasons :
1. Pretention is the necessary correlative of election, and being in
the Confession, its removal therefrom would impair, or at least be
construed as impairing, our system of doctrine. But we would distin-
guish between the terms " preterition " and " foreordination to ever-
lasting death." Strictly taken, preterition may be regarded as negative
and permissive in relation to the sinner's eternal condition. It is the
simple passing by of, or the failing to elect, the non-elect. The "dis-
honor and wrath" to which they "are foreordained" are the just
penal consequences of their sin. They are simply left to these conse-
quences. "Foreordination to everlasting death," on the other hand,
may be construed actively, and the use of it gives to the Confession
a tinge of Supralapsarianism, which is neither necessary nor desirable.
We would therefore omit from Chapter III., Section 3, the expression
"are foreordained to everlasting death," and substitute in its place
"are passed by," etc., as given in our action.
2. Inasmuch as Chapter III., Section 4, though not without ade-
quate scriptural support, is, in the form in which it stands, an inferen-
tial statement, which is not essential to the integrity of our system of
doctrine, and, as it is, moreover, the section which is, perhaps, most
frequently cited as objectionable by our opponents, we desire its
removal from the Confession.
3. Chapter X., Section 4, as it stands, may be, and, in fact, often is
construed as denying that any among the unevangelized heathen are
saved in any way whatsoever. We desire that it be changed by omitting
the words which render it susceptible of such construction.
4. Upon grounds held to be scriptural, it is generally believed and
taught in our Church that all infants dying in infancy are saved, and
that there may be some elect persons among the unevangelized heathen,
as among other classes of men ; and we believe that the changes we have
proposed, in conformity with these opinions, would go far toward
relieving our system of doctrine from the prejudice felt against it even
by some of our own people.
Further, we would say that we respectfully deprecate any changes
in the Confession for the professed purpose of rendering it more
"Christo-centric," and of bringing out more fully and clearly the gen-
90 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
eral love of God to sinners. In these particulars it is sufficiently clear
and comprehensive, and such changes could only result in promoting
that tendency to Universalism now so prevalent, which, magnifying
man's claims and God's obligations in the matter of salvation, is not
content with merely scornfully rejecting the doctrine of the special
love of God in election, but goes to the length of questioning his
punitive justice, and the need of a vicarious atonement, and of regen-
erating grace. For exemplification, we would refer to the "down-
graders" of the dissenting churches of Great Britain, and, in general,
to the teachings of many persons of rationalistic proclivities in our
own and in other lands. The best answer to objections of the class
above referred to is to point to our Church Boards and to the great
work which our Church is doing for the extension of the Gospel and
the salvation of men.
Finally, we object to any change in the article of the Confession
which relates to the Pope of Rome. It is not to be denied that the
Roman Catholic system of doctrine may be so interpreted as to appear
in the main to be unobjectionable; but Roman Catholicism, as a the-
oretical system, is one thing, and Popery, as practically administered,
is quite another thing. " By their fruits ye shall know them." One-
half of the members of this Presbytery are engaged in the work of
trying to remove from this part of our land the blight of Popery, under
which it has so long been languishing. The ignorance, poverty and
superstition which prevail here, after three hundred years of Romish
dominancy, demonstrate the fact that the Romish system is prac-
tically pernicious; and when we see the Pope, the priest, the Virgin
and the saints usurping the authority and veneration which belong
alone to Christ, the Great Head of the Church, we can not for a
moment question the correctness of the teachings of the Confession
upon this point.
LARGER CATECHISM.
5. In order to conform the Larger Catechism to the proposed
changes in the Confession of Faith, (a), change the latter part of the
answer to Question 13 so as to read, " Hath passed by the rest, and
left them to the just pencil consequences of their sin, to the praise of the
glory of his justice."
And (b), change the answer to Question 60 so as to read : " They
who, having never heard the Gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and
believe not in him, can not be saved by framing their lives according
to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess;
ROCHESTER TO SAGINAW. 91
but those of them who are of the number of the elect, are regenerated
and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where,
and how he pleaseth."
Attest : G. W. Riggle, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER.
The changes which we propose are as follows : First, we recom-
mend that all the sections in Chapter III. of the Confession of
Faith, except the first, be stricken out, and that the chapter be so
re-cast as to include a full statement of these points :
i. In regard to the sovereign grace of God in the election of
believers to salvation.
2. In regard to the infinite love of God to all mankind, especially
as exhibited in Jesus Christ his Son.
3. That the atonement is sufficient for all, adapted to all, and can
be heartily offered to all.
4. That there is a pressing obligation resting upon the Church to
send the Gospel to all nations, inasmuch as all are lost.
5. That no man is eternally lost because he is not elected, but
because he is guilty of eternal sin.
We also desire that Sections 3 and 4, Chapter X., on effectual
calling, be so modified respectively, as to avoid the inference that
infants dying in infancy may be lost, and that the door of mercy is
not open to any, except through the preached word.
3. Further, we would have expunged from Chapter XXV., Section
6, the following:
" But is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that
exalteth himself in the Church against Christ and all that is called
God."
Also from Chapter XXIV., Section 3, the words "Papists and
others."
Attest : Levi Parsons, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SAGINAW.
This Presbytery means to affirm its firm and full belief in the system
of doctrine taught in our grand old Confession. But we desire to
modify certain words and phrases which have been subject to misin-
terpretation, and which some consider as impediments in the way of
92 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
the growth of our Church, and more especially to bring us nearer to a
perfect realization of an answer to the Master's prayer, "That they
all may be one." »
i. That Chapter III., Section 4, be amended to read as follows:
"As to the number of the elect, we reverently bow to the inscrutable
wisdom of God as revealed in Scripture, that ' the Lord knoweth
them that are his, and knows whom he has chosen.' "
2. That in Chapter X., Section 3, the first word, "elect," be
erased, leaving the section otherwise unaltered.
The following overture was ordered sent to General Assembly :
" The Presbytery of Saginaw hereby overtures the General Assembly
to submit to the Presbyteries a brief Confession of Faith, containing
the essentials of religion, expressed in language so simple and scrip-
tural that it may bear the largest witness to the truth."
Attest: John T. Oxtoby, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SAINT CLAIRSVILLE.
The second question of the Overture on the Revision of the Con-
fession of Faith was answered, by leaving it to the wisdom of the
General Assembly to what extent revision shall be made.
Attest: George S. Hackett, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ST. LAWRENCE.
The Presbytery desires the Confession amended, in respect to
its acknowledged liability to misconception and perversion. The
reference is especially to Chapter III, Sections 3, 4 and 5, and to
Chapter X, Sections 3 and 4.
The 'Presbytery also adopted the following, viz.: We overture the
General Assembly, that they give us a brief statement of what is the
belief of the Presbyterian Church of to-day.
Attest : L. Merrill Miller, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF ST. PAUL.
The Presbytery of St. Paul, to the best of its knowledge and belief,
steadfastly holds to the necessary and essential doctrines of the Con-
fession of Faith, and desires no change in these doctrines.
SAINT CLAIRSVILLE TO SANTA FE. 93
i. We regard it, however, as important that a more explicit and
unmistakable statement be made of God's love to all men, of the
sufficiency of the atonement for all men, of the free and sincere offer
of salvation to all men, and the imperative duty of the Church to
preach the gospel to every creature.
2. We recommend also that the statements and phraseology of
Chapter III, after the second Section, be so changed or modified as
to guard against the interpretation that the decrees of God hinder
men from being saved, or which would charge upon God responsibil-
ity for or pleasure in the loss of souls.
3. We recommend that Chapter X. be so altered in its phraseology
that it may not seem to teach that some infants dying in infancy are
lost, nor appear to assert, as a doctrine of revelation, that none of
the heathen are among the elect.
4. Other minor changes which may seem necessary in making the
foregoing alterations and modifications, we would leave to the wise
discretion of any committee which the Assembly may appoint.
Full action in answer to second question.
Attest : John Wools, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SANTA FE.
The Presbytery answers that it desires :
1. That the system of doctrine taught by the Westminster Con-
fession of Faith, and Catechisms be preserved in its full integrity.
2. That the Confession be made to include a clear expression of
the scriptural truth that " God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life," and to declare that the ample salvation
provided through our Lord Jesus Christ is to be preached to the whole
world and offered to every creature.
3. That Chapters III., V., X., XXV. and XXXII. be revised, and
that the Confession and Catechisms be brought into harmony with the
amended portions ; that the extent and definite form of these changes
and any others which it may be proposed to submit to the Presbyteries,
be formulated by a committee to be appointed by the General
Assembly.
Attest: J. McGaughey, Stated Clerk.
94 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SCHUYLER.
i. Resolved, That we desire no change in the Confession of Faith
which shall in the slightest degree impair the integrity of the system
of doctrine as held by our Church and taught in the Sacred Scrip-
tures.
2. We desire such change in the phraseology and statement as shall
remove, as far as possible, known liability to misunderstanding and
misrepresentation of the faith of the Church, leaving it to the judg-
ment of the General Assembly to formulate changes for the action of
the Presbyteries.
3. We desire a place given in the Confession to the love of God for
the world, and to the free and full offer of the Gospel to every crea-
ture, proportionate to the place these subjects occupy in the Word of
God.
Attest: John G. Rankin, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SOLOMON.
i. As the first clause in Chxpter III., Section t, seems liable to the
charge of fatalism, notwithstanding the disclaimer in the second clause,
it would have been better to express the doctrine of the Divine Sov-
ereignty in the first clause so as not to be in apparent conflict with the
statements of the second clause.
We therefore recommend that it be changed so as to read as fol-
lows :
"God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his
own will freely and unchangeably so order whatsoever comes to pass
as to accomplish his eternal purposes."
2. We recommend the omission of Section 4 of this chapter, and
also the last clause of Section 6, as being unnecessary, and perhaps
justly open to unfavorable criticism.
3. We recommend the omission of the word "elect" from the
first clause of Section 3, Chapter X.
Also the last clause of Section 4 of the same chapter, beginning
with the words "much less."
4. We recommend the omission of all but the first clause in Chap-
ter XXV., Section 6; inasmuch as the characterization of the Pope
there given, though it may be just, is not required in a creed. The
denouncing of his pretensions in the first clause is sufficient.
SCHUYLER TO SOUTHERN OREGON. 95
Perhaps some other slight changes might be profitably made.
Your committee believe that burdened consciences will be relieved,
and the usefulness of the Confession will be increased, by such changes
in the Confession as we here recommend.
Attest: F. E. Thompson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHERN DAKOTA.
First, That we do not desire, and would not consent to, any such
revision as would change or impair the system of doctrine taught in
the Confession, which we sincerely receive and adopt in all the essen-
tial and necessary articles thereof as the system of doctrine taught in
the Holy Scriptures. In entire consistency with this declaration we
believe and declare :
Secondly, That there are in the Confession some statements of doc-
trine which can be, and ought to be amended so as, in the matter of
prominence given to particular doctrines, to bring them more into
harmony with the teaching of Scripture, and with the faith of the
Presbyterian Church.
1. Insert " for their sins" after the word "foreordained,'' making
this section read: " By the decree of God, for the manifestation of
his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting
life, and others foreordained, for their sins, to everlasting death."
2. Omit Sections 4 and 7, Chapter III.
3. Insert in Chapter III. a clear declaration of God's infinite love
for all men. "That God so loved the world as to provide, by the
gift of his Son, a way of salvation, which in the Gospel is freely offered
to all. That God has no pleasure in the death of sinners, but desires
that all should repent and live. That every man who hears the Gos-
pel is responsible for his acceptance or rejection of its free offer of
eternal life."
4. Chapter X., Section 3, omit "elect " before infants.
5. Chapter XIV., Section 1, substitute "sinners" for "the elect."
"The grace of faith, whereby sinners are enabled to believe to the
saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ," etc.
Attest : T. B. Boughton, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHERN OREGON.
The Presbytery of Southern Oregon, while reaffirming their
unswerving loyalty to the system of doctrine contained in the Confes-
sion of Faith, and recording itself as opposing anything like a
96 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
tendency to mar the integrity of that system , do answer the
Assembly's overture in the affirmative.
To the second question in the Assembly's overture we reply, that
we refer particularly to certain expressions and statements as well
known to be contained in the third and tenth Chapters ; but as to the
extent and definite form of these desired changes, we prefer to leave
to the wisdom and skill of the Assembly's committee, and to the
subsequent satisfaction of the Presbyteries.
Attest: F. G. Strange, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
i. If by a "revision of the Confession of Faith" we are to under-
stand some rending out from the old fabric for the putting in of new,
then we answer in the negative — -we do not desire such a revision.
Our "system of doctrine" is too closely woven for this to be either
successfully or acceptably done. At best it would be new cloth
patched into the old garment, and the result just such as our Master
himself has indicated.
2. If by a "revision of the Confession" we are to understand a
new Confession, which would be either more than, or less than, or
other than the "system of doctrine" we now have, then again the
answer of this Presbytery is in the negative — we do not want a new
Confession. The time was when we each one said unto God and our
brethren, " We sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith
of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the
Holy Scriptures," and we have neither changed nor gone back on
this. But,
3. If by a "revision of the Confession of Faith" we may under-
stand such a new setting of the old symbol, that while preserving this
"system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scripture" in its integrity
it will make more prominent the sovereignty of God's love in its
urgent quest after the sinner to save him rather than to destroy him,
softening the sharp edge of judgment and spreading the light of
divine and unresting solicitude over all the dark domain of sin and
ruin — then the answer of this Presbytery is in the affirmative.
* * * * Tn brief^ then, we want it [revision] in the form and
to the extent of a new setting of the entire symbol.
Attest: J. H. Potter, Stated Clerk.
SOUTH FLORIDA TO STOCKTON. 97
THE PRESBYTERY OF STEUBEN.
We do not desire any such changes as would endanger the integrity
of our system of doctrine or impair the essential articles of our faith
contained in the Confession, to which we are bound by many historic
and personal ties. But we do desire certain changes which seem to
us urgently needed and widely demanded.
i. That the third Chapter be so recast as to teach these things
only, and these distinctly : The divine sovereignty in election, the
equal love of God to all mankind, a salvation in Jesus Christ provided
for and available for every sinner, and to be preached to every crea-
ture for immediate acceptance.
2. That the tenth Chapter be so revised that no discrimination be
made or implied concerning "infants dying in infancy," ("Section 3).
That Section 4 be so changed as to teach that God is no respecter of
persons, but in every nition he that feareth him and worketh right-
eousness is acceptable to him; and not to teach the damnation of all
heathen, nor deny that there may be heathen who are saved by Christ
through the Spirit.
3. That Chapter XXIV., Section 3, be so changed as to omit all
reference to Catholics as idolaters; and Chapter XXV., Section 6,
so changed as not to designate the Pope as Antichrist, man of sin and
son of perdition.
Attest : M. N. Preston, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF STEUBENVILLE.
i. We are opposed to any change in the Standards that will impair
the system of doctrine known as the Calvinistic system.
2. The Presbytery of Steubenville, without indicating any special
changes, would respectfully urge the General Assembly that if
revision is made, only such changes be made as would free the Con-
fession from misunderstanding and misapprehension.
Attest : Edward D. Ledyard, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF STOCKTON.
Your committee would further state its belief that to a large majority
the least possible revision would be a restatement or omission of Chap-
ter III., Sections 3 and 4, and Chapter X., Section 3, and also the
last sentence of Chapter XXV., Section 6.
98 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Your committee would furthermore report that we believe there is a
general desire for a fuller statement in our Confession of God's love
to a perishing world, and a deeper emphasis of the Church's obliga-
tion to the Great Commission.
Finally, your committee has full confidence that the General Assem-
bly will appoint a committee that will make such changes in our pres-
ent Confession of Faith, as will prove satisfactory to the Church at
large, and that without disturbing to any appreciable extent the peace
and unity already prevailing within her borders, and will not impair
the system of doctrine.
Adopted by the Presbytery.
Attest : G. W. Lyons, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OP" SYRACUSE.
The inquiry thus formulated seems to your committee two-fold. It
may be answered in one of two ways. Seeking to know from the
Presbytery " in what respects " a revision shall be made of the Confes-
sion, the General Assembly would ask for those particular alterations
or amendments in the present Confession which are desired. When
in addition to this form of the question the General Assembly asks of
the Presbyteries, "To what extent" they would carry this revision?
it seems to your committee that an open door is made for the consid-
eration of the question as to whether or not it is desirable for "the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America" to formulate a
new statement of its belief.
The committee, in its discussion of the first of these points, did not
attempt to particularize any doctrine or phrase in the present Confes-
sion, which, if expurgated altogether, or changed in any part, would
bring the Confession into harmony with the thought and expression of
even the most conservative mind of the Presbyterian Church of to-day.
The committee attempted no work of verbal criticism or verbal sug-
gestion. Only in a general way was there allusion made to the third
and tenth Chapters of the Confession ; but the feeling and conviction
were most earnest that here and elsewhere throughout the Confession,
no room shall be left for any intelligent soul to doubt that we Presby-
terians believe that of all infants dying in infancy, not one of them
shall perish, and that sufficiencies of grace and merit are found in
Jesus Christ for the salvation of all, " whosoever will." If it shall
be the decision of the Presbytery to specify to the General Assembly
alterations in the present Confession, the committee would recommend
SYRACUSE. 99
that no part of the Confession be wanting in the assertion or inference
of God's love for all mankind, of salvation in Christ Jesus provided
for all, and to be preached to every creature.
But your committee, in deliberating upon this whole matter, were
drawn into an entire unanimity of judgment as to the second point sug-
gested in the second question raised by the General Assembly, i. c,
"To what extent" would you revise the Confession?
It may not be deemed improper in this report to mention some of
the most weighty considerations which met the committee in discuss-
ing this point.
The Westminster Confession can not well be altered in any of its
parts. It stands a structure of logic so stately and symmetrical, that
any subtraction or addition would destroy its grand proportions. It
was struck out in the awful exigencies of a great crisis, and like every-
thing so created, it was struck out entire. And then, in this work of
pulling down and rebuilding, whose plan shall be followed ? While,
perhaps, a majority would restrict the work of demolition to the third
and tenth Chapters, there are others who would begin at the very first,
toppling into the dust the towering porch. And at the best it was felt by
your committee that a creed so magnificent even as this, had its genesis
in an age different from our own, in its philosophy, in its language, in
its governmental forms, in its views of man's wants and capacities, in
its views of God's love and help, in its views, too, of the duties
which belong to Cnristians, and the world-wide enterprises and vic-
tories to which God has called his Cliurch.
A new expression for these fuller revelations of God to his dear
children is needed if we would in any fitting way sum up the belief
of the Church to-day. The very scene which has been going on, and
which is to be continued in every quarter of our land, and in every
quarter of the world where Presbyterians are found, is the mightiest
argument conceivable for a new statement of Christian belief. The
great debates in our denominational journals, magazines and gather-
ings have been as to what meaning is to be given to this and that
clause, and even words, in the Confession. There are vastly different
interpretations of the very language of this creed, and contradictions
endless among its defenders. We need "a declaration of those
things which are most surely believed among us." Your committee
feel that the Confession of the Westminster divines, so grand in itself,
and so associated with the progress of the Church, ought to stand in
its unimpaired integrity — a monument, marking a great epoch — the
beginning and the close of a splendid stadium. By the same law and
right and obligation which these ancient worthies had, and claimed to
100 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
have, to shape a creed which should express their belief, and their
sense of need, so have we of this far-off generation, the very same to
give expression to the new phases of the old belief, to a new sense of
altogether new duties, new oppositions and new opportunities which
confront us at the very opening of the twentieth century of our Chris-
tianity. With profound reverence for the Westminster Confession as
a symbol of a mighty belief of a mighty time in the past, glorying in
it, apologizing not one whit for it, we would simply let it be, and
with not less reverent hands than those which reared that great struc-
ture, we of to-day would build a simpler Confession, a more catholic
creed, a more missionary symbol of our Christian belief and duty.
The committee were thus of one heart and of one mind in their
affirmation of desire for a new creed. They felt that if the General
Assembly were presented with the various revisions of the old Confes-
sion and perhaps the varying new creeds of many Presbyteries, there
would be only confusion in the work of harmonizing them all. In
the judgment of the committee, a few of the very wisest men in the
great Presbyterian Church of the United States can be named by the
General Assembly as men who, with the help of God and in the
inspiration of the prayers of all the Church, shall give declaration of
its belief in a Confession which will be so catholic that all branches of
the one Church, " holding fast the Head," can join in its rehearsal;
that children, under the impression of its simple and majestic truths,
shall be drawn to its utterance ; that all Christian believers, catching
its spirit of missionary love and self-denial, shall be filled with a hope
and devotion which will conquer the world for Christ ; that sinners
and gainsayers may be confounded and converted by its simplicity
and. truth.
Adopted unanimously by the Presbytery.
Attest : A. H. Fahnestock, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBVTERY OF TRANSYLVANIA.
Make such changes as will remove any semblance of fatalism to
weak minds in the third Chapter, or any doubt as to the salvation of
infants in the tenth Chapter.
Let Chapter XXV, Section 6, be amended so as to read, "There
is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ."
Place in the Confession a clear, distinct statement of the love of
God to all men. .
TRANSYLVANIA TO UNION. 101
Presbytery wishes to emphasize what the above clearly shows ; that
in expressing a wish for revision it does so with the understanding,
that by revision we do not intend any remodeling of the Confession of
Faith, which will essentially impair the integrity of that historic system
of doctrine, which we reverence and love as the most comprehensive
and complete statement of Scripture truth extant in the world.
Attest : L. Eddy, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF TROY.
We unanimously submit all the important and difficult questions
involved in this subject to the wisdom of the General Assembly.
Attest: Arthur Huntington Allen, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF UNION.
. The Presbytery of Union is opposed to any change in the Stand-
ards that would impair the system of doctrine known as the Calvin-
istic system, and would limit the proposed revision to the changing
of certain forms of expression that seem liable to misapprehension
and misrepresentation, and the elimination of some phrases, which
seem unnecessary, and are apparently logical inferences rather than
clear scriptural statements of doctrine."
Chapter III., Section 3. After the word "life" read: "others
are allowed to continue in sin and suffer everlasting death."
Chapter III., Section 4. Omit.
Chapter III., Section 5. Substitute " not because of" for the word
" without."
Chapter III., Section 6. Strike out all after the word " salvation."
Chapter X., Section 3. Change to read : " Infants dying in infancy,
and all other persons incapable of being outwardly called by the
ministry of the Word, are subjects of God's saving grace through
Christ.
Chapter XXV., Section 6. Omit.
Chapter XXIX., Section 2. Omit the clause about the Popish Mass.
Chapter XXIV., Section 8. For the word "damnation" put the
word "condemnation."
Somewhere insert a statement of God's free offer of salvation to all
men.
Attest : W. H. Lyle, Stated Clerk.
102 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
THE PRESBYTERY OF UTAH.
Chapter III., Section 3. Omit the last clause.
Chapter III., Section 4. Omit.
Chapter III., Section 6. Omit last sentence.
Chapter III., Section 7. Omit.
The insertion of a new section which shall state in substance
this : " God's eternal decree hinders no man from accpting Christ as
he is freely offered in the Gospel."
Restatement of Chapters VI., X., XXV., and XXX., so as to
relieve them of those objectionable expressions, in reference to the
utter depravity of man and his utter inability to do anything good,
in reference to elect infants, the damnation of the whole heathen
world and the Pope of Rome as Antichrist.
The insertion in the proper place of a more complete and definite
expression of God's love for all mankind as set forth repeatedly in
such passages as John iii. 16 ; 1 John ii.2 ; 1 Tim. ii. 4 ; 2 Peter iii. 9.
A fuller statement of the missionary obligation of the Church to carry
the glad tidings of the Gospel to all the world.
Attest : E. W. Greene, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF UTICA.
The Presbytery answers in the affirmative, meaning by that " affirm-
ative," no change in our present Confession of Faith, but a Confes-
sional change in the direction of a brief, scriptural, irenic creed; a
creed which, while it will not take the place of the Westminster
Confession and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, will be regarded as
their authoritative explanation.
2. The Presbytery refers as an illustration of such a mode of
revision, which they believe to be both feasible and desirable, to the
creed which has been formulated by a committee of the Cayuga
Presbytery, and by whom it will be presented to the General Assem-
bly. This Presbytery would object to the length of that creed, to the
number of subjects included in it, and would desire a more careful
statement of some of its doctrines. It is, however, in the judgment
of this Presbytery, in the right direction.
3. The Presbytery of Utica for these reasons overtures the General
Assembly to take such action as it may deem necessary to secure, at
as early a period as possible, such a Confessional change as is herein
designated.
Attest : Dana W. Bigelow, Stated Clerk.
UTAH TO WASHINGTON CITY. 103
THE PRESBYTERY OF VINCENNES.
We are in favor of amending the Confession :
i. By omitting the last clause of Section 3, of Chapter III., after
the word " life."
2. By eliminating Section 4, of Chapter III.
3. By insertiing the words, "not because of," in the place of the
word "without," in Section 5, of Chapter III.
4. By eliminating the last sentence of Section 6, of Chapter III.,
beginning with the word "Neither."
5. By eliminating Section 7, in Chapter III., and substituting in
the place thereof, something like the following : ' ' God's eternal decree
hindereth no one from accepting Christ as he is freely offered to us in
the Gospel ; nor ought it to be so construed as to contradict the decla-
rations of Scripture, that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the
whole world, and that God is not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance and live."
6. By changing Section 3, in Chapter X., so as to read : " Infants
dying in infancy, and all other persons who are incapable in this life
of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, are regener-
ated by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where,
and how he pleaseth."
7. By omitting Section 4, of Chapter X.
8. By omitting all of Section 6, Chapter XXV., after the clause,
"There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ."
9. By inserting in some suitable place in the Confession, a full and
definite statement of God's love for all men ; the free offer of salva-
tion to all men; and the obligation of the Church to preach the
Gospel to all the world.
Attest: Blackford Condit, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WASHINGTON CITY.
Chapter III, Section 4. Omit the whole section.
Chapter III, Section 3. Omit the words, "and others fore-
ordained to everlasting death."
Chapter III, Section 7. Omit the words, "to pass by and " and
"them."
Chapter IV, Section 1. Omit the words, "of nothing," and "in
the space of six days."
Chapter VI, Section 4. Ask the Assembly to so modify as not to
104 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
appear to deny the existence of civil and social virtues in the natural
man.
Chapter X, Section 3. For the first word " elect," substitute " all"
so as to read, "all infants dying in infancy,'' etc.
Chapter X, Section 4. Omit the last half of the section, beginning
with the words, "much less can men," etc., to the end of the section.
Chapter XXIV, Section 6. Omit the words, " or such willful
desertion as can no way be remedied by the C (lurch or Civil Magis-
trate."
Insert at some suitable place, as, for example, at the close of
Section 7, Chapter III, the following for substance : " God's eternal
decree hindereth no one from accepting Christ as he is freely offered
to men in the gospel. It should not be so construed as to contra-
dict the declarations of Scripture that God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but should have everlasting life ; that Christ is the propiti-
ation for the sins of the whole world, and that God is not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Insert at some suitable place, as, for example, at the end of Chapter
XXV, a statement of the obligation and privilege of the Church of
Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of divine love
and salvation to every creature.
In returning the foregoing answers and recommendations to the
General Assembly, the Presbytery emphasizes its loyalty to the Con-
fession of Faith, and also its request that the work of revision be con-
fined to such changes in the forms of statement as, without impairing
the system of doctrine, will remove ambiguities which lead to popular
perversion and misrepresentation, and bring it into closer harmony
with the accepted and publicly declared faith of our Church.
Attest : Benjamin F. Bittinger, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WATERLOO.
i . That Presbytery is a unit in its cordial acceptance of and adherence
to the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, and
wholly averse to any change which could be construed as surrendering
or compromising any of the essential doctrines contained in our
Standards. Yet we judge that some of the statements contained in
the Confession of Faith are ultra-scriptural, and we desire a change,
especially in Chapters III. and X.
WATERLOO TO WEST JERSEY. 105
We also desire a fuller statement of God's love for all men as set
forth in Christ's teaching.
2. That the atonement of Christ is sufficient for all men, and can
heartily be offered to all men, and that man is lost only because of his
willful rejection of Christ.
Attest : William Bryant, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WEST CHESTER.
We favor no change that will impair the integrity of the system of
doctrine contained in the Confession. We propose the following
amendments :
Chapter III., Section 3, insert "for their sins" after "foreor-
dained."
Chapter III., Section 4, omit last clause, after the word "designed."
Chapter X., Section 3, should be so revised that it may not seem to
any to imply that there are infants or incapables who are non-elect.
Chapter X., Section 4, omit after the words " and therefore can not
be saved."
Chapter XXIV., Section 3, strike out the words "Papists" and
"other."
Chapter XXV., Section 6, omit all after the words "Lord Jesus
Christ."
Chapter III., Section 7, and Chapter XVI., Section 7 — we call atten-
tion to the need ol revision, but make no specific recommendations.
Chapter IK., incorporate a clear and explicit recognition of the
love of God to all mankind ; his desire that all men should turn to
him and live, and his commission to the Church to preach the Gospel
to every creature.
Insert after Chapter VIII., a chapter defining the doctrine of the
Holy Spirit, to complete systematically the presentation of the teachings
of the Bible, as interpreted and believed by our Church, as to the
being, attributes and works of the triune God.
Attest : W. J. Cumming, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WEST JERSEY.
In answer to the second question, the Presbytery would recom-
mend :
1. Whatever changes shall be made in the course of the revision
must be made in such a manner as in no degree to impair the integrity
of the Calvinistic system.
106 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
2. It is desirable that changes should be made in those parts of the
Confession which relate to preterition and reprobation ; to elect
infants; and to those who have not heard, or are unable to understand
the Gospel.
3. We also suggest the propriety of making prominent a full and
definite statement of the love of God to all men ; and of the free offer
of the Gospel to all.
4. We suggest, further, a careful revision of the whole body of the
proof-texts.
5. We do not deem it our duty to formulate these changes.
Attest : Henry Reeves, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
That the third Chapter after the first Section be so recast as to
present a scriptural and fuller statement of the love of God for all
mankind.
Attest : Aaron M. Buchanan, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WHITEWATER.
To the overture we would recommend the answer " Yes," provided
that " the integrity of the system of doctrine " contained in our Con-
fession of Faith be left unimpaired.
To the second question we would recommend the answer, that we
prefer to leave large discretion to the Assembly, and to such commit-
tee on revision as the affirmative answer of the first question will call
for; but would suggest changes in the following chapters and sections :
1. That Chapter III., Sections 2-8 inclusive, of the Confession be
so revised that the doctrines which it contains may be set forth in
more scriptural language, and such as will emphasize human respon-
sibility and the love of God for all men.
2. That Chapter VI., Section 4, be so revised that while the malig-
nity of the corruption of our nature in original sin, in so far as all
spiritual powers and works are concerned, be set forth, yet that the
natural virtues which we see exemplified even among the heathen
may not seem to stand in the same condemnation.
3. That Chapter VII., Section 4, be revised so that the word " fre-
quently " disappear, inasmuch as there is but one place in the Scrip-
tures in which the word " testament" is used in the sense intended by
the Confession, viz.: Heb. ix. 15-17.
WEST VIRGINIA TO WINNEBAGO. 107
4. That Chapter X., Section 3, be so revised that it will read:
"All persons dying in infancy, and all other persons who from birth
to death are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of
the Word, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,
' who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.' ' We would
further recommend that Section 4 of the same chapter be so revised
that the operations of the Holy Spirit, "who worketh when, and
where, and how he pleaseth," be not limited by the profession of the
Christian religion, or of necessity by a scriptural knowledge of the
truths of that religion.
5. Chapter XV., Section 4, has the word "damnation used twice.
For the first we would substitute " punishment," and for the second,
"final condemnation," as this would maintain the doctrine taught
with equal truth and plainness.
6. In Chapter XXV., Section 1, fourth line, supply after "Christ,"
the words, "who is the supreme and only," so that it will read:
"The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the
whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered
into one, under Christ, who is the supreme and only head thereof;
and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all."
Then omit the sixth or last section, which calls the Pope " that Anti-
christ, that man of sin."
7. We would recommend that Chapter XXIX., Section 1, be so
revised that where the " Lord's Supper " is said to be obligatory to the
end of the world, the more scriptural idea be substituted, viz.: " That
it should continue until Christ come again."
8. That Chapter XXX., Section 2, be so revised that the power of
the keys there committed to the ministry according to Scripture teach-
ing, be plainly set forth as only ministerial and declarative.
Attest: T. L. Hughes, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WINNEBAGO.
i. We desire that Chapter III. be so modified as not to seem in
conflict with its own declaration, viz : " Yet so as thereby neither is
God the author ot sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the
creatures." We desire, therefore, that the declarations in this chapter
which seem to imply an arbitrary pre-natal assignment of souls, be
expunged, and statements substituted of the love of God for all his
108 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
creatures, and the unquestionably scriptural decree of God that who-
soever may and will believe shall be saved,, and whosoever may and
will not believe shall be condemned.
2. We desire that Chapter X. be so changed as not to conflict with
the proposed changes in Chapter III.
3. We desire that Chapter IV. be so changed in phraseology as not
to seem to tie the " day of creation to a period of twenty-four hours."
4. Deeming it a needless assumption of authority for a Confession
of Faith to pass judgment against any other communion by name, we
desire that Section 6 of Chapter XXV. be omitted, excepting so far as
it affirms for Christ the sole headship of the Church.
5. We desire that the bearing of these changes upon the related
parts of the Confession be observed, so that all may be consistent with
the new form.
6. In addition to the proposed revision of the Confession, this
Presbytery would respectfully emphasize the desirability of a short,
comprehensive, fundamental epitome of Confessional statement, put
forth largely in scriptural language, and in the broad, Christian,
irenic spirit which pervades the heart and life of the Church of our
day, and which might be a bond of fellowship between all reformed
churches.
Attest: Henry L. Brown, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WINONA.
Chapter HI., Sections 3, 4 and 7. Omit.
Chapter X., Section 1. Omit words " those only.''
Chapter X., Section 3. Omit words "elect" before " infants."
Chapter X., Section 4. Beginning with words "much less," omit
to end of chapter.
Attest : Robert J. Thomson, Stated Clerk.
THE PRESBYTERY OF WOOD RIVER.
That the changes be limited to such as are necessary to remove
all ambiguity as to the teachings of our Standards, to the intent that
they may be brought into full and complete harmony with the Scrip-
tures, and that the doctrines essential to salvation be clearly set forth.
Attest: J. H. Barton, Stated Clerk.
WINONA TO ZANESVILLE. 109
THE PRESBYTERY OF ZANESVILLE.
The Presbytery of Zanesville reaffirms its belief in the system of
doctrine taught in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as the
teaching of the Word of God, and stands pledged to oppose any and
every change that would in the least degree take from, or in any way
impair, any part of our Calvinistic system of doctrine.
Nevertheless, we not only concede the fact that the Westminster
symbol, like every effort of the uninspired mind to set forth the whole
sphere of the heavenly doctrine taught in God's Word, is not wholly
free from imperfections, but contains " infelicities of expression, defects
and excesses of statement, and faults of emphasis," but we also believe
that there is no necessity or propriety in retaining in the Standards of
the Church of this day and generation, any generally conceded and
needless imperfections that mar the beauty and the excellency of our
cherished system of doctrine, and that undoubtedly do expose it to
misunderstanding and unmerited criticism.
It is the judgment of this Presbytery that the extent to which the
Confessional change shall be carried, and the particular form it shall
take, be submitted to the Presbyteries for constitutional ratification,
and may safely be left to such large and representative committee as
the General Assembly shall appoint.
Attest: Faris Brown, Stated Clerk.
TABULATED STATEMENT;
The following Presbyteries declare that they desire no revision
that affects or impairs the integrity of the system of doctrine contained
in the Confession of Faith :
Aberdeen, 10.
Alton, 10.
Athens, n.
Austin, ii.
Baltimore, 12.
Benicia, 15.
Binghamton, 15.
Black Hills, 17.
Bloomington, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 18.
Buffalo, 22.
Cairo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Chicago, 37.
Chickasaw, 38.
Chippewa, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Columbus, 42.
Council Bluffs, 42.
Dayton, 44.
Denver, 46.
Detroit, 46.
Elizabeth, 47.
Emporia, 48.
Erie, 48.
Fargo, 50.
Flint, 49.
Fort Dodge, 50.
Fort Wayne, 50.
Freeport, 52.
Geneva, 52.
Grand Rapids, 53.
Hastings, 55.
Highland, 55.
Holston, 56.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 57.
Idaho, 58.
Indianapolis, 58.
Iowa, 59.
Iowa City, 60.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Kearney, 63.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lahore, 64.
Lansing, 64.
Lehigh, 65.
Lima, 66.
Logansport, 66.
Los Angeles, 68.
Mankato, 70.
Marion, 70.
Mattoon, 70.
Mexico, 72.
Milwaukee, 72.
Monroe, 72.
Nebraska City, 77.
New Albany, 78.
Newark, 78.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81.
North River, 82.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 84.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 84.
Ottawa, 85.
Petoskey, 86.
Saginaw, 91.
St. Paul, 92.
Santa Fe, 93.
Schuyler, 94.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Southern Oregon, 95.
South Florida, 96.
Steuben, 97.
Steubenville, 97.
Stockton, 98.
Transylvania, 101.
Union, 101.
Utica, 102.
Washington City, 104.
Waterloo, 104.
Westchester, 105.
Morris and Orange, 75. West Jersey, 105.
Muncie, 75. Zanesville, 109. — 92.
Nassau, 75.
*The figure following the name of a given Presbytery is the number of the
page on which the record of its action is to be found.
(110)
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
Ill
The following Presbyteries give expression in general terms to a
desire for a revision of the Confession of Faith :
Benicia, 15.
Columbus, 42.
Des Moines, 45.
East Florida, 46.
Fargo, 50.
Fort Dodge, 50.
Gunnison, 54.
Kearney, 63.
Lima, 66.
Mankato, 70.
Mexico, 72.
New Albany, 77.
St. Clairsville, 92.
Schuyler, 94.
South Florida, 96.
Steubenville, 97.
Troy, 101.
Wood River, 108.
Zanesville, 109.
SPECIFICATIONS OF CHANGES DESIRED IN THE CON-
FESSION.
Chapter III
Alton, 10.
Austin, 12.
Bismark, 16.
Bloomington, 17.
Brooklyn, 19.
Cairo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Chicago, 37.
Chickasaw, 38.
Chippewa, 38.
Cleveland, 41.
Columbia, 42.
Council Bluffs, 42.
Crawfordsville, 43
Dayton, 44.
Denver, 45.
Detroit, 46.
Elizabeth, 47.
Emporia, 48.
Flint, 49.
Geneva, 52.
Hastings, 55.
Holston, 56.
General re-statement or modification.
Hudson, 57.
Indianapolis, 58.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lahore, 64.
Lake Superior, 64.
Lansing, 64.
Larned, 65.
Lehigh, 65.
Logansport, 67.
Los Angeles, 68.
Louisville, 68.
Lyons, 69.
Marion, 70.
Maumee, 71.
Milwaukee, 72.
Niagara, 81.
North River, 82.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 84.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 85.
Ottawa, 86.
Peking, 86.
Rochester, 91.
St. Lawrence, 92.
St. Paul, 93.
Santa Fe, 93.
Southern Oregon, 95.
Steuben, 97.
Stockton, 97.
Transylvania, 100.
Waterloo, 104.
Morrisand Orange, 74. West Jersey, 106.
Nassau, 76.
Nebraska City, 77.
Newark, 78.
New York, 80.
West Virginia, 106.
Whitewater, 106.
Winnebago, 107.
Winona, 108.
Total, 67.
Chapter III., Section 1. — Revise.
Solomon, 94.
Chapter III., Section 2. — Omit or revise.
Chile, 38. Grand Rapids, 53.
112
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter III., Section 3. — Omit.
Cleveland, 41. Denver, 45.
Winona, 108.
Chapter III., Section 3. — Various modifications.
Boulder, 18. Mahoning, 69. Rio Grande, 89.
Grand Rapids, 54. Monroe, 73. Union, 101.
Knox, 63. Muncie, 75. Total, 8.
Chapter III., Section 3. — Insertion.
Arizona, 10. Champlain, 36
Binghamton, 16. Erie, 49.
Puget Sound, 88.
South Dakota, 95.
Brooklyn, 19. Iowa, 60. West Chester, 105.
Total, 9.
Section 3: — Omit the last clause.
Chapter III
Aberdeen, 9.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Black Hills, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Chile, 38.
Cincinnati, 40.
Ft. Wayne, 50.
Freeport, 52.
Highland, 55.
Huron, 57.
Chapter III., Section 4 — Omit.
Aberdeen, 9.
Arizona, 10.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Binghamton, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Brooklyn, 19.
Champlain, 36.
Chile, 38.
Choctaw, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Denver, 45.
Erie, 49.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
Freeport, 52.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Highland, 55.
Huron, 57.
Iowa, 60.
Iowa City, 60.
Knox, 65.
Mahoning, 69.
Monroe, 72.
Chapter III., Section 4 — Revise.
Boulder, 18. Idaho, 58.
Ft. Wayne, 51. Saginaw, 92.
Idaho, 58.
Iowa City, 60.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Washington City, 103.
Total, 16.
Montana, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rio Grande, 88.
Solomon, 94.
Southern Dakola, 95.
Union, 101.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Washington City, 103.
Total, 34.
Westchester, 105.
Total, 5.
Chapter III., Section 5 — Combine with Section 3.
Baltimore, 13. Denver, 45.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
113
Chapter III., Section 5 — Substitution.
Beilefontaine, 14. Denver, 45.
Cincinnati, 40. Huron, 57.
Union, 101.
Vincennes, 103.
Total, 6.
Chapter III., Section 6. — Eliminate the last sentence.
Arizona, 10.
Baltimore, 13.
Beilefontaine, 14.
Boulder, t8.
Brooklyn, 19.
Cincinnati, 40.
Erie, 49.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
Highland, 55.
Huron, 57.
Iowa City, 60.
Muncie, 75.
Chapter III., Section 7 — Omit.
Arizona, 10. Freeport, 52.
Binghamton, 16.
Brooklyn, 19.
Champlain, 36.
Chile, 38.
Cleveland, 41.
Erie, 49.
Highland, 55.
Iowa, 60.
Iowa City, 60.
Mahoning, 69.
Monroe, 72.
Muncie, 75.
Chapter III., Section 7 — Modify.
Boulder, 18. Ft. Wayne, 5r.
Choctaw, 39. Montana, 74.
Idaho, 58. Rio Grande, 8
Chapter III., Section 8 — Insertion.
Cincinnati, 40. Ft. Wayne, 51.
Chapter III. — Insert new Section.
Arizona, 11.
Athens, n.
Binghamton, 16.
Brooklyn, 19.
Buffalo, 23.
Champlain, 36.
Choctaw, 39.
Erie, 49.
Highland, 55.
Huron, 58.
Iowa, 60.
Mahoning, 69.
Muncie, 75.
Petoskey, 87.
Solomon, 94.
Union, 101.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Total, 16.
Petoskey, 86.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rio Grande, 88.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Winona, 108.
Total, 21.
Washington City, 10;
\Yestchesler, 105.
Total, 8.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rio Grande, 88.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Total, 19.
Chapter IV., Section 1. — Revise.
Ft. Wayne, 51. Peking, 86. Winnebago, 107.
Northumberland, 83. Washington City, 103. Total, 5.
114
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter V., Section 6. — Revise.
Chile, 38. Santa Fe, 93.
Chapter VI. — Revise.
Utah, 102.
Chapter VI., Section 1. — Revise.
Boulder, 18.
Chapter VI., Section 2. — Revise.
Boulder, 18. Ft. Wayne, 51.
Chapter VI., Section 3. — Revise.
Morris and Orange, 74. Otsego, 85.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Chapter VI., Section 4. — Revise.
Boulder, 18 Grand Rapids, 54. Peking, 86.
Dayton, 44. Morris and Orange, 74. Washington City, 103.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
Newark, 78.
Whitewater, 106.
Total, 9.
Chapter VII., Section 4. — Elimination.
Dayton, 44. Whitewater, 106.
Chapter VII. , add a new Section.
Baltimore, 13.
Chapter VIII., Section 4. — Elimination.
Morris and Orange, 75.
Chapter VIII., Section 5. — Substitution.
Brooklyn, 20. Highland, 55.
Cincinnati, 40.
Chapter VIII. , Section 8. — Revise.
Grand Rapids, 54. Highland, 55.
Chapter IX., Section 3. — Revise.
Morris and Orange, 74. Peking, 86.
Chapter X.— Revise in general.
Alton, 10. Cairo, 23.
Austin, 12. Chicago, 37.
Bloomington, 17. Council Bluffs, 40.
Newark, 78.
Total, 4.
Newark, 78.
Detroit, 46.
Emporia, 48.
Flint, 49.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
115
Holston, 56.
Indianapolis, 59
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lahore, 64.
Lansing, 64.
Los Angeles, 68.
Milwaukee, 72.
Nebraska City, 77.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 84.
Ottawa, 85.
Santa Fe, 93.
Southern Oregon, 96.
Waterloo, 104.
Winnebago, 108.
Total, 26.
Chapter X , Section r. — Elimination and insertion.
Arizona, 11.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Chapter X., Section
Bellefontaine, 14.
Chile, 38.
Chapter X., Section
Freeport, 52.
Chapter X., Section
Aberdeen, 9.
Arizona, n.
Athens, 11.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 15.
Binghamton, 16.
Bismarck, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 20.
Buffalo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Champlain, 36.
Chile, 38.
Chippewa, 38.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Columbia, 42.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Dakota, 44.
Dayton, 44.
Denver, 45.
Elizabeth, 47.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Hudson, 57.
Newark, 78.
Winona, 108.
Total, 6
-Elimination and insertion.
Choctaw, 39.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
3. —Omit.
Nassau, 76.
3. — Revise.
Erie, 49.
Ft. Wayne, 5 1.
Geneva, 53.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Hastings, 55.
Highland, 55.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 58.
Idaho, 58.
Iowa, 60.
Iowa City, 61.
Knox, 63.
Lake Superior, 64.
Larned, 65.
Lehigh, 65.
Logansport, 66.
Louisville, 68.
Lyons, 69.
Mahoning, 69.
Marion, 70.
Mattoon, 71.
Maumee, 7 1 .
Monroe, 73.
Iowa City, 61.
Monroe, 72.
Total, 6.
Montana, 74.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Newark, 78.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81. •
North River, 82.
Oregon, 84
Otsego, 85.
Peking, 86.
Petoskey, 86.
Pueblo, 87.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rio Grande, 88.
Rochester, 91.
Saginaw, 92.
St. Lavrence, 9.'.
St. Paul, 92.
Solomon, 94.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Steuben, 97.
Stockton, 97.
Syracuse, 98.
116
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Transylvania, ioo.
Union, ior.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103. Westchester, 105.
West Jersey, 106. Winona, 108.
Washington City, 103. Total, 77.
Chapter X., Section 4. — Omit.
Arizona, 11. Mahoning, 69.
Elizabeth, 48.
Freeport, 52.
Chapter X., Section
Aberdeen, 9.
Athens, 11.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 15.
Binghamton, 16.
Bismarck, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 21.
Buffalo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Cham plain, 36.
Chile, 38.
Chippewa, 38.
Choctaw, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Dayton, 44.
Eric, 49.
Monroe, 72.
4. — Revise.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
Geneva, 53.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Highland, 55.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 58.
Iowa, 60.
Iowa City, 61.
Lake Superior, 64.
Larned, 65.
Lehigh, 65.
Logansport, 66.
Lyons, 69.
Marion, 70.
Montana, 74.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Nassau, 76.
Puget Sound, 88.
Vincennes, 103.
Total, 7.
Newark, 79.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81.
North River, 82.
Otsego, 84.
Peking, 86.
Rio Grande, 88.
Rochester, 91.
St. Lawrence, 92.
St. Paul, 92.
Solomon, 94.
Steuben, 97.
Utah, 102.
Washington City, 1,03.
Westchester, 106.
West Jersey, 106.
Whitewater, 106
Winona, 108.
Total, 55.
Chapter X. — Insert new section.
Choctaw, 39. Iowa City, 61.
Chapter XI. — Revise in general.
Highland, 56.
Chapter XL, Section 3.
Brooklyn, 20. Cincinnati, 40.
Chapter XIV., Section 1. — Substitution.
South Dakota, 95.
Newark, 78.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
117
Chapter XV., Section 4. — Substitution.
Dayton, 44. Newark, 78.
Hudson, 57.
Chapter XVI., Section 7. — Omit.
Mahoning, 69. Puget Sound, 88.
Chapter XVI., Section 7. — Revise.
Boulder, 18. Lehigh, 65.
Cincinnati, 40. Marion, 70.
Ft. Wayne, 51. Mattoon, 70.
Highland, 56.
Chapter XX., Section 1. — Substitution.
Hudson, 57.
Chapter XXL, Section 4. — Elimination.
Newark, 79.
Chapter XXI., Section 8. — Elimination.
Newark, 79.
Chapter XXII. , Section 3. — Revise.
Freeport, 52. Newark, 79.
Whitewater, 107.
Total, 4.
Newark, 79.
Pueblo, 87.
Westchester, 105.
Total, 10.
Niagara, 81.
Chapter XXII. , Section 7. — Elimination and revision.
Brooklyn, 21. Logansport, 67. Louisville, 69.
Chapter XXIV., Section 3.— Modifications.
Brooklyn, 21. Lehigh, 65. Newark, 78.
Chile, 38. Logansport, 66. Niagara, 81.
Cleveland, 41. Louisville, 68. Niobrara, 81.
Ft. Wayne, 51. Mahoning, 69. Rochester, 91.
Geneva, 53. Morris and Orange, 74. Steuben, 97.
Hudson, 57. Nassau, 76. Westchester, 105.
Iowa City, 61. Total, 19.
Chapter XXIV., Section 6. — Revise.
Huron, 58. Washington City, 103.
Chapter XXV. — Revise in general.
Bellefontaine, 14. North River, 82. Petoskey, 86.
Nebraska City, 77. Total, 4.
118
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Chapter XXV. — Insert new section.
Iowa City, 61.
Chapter XXV., Section i. — Revise.
Crawfordsville, 43. Dayton, 45.
Chapter XXV., Section 2. — Revise.
Newark, 79.
Chapter XXV., Section 6. — Omit.
Dayton, 45. Union, 101.
Chapter XKV.,
Aberdeen, 9.
Arizona, 11.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 15.
Binghamton, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 21.
Buffalo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Chile, 38.
Choctaw, 40.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Crawfordsville, 43
Denver, 45.
Ft. Wayne, 51.
Freeport, 52.
Geneva, 53.
The Presbytery
this Section, 90.
Section 6. — Revise.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Highland, 56.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 58.
Idaho, 58.
Iowa, 60.
Iowa City, 61 .
Lahore, 64.
Lake Superior, 64.
Lehigh, 65.
Logansport, 66.
Louisville, 69.
Mahoning, 69.
Mattoon, 70.
Maumee, 7 1.
Monroe, 72.
Montana, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Nassau, 77.
of Rio Grande protests
Whitewater, 106.
Whitewater, 107.
Nebraska City, 77.
Newark, 79.
Niagara, 81.
Niobrara, 81.
Northumberland, 83.
Oregon, 84.
Peking, 86.
Pueblo, 87.
Rochester, 91.
Santa Fe, 93.
Solomon, 94.
Steuben, 97.
Stockton, 97.
Transylvania, 100.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Winnebago, 107.
Total, 55.
against any alteration of
Chapter XXVII. , Section 4. — Revise.
Newark, 79.
Chapter XXVIIL, Section 1. — Substitution.
Bellefontaine, 15.
Chapter XXVIIL, Section 2. — Elimination.
Newark, 79.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
119
Chapter XXIX.
Boulder, 18.
-Revise.
Petoskey, 87.
Chapter XXIX., Section 1. — Revise.
Dayton, 45. Whitewater, 107.
Chapter XXIX., Section 2. — Elimination.
Union, 101.
Chapter XXIX., Section 8. — Revise.
Hudson, 57. Newark, 80.
Chapter XXX., Section 2. — Omit.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Chapter XXX., Section 2. — Revise.
Boulder, 18. Indianapolis, 59.
Chile, 38. Marion, 70.
Dayton, 45. Newark, 78.
Chapter XXXII. — Revise.
Santa Fe, 93.
Union, 10 1.
Utah, 102.
Whitewater, 106.
Total, 8.
Chapter XXXIII., Section 2. — Substitution.
Hudson, 57.
SPECIAL SUBJECTS.
1. Presbyteries asking the insertion in the Confession of a more
explicit statement of the Love of God for the World.
Aberdeen, 9.
Alton, 10.
Arizona, it.
Austin, 12.
Baltimore, 13.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Binghamton, 16.
Bismark, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Bloomington, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 20.
Buffalo, 23.
Cairo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Champlain, 36.
Chemung, 37.
Chicago, 37.
Chickasaw, 38.
Chippewa, 38.
Choctaw, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Columbus, 42.
Council Bluffs, 43.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Dakota, 44.
Elizabeth, 48.
Emporia, 48.
Erie, 49.
Flint, 49.
Freeport, 52.
Geneva, 53.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Gunnison, 54.
Highland, 56.
Holston, 56.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 58.
Indianapolis, 59.
Iowa City, 61.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lahore, 64.
120
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Lansing, 64.
Larned, 65.
Lehigh, 65.
Lima, 66.
Logansport, 66.
Los Angeles, 68.
Louisville, 68.
Mahoning, 69.
Marion, 70.
Mattoon, 70.
Maumee, 71.
Milwaukee, 72.
Monroe, 73.
Montana, 74.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Nassau, 76.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81.
Niobrara, 8r.
North River, 82.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 83.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 84.
Ottawa, 85.
Petoskey, 86.
Pueblo, 87.
Paget Sound, 88.
Rochester, 91.
St. Paul, 93.
Santa Fe, 93.
The Presbytery of Rio Grande protests.
Schuyler, 94.
Southern Dakota, 95.
South Florida, 96.
Steuben, 97.
Stockton, 98.
Syracuse, 99.
Transylvania, 100.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Washington City, 104.
Waterloo, 104.
Westchester, 105.
West Jersey, 106.
West Virginia, 106.
Whitewater, 106.
Winnebago, 107.
Total, 93.
See pp. 89-90.
2. Presbyteries asking the insertion of a statement of the sufficiency
of the Atonement and free offer of salvation to all men :
Bellefontaine, 14.
Binghamton, 16.
Bismarck, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 20.
Buffalo, 23.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Champlain, 36.
Chippewa, 38.
Choctaw, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 42.
Columbus, 42.
Council Bluffs, 43.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Dakota, 44.
Elizabeth, 48.
Erie, 49.
Freeport, 52.
Geneva, 53.
Grand Rapids, 54.
Highland, 56.
Holston, 56.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 58.
Indianapolis, 59.
Iowa City, 61.
Jersey City, 62.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lansing, 64.
Lehigh, 65.
Lima, 66.
Logansport, 67.
Marion, 70.
Mattoon, 7 1 .
Maumee, 71.
Monroe, 73.
Niagara, 81.
North River, 82.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 85.
Ottawa, 86.
Petoskey, 87.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rochester, 91.
St. Paul, 93.
Santa Fe, 93.
Schuyler, 94.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Steuben, 97.
Syracuse, 98.
Union, 101.
Vincennes, 103.
Washington City, 104.
Morris and Orange, 75. Waterloo, 105.
Muncie, 76. Westchester, 105.
Newark, 78. West Jersey, 106.
New York, 80. Winnebago, 108.
Total, 63.
OVERTURE OX REVISION.
121
3. Presbyteries asking a recognition of the ChurcKs duty to evan
Belize the world.
Flint, 49.
Highland, 56.
Holston, 56.
Huron, 58.
Indianapolis, 59.
Iowa City, 61.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Lackawanna, 65.
Lahore, 64.
Lehigh, 65.
Logansport, 66.
Los Angeles, 68.
Mahoning, 69.
Mattoon, 70.
Milwaukee, 72.
Monroe, 73.
Montana, 74.
Morris and Orange, 74. Washington City, 104.
Muncie, 76. Westchester, 105.
Total, 60.
4. Presbyteries requesting a statement respecting Individual Respon
sibility for Salvation.
Gunnison, 54.
Hudson, 57.
Muncie, 76.
Niagara, 8.
North River, 82.
Aberdeen, 10.
Alton, 10.
Austin, 12.
Baltimore, 13.
Bismarck, 16.
Bloomington, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Buffalo, 23.
Cairo, 23.
Champlain, 36.
Chicago, 37.
Chippewa, 38.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 42.
Columbus, 42.
Council Bluffs, 43.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Elizabeth, 48.
Emporia, 48.
Erie, 49.
Newark, 78.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81.
North River, 82.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 83.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 85.
Ottawa, 86.
Pueblo, 87.
Puget Sound, 88.
Rochester, 91.
St. Paul, 92.
Santa Fe, 92.
Stockton, 98.
Syracuse, 100.
Utah, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Alton, 10.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Bismarck, 16.
Brooklyn, 20.
Buffalo, 23.
Otsego, 84.
Rochester, 91.
Southern Dakota, 95.
VVaterloo, 104.
Whitewater, 106.
Total, 15.
5. Presbyteries asking a fuller statement respecting The person and
work of the Holy Spirit.
Columbus, 42. Morris and Orange, 75. Westchester, 105.
Iowa City, 61. North River, 82. Total, 5.
6. Presbyteries expressing confidence in the judgment of a Special
Committee to be appointed by the General Assembly.
Aberdeen, 10. Chicago, 37. Des Moines, 46.
Austin, i2. Columbus, 42. East Oregon, 46.
Bloomington, 17. Crawfordsville, 43. Elizabeth, 48.
Central Dakota, 36. Dayton, 44. Fort Dodge, 50.
122
ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
Fort Wayne, 50.
Hastings, 55.
Holston, 56.
Iowa City, 61.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Lansing, 64.
Logan sport, 66.
7. Presbyteries
Athens, 11.
Binghamton, 16.
Cairo, 24.
Cayuga, 24.
Chemung, 37.
Chickasaw, 38.
Chile, 38
Mankato, 70.
Marion, 70.
Mexico, 72.
Milwaukee, 72.
Nebraska City, 77.
Olympia, 83.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 84.
favoring a brief popular
Crawfordsville, 43.
Gunnison, 54.
Indianapolis, 59.
Kearney, 63.
Knox, 63.
Logansport, 67.
Mattoon, 70.
St. Paul. 92.
Santa Fe, 93.
Southern Oregon, 95.
Stockton, 97.
Whitewater, 106.
Zanesville, 109.
Total, 34.
creed.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Nassau, 77.
North River, 83.
Saginaw, 92.
St. Lawrence, 92.
Utica, 102.
Winnebago, 107.
Total, 21.
EXTRACT FROM THE " MINUTES " FOR 1890, P. 129.
"Paper No. 21. Being Overtures from the Presbyteries of Albany,
Cayuga, Emporia, Indianapolis, Logansport, Madison, North River,
St. Lawrence, Utica and Wooster, upon a new and brief creed, or
explanatory statement of doctrine for practical use.
"Your Committee recommend that in our present circumstances it
is inexpedient to take any action upon this subject. Adopted."
The Presbytery of Lyons desires the Shorter Catechism without the
Questions to be used as a popular creed.
8. Presbytery asking a fuller statement of the fraternal relations of
the several Christian Churches.
Los Angeles, 68.
9. CHANGES IN THE CATECHISMS.
Larger Catechism, Question 196.
Bellefontaine, 15.
Larger Catechism, Questions 13 and 60.
Rio Grande, 90.
Shorter Catechism, Question 107.
Bellefontaine, 15.
THE PORTIONS OF THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
AFFECTED BY THE ANSWERS OF THE PRESBYTERIES.
CHAPTER III.
I. 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 vio-
lence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contin-
gency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass,
upon all supposed conditions; yet hath he not decreed anything
because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass,
upon such conditions.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some
men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others
fore-ordained to everlasting death.
IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained,
are particularly and unchangeably designed ; and their number is so
certain and definite that it can not be either increased or diminished.
V. 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 thereunto; and all to the praise of
his glorious grace.
VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by
the eternal and most free purpose of his will, fore-ordained all the
means thereunto. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in
Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in
Christ by his Spirit working in due season; are justified, adopted,
sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation.
Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified,
adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
(123)
124: ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the
unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or with-
holdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power
over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and
wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.
VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be
handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will
of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may,
from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eter-
nal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence,
and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant
consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
CHAPTER IV.
I. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the mani-
festation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom and goodness, in
the beginning, to create or make of nothing the world, and all things
therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all
very good.
chapter v.
VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a right-
eous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden ; from them he
not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been
enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their
hearts : but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had ;
and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion
of sin ; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations
of the world, and the power of Satan ; whereby it comes to pass that
they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth
for the softening of others.
CHAPTER VI.
I. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtility and temptation
of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God
was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, hav-
ing purposed to order it to his own glory.
II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and com-
munion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in
all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was
OVERTURE ON REVISION. 125
imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to
all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation.
IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indis-
posed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined
to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
CHAPTER VII.
IV. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture
by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ,
the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belong-
ing to it, therein bequeathed.
CHAPTER VIII.
IV. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake^ which,
that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did per-
fectly fulfill it ; endured most grievous torments immediately in his
soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified and died ;
was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no cor-
ruption. On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same
body in which he suffered ; with which also he ascended into heaven,
and there sittetb. at the right hand of his Father, making intercession ;
and shall return to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.
V. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of him-
self, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath
fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased not only recon-
ciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for
all those whom the Father hath given unto him.
VIII. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he
doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same ; mak-
ing intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the
Word, the mysteries of salvation ; effectually persuading them by his
Spirit to believe and obey ; and governing their hearts by his Word and
Spirit ; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wis-
dom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonder-
ful and unsearchable dispensation.
CHAPTER IX.
III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability
of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation ; so as a natural
man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not
able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself
thereunto.
126 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
CHAPTER X.
I. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only,
he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,
by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which
they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ ; enlighten-
ing their minds, spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of
God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart
of flesh ; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining
them to that which is good ; and effectually drawing them to Jesus
Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his
grace.
II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not
from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive
therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is
thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered
and conveyed in it.
III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by
Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he
pleascth. So also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of
being outwardly called by the ministry of the word.
IV. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the minis-
try of the word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,
yet they never truly come to Christ, and therefore can not be saved :
much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in
any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their
lives according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion
they do profess ; and to assert and maintain that they may is very
pernicious, and to be detested.
CHAPTER XI.
III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the
debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real,
and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf. Yet in as
much as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and
satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything
in them, their justification is only of free grace; that both the exact
justice, and rich grace of God, might be glorified in the justification of
sinners.
CHAPTER XIV.
I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to
the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their
OVERTURE ON REVISION. 127
hearts ; and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word : by
which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer,
it is increased and strengthened.
CHAPTER XV.
IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation ; so there
is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly
repent.
CHAPTER XVI.
VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of
them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both
to themselves and others ; yet because they proceed not from a heart
purified by faith ; nor are done in a right manner, according to the
word ; nor to a right end, the glory of God ; they are therefore sin-
ful, and can not please God, or make a man meet to receive grace
from God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and dis-
pleasing unto God.
CHAPTER XX.
I. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the
gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning
wrath of God, the curse of the moral law ; and in their being deliv-
ered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of
sin, from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the
grave, and everlasting damnation; as also in their free access to God,
and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a
child-like love, and a willing mind. All which were common also to
believers under the law ; but under the New Testament, the liberty of
Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the
ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected ; and in
greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller com-
munications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law
did ordinarily partake of.
CHAPTER xxr.
IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men
living, or that shall live hereafter ; but not for the dead, nor for those
of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
VIII. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men,
after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common
affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from
128 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employ-
ments and recreations ; but also are taken up the whole time in the
public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of neces-
sity and mercy.
CHAPTER XXII.
III. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weight-
iness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he
is fully persuaded is the truth. Neither may any man bind himself by
oath to anything but what is good and just, and what he- believeth so
to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform. Yet it is a sin to
refuse an oath touching anything that is good and just, being imposed
by lawful authority.
VII. No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of
God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is
not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no
promise or ability from God. In which respects, popish monastical
vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obe-
dience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they
are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entan-
gle himself.
CHAPTER XXIV.
III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with
judgment to give their consent, yet it is the duty of Christians to
marry only in the Lord. And, therefore, such as profess the true
reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other
idolaters : neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by
marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain
damnable heresies.
VI. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study
arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined
together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or such willful deser-
tion as can no way be remedied by the church or civil magistrate, is
cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage : wherein a public
and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed ; and the persons
concerned in it, not left to their own wills and discretion in their own
case.
CHAPTER XXV.
I. The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of
the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gath-
ered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the
body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
OVERTURE ON REVISION. 129
II. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under
the gospel, (not confined to one nation as before under the law) con-
sists of all those throughout the world, that profess the true religion,
together with their children ; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary
possibility of salvation.
III. Unto this catholic visible church, Christ hath given the minis-
try, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting
of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world : and doth by his
own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effec-
tual thereunto.
IV. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes
less, visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof,
are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is
taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship
performed more or less purely in them.
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture
and error : and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches
of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be
always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that
antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself,
in the church, against Christ, and all that is called God.
CHAPTER XXVII.
IV. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in
the Gospel, that is to say, baptism and the supper of the Lord;
neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the
word, lawfully ordained.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
I. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by
Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized
into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the
covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of
remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus
Christ, to walk in newness of life : which sacrament is, by Christ's
own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the
world.
II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water,
wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and
130 ANSWERS OF PRESBYTERIES.
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, law-
fully called thereunto.
CHAPTER XXIX.
I. Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he was betrayed, instituted
the sacrament of his body and blood, called the Lord's Supper, to be
observed in his church, unto the end of the world ; for the perpetual
remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death, the sealing all
benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and
growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which
they owe unto him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion
with him, and with each other, as members of his mystical body.
II. In this sacrament Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor
any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the quick or
dead, but only a commemoration of that one offering up of himself,
by himself, upon the cross, once for all, and a spiritual oblation of
all possible praise unto God for the same ; so that the Popish sacrifice
of the mass, as they call it, is most abominably injurious to Christ's
one only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
VIII. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward
elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified
thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the
body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all
ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion
with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and can not,
without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of
these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto.
CHAPTER XXX.
II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are com-
mitted, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and
remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the
word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the
ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion
shall require.
CHAPTER XXXII.
I. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corrup-
tion; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep) having an immor-
tal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The
souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are
received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God
in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies :
OVERTURE ON REVISION. 131
and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in
torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great
day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies,
the Scripture acknowledged! none.
II. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be
changed : and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same
bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall
be united again to their souls forever.
III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be
raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto
honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
II. The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation
of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect ; and of
his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and
disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life,
and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing which shall come from
the presence of the Lord : but the wicked, who know not God, and
obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal tor-
ments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
INDEX OF PRESBYTERIES.
Aberdeen, 9.
Alton, 10.
Arizona, 10.
Athens, 11.
Austin, 11.
Baltimore, 12.
Bellefontaine, 14.
Benicia, 15.
Binghamton, 15.
Bismarck, 16.
Black Hills, 17.
Bloomington, 17.
Boulder, 18.
Brooklyn, 18.
Buffalo, 22.
Cairo, 23.
Cayuga, 24.
Cedar Rapids, 35.
Central Dakota, 36.
Cham plain, 36.
Chemung, 36.
Chicago, 37.
Chickasaw, 38.
Chile, 38.
Chippewa, 38.
Choctaw, 39.
Cincinnati, 40.
Cleveland, 41.
Columbia, 42.
Columbus, 42.
Council Bluffs, 42.
Crawfordsville, 43.
Dakota, 44.
Dayton, 44.
Denver, 45.
Des Moines, 46.
Detroit, 46.
East Florida, 46.
East Oregon, 46.
Elizabeth, 47.
Emporia, 48.
Erie, 48.
Flint, 49.
Fargo, 50.
Fort Dodge, 50.
Fort Wayne, 50.
Freeport, 52.
Geneva, 52.
Grand Rapids, 53.
Gunnison, 54.
Hastings, 55.
Highland, 55.
Holston, 56.
Hudson, 57.
Huron, 57.
Idaho, 58.
Indianapolis, 58.
Iowa, 59.
Iowa City, 60.
Jersey City, 62.
Kalamazoo, 62.
Kearney, 63.
Knox, 63.
Lackawanna, 63.
Lahore, 64.
Lake Superior, 64.
Lansing, 64.
Lamed, 65.
Lehigh, 65.
Lima, 66.
(132)
Logansport, 66.
Los Angeles, -68.
Louisville, 68.
Lyons, 69.
Mahoning, 69.
Mankato, 70.
Marion, 70.
Mattoon, 70.
Maumee, 71.
Mexico, 72.
Milwaukee,' 72.
Monroe, 72.
Montana, 74.
Morris and Orange, 74.
Muncie, 75.
Nassau, 76.
Nebraska City, 77.
New Albany, 77.
Newark, 78.
New York, 80.
Niagara, 81.
Niobrara, 81.
North River, 82.
Northumberland, 83.
Olympia, 83.
Oregon, 84.
Otsego, 84.
Ottawa, 85.
Peking, 86.
Petoskey, 86.
Pueblo, 87
Puget Sound, 88
Rio Grande, 88
Rochester, 91.
Saginaw, 91.
OVERTURE ON REVISION.
133
St. Clairsville, 92.
St. Lawrence, 92.
St. Paul, 92.
Santa Fe, 93.
Schuyler, 94.
Solomon, 94.
Southern Dakota, 95.
Southern Oregon, 95.
South Frorida, 96.
Steuben, 97.
Steubenville, 97.
Stockton, 97.
Syracuse, 98.
Transylvania, 100.
Troy, 10 1.
Union, 101.
Utah, 102.
Utica, 102.
Vincennes, 103.
Washington City, 103.
Waterloo, 104.
Westchester, 105.
West Jersey, 106.
West Virginia, 106.
White Water, 106.
Winnebago, 107.
Winona, 108.
Wood River, 108.
Zanesville, 109.
INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Atonement, Sufficiency of 120
Answers of the Presbyteries 9-109
Catechisms, Changes in the 122
Confession, Portions of Text 1 23
Creed, Brief Popular 122
Evangelization of the World 121
Love of God for the World 119
Overture on Revision of 1889 4
Presbyteries, Index of 132
Publication, Resolution Authorizing 3
Responsibility, Individual 121
Special Committee :
Requests for Appointment 121
Appointment of 6
Instructions 7
Members 7
System of Doctrine, Integrity of no
Vote of the Presbyteries, 1890 4
CORRECTION.
P. 101, Presbytery of Union, Chapter XXIV. 8; should be XXIX. 8.
(134)
Date Due
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11