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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Utbrarif C5 fe-i .^ It ^ H ^ w = AVil> llTCIIFLIi, A.\» f)Tlil':ilS n AGAINST A DECISION OF THE PK.E^in'TEliY OF TOK'VNTO, W-,_ IN THE MATTER OF ;}Ld Piipers for use of Parties and General Assembfy. />;v/,.^.,7 n. r J CASK RKFEJUlKi) SIMPLiriTER, BY SYNOD, TO '^ ^.KNEIIAL ASSEMBLY. P'lpevs NiiT'ihei'^A from A. to .]., Lhctu^ive. 0)1}L].I.\: i'HINTRD AT -TMl'. FXPOrfnoil" i>OOK AND JOB OFl-ICK 1W6. MmaWWUIv- At^tf-amt^'. SYNOD OF •-•— 44lBi|ai' «?«♦«—*- DISSENT AND COMPLAINT -OF- Mr. David Mitchell, km Others AGAINST A DECISION OF THE PRESBYTERY OF TORONTO, IN THE MATTER OF • !!• (If , B. B. > * »♦» » » Pr//7fe(/ Pa/^firs /br use of Parties and General Assembly, CASE REFERRED SIMPLICITER, EY SYNOD', TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ^■» Papers Numbered from A. to J., Inclusi've, ORILLIA : PRINTED AT "tHE EXPOSITOR" BOOK AND JOB lOFFICE. 1876. L ^i-j ' ?> * T ' V M' I'^'tVi' ■• ■•! L... i I ":.J.'X VV • *-'!:'; ;■',, , a , II ■• -. f t:«' •?*■ -1' --v' ■I; , . V? ,' *.'J> i i ('„'■ i ' L I T / r. . . ! i • t '. . ■■ ■■•,;'/. • . • •- I !- . ■■ i . U 'y.H'^^t ':S*'t <■(■ - / -I ' .'1 ■ I i ■ i .rt ,1 !' //^ i JT TOEOJ^TOy and within Knox Church, there^ Thursday f the fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy* six years; which time the Synod of To- ronto and Kingston met, and was duly constituted, ' ' ' ' Inter ali% ''■'" ;_' ', _ , ;'' ■\\y" The Court proceeded to consider the Dissent and Com- plaint of Messieurs D. Mitchell and others, against a decision of the Presbytery of Toronto, in the matter of Mr. D. J. Mac- donuell, B. D. Mr. W, Fraser, Convener of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, reported that all the Papers ou the case had not been submitted to said Committee, Whereupon, on motion of Mr. A. Wilson, duly seconded, the Committee on Bills and Overtures were requested to retire from the Court, for the transaction of necessary business, in connection with said Dissent and Complaint. Mr. R. Torranoe read the fourth Report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, which was received and adopted, so far as the transmission of the papers, connected with the Dis- tent and Complaint of Messieurs D. Mitchell and others wta concerned. ^':^^' .it •■ (U The Synod then proceeded to consider said Dissent and Complaint . ' The parties in the case were called, when there compear- ed Mr. David Mitchell along with thobO adhering to his Die- MINUTES OF SYNOD. sont. and Complaint, — and the Prcsbj'tery of Toronto, repro- Hontod by Principal Caven, D.D., Professor W. Maclaren, and Mr. J. M. King, M.A. Tho papers in thecnso were rend, comprising, (1.) Dissent And CJoniplaint of Messieurs D. Mitchell and others, with rea- sons. (2.) Answers of Presbytery to reasons. (3.) Minutea of Presbytery bearing on the whole case. (4.) Statements and communications of Mr. D. J. Macdonnell. (5.) Reports and Minutes ot Committee appointed to deal with Mr. Macdonnell, and (6.) Sermon, along with explanations of Mr. Macdonnell, as they appeared in the Daily Globe of the Fifth November lOAt. This last document was held as read. , Tho hour of adjournment having come, the Synod ad journ- etl to moot at halt-past seven o'clock P. M., and was closed witli the benediction. Extracted by John Gray, M.A., Synod Clerk, And on ihr same day and in the same place, the Synod met and wrtii constituted. ■Mh •*A: /n/fi" (i/jhon time now at the disposal of " this uuvf.ng ot Syr.osi. w^nd die importance o\ the matter •■ now iutivxlue«ed ihe Commi;tee recommend ^1.) That th« ** Pi**tn;t and Comj\;tia5 b< tnmsiui::^ to the General Asvem- " bly sampiiciier. with consent ^i panic*. i' That parti** b« " iostrvtcc«v.l to h^vd aii papers in printed form, without delar." (orec befd withi fort) priuj I I 4 pom «ral Kin{ ito, repro- iluren, and .) Dissent with rea- ) Minute* mentsand ports and ucdonnell, rtcdonnell, November adjourn- )sed witli MINUTES OP SYNOD. | Parties, when asked, having expressed ihoir assent to th« foregoing reconimendution, were cited apucJ acta, to appear before the Oeiieral Asiembly. It was decided that the reference be for judgment. The Clerk was instructed to retain all the papcrn connected with the case, *.o get as many copies as were required p»-inted for the parties at their expense, as well as to give certified printed copies of the papers to either party, when required. Principal Snodgrass, D.D., and Mr. A. Wilson, were ap- pointed. Commiissioners to explain the reference before the Gen- eral Assembly. Extracted from the Records of the Synod of Torontc and Kingston, of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, by :>d Clerk, i John Gray, M.A., Synod Clerk ^nod met Dissent terrupt- econded *ing re- ures h% 1 >, t» •>j' p-D-sal of matter 3at tbo As^em- rti«$ b« dekT." B At Toronto, and within the lecture room of Knox Church there, the second of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, the Pre^jbytery of Toronto met and wui constituted. Sic. Inter alia, tho Presbytery called for report of committee appointed at last meeting to confer with Mr. Macdunneli. Ac- cordingly the convener cf said committee, Professor McLaren, read a report, and stated thereafter that Messieurs David Mit- chell and William Mitchell had entered their dissent from the recommendation contained therein. It was moved by Mr, Wm. Mitchell, seconded by Mr. Smith, and unanimously agreed, that said report, together with the motion submitted in com- mittee by Mr. David Mitchell and seconded by Mr. William Mitchell, be printed forth\^ith for the use of members. It wat then moved and agreed that the Presbytery adjourn to meet again at 8 P. M. ;.».•. , ^ , Extracted from Presbytery Minutes, Rj MoNTEATH, Presbytery Clerk. i Same day and place, at 3 P. M., the Presbytery of Toronto net again, bccording to adjournment, and was constituted, && Inter alia, the Presbytery resumed report of the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Macdonnell. It was moved bj Prmcipal Caven, and seconded by Mr. Prinj^le, That the Pres- bytery express a general approval of the report, and adopt its recommendation. In amendment it was moved by Mr. David Mitchell, and f econded by Mr. William Mitchell, That consider- ing all the circumstances the matter now before the Presbytery be allowed to drop. Ob the Roll being called, 34 voted for the motion, and 14 for the amendment. The inotion was ac» cordingly declared carried ; and the Presbytery decided accord- ingly. From this decision Mr. David Mitchell dissented in his own name, and in the name of all who might adhere, and protested for leave to ce^nplain to the Synod for reasons to be i )x Churck verity -six, &c. ;oinmittet neli. Ac- McLaren, avid Mit- fiom th« 'Mr Wm. agreed, in com- . William It was to meel ry Clerk. ' Toronto uted, &c >mmitteft loved bj he Pres- idopt its r. David Jonsider- 3sbyterj ^oted for was ac^ I accord - en ted in Jre, and UH to h% I I MIMITTES OP PRE8BTTERT* ' 7 Afterwards given in. To the above protest and compUini Messrs. Wm. Mitchell, Macdonnoll, E. D., McLaren aud Mac- fillivray adhered aud ciaved extracts. The Presbytery then adjourned to meet in the 6ame place the following day at 9 A. M., with leave of the Synod. Extracted from Presbytery Minutes, B. MoNTEATH, Preahytery CUrk. At Toronto, and within the lecture room of Knox Church there, the third of May eighteen hundred and seventy •'six, at 9 A. M., the Presbytery of Toronto, with leave of the Syned, met again, according to adjournment, and was constituted, <&c. Inter alia, Mr. David Mitchell produced and read the following as his reasons of dissent and complaint in regard to the decision come to the previous evening in the case of Mr. Macdonnell : — 1.— That the Rev. D. J. Macdonnell, by withdrawing hii forner •latement, and sabstituting the present one in its place, has complied with the committee'a expressed desire, which was either to answer their proi)osed question by a simple affirmative, or to give a written stat«U|St el his own. 2. — That Mr. Macdonnell's new statement does conta. a desirable adhesion to the Confession of Faith on the deotrine of the eternity of future punishment. 3. — That the last clause of the statement, as expressed, cannot on a fair interpretation of its meaning be said to modify the adhesion which Mr. Macdonnell gives to the doctrine in question. 4. — That Mr. Macdonnell, in the peculiar position in which he has been placed, has done everything within reason to meet the requirements •f the Presbytery on the point at isaue. 5,— That further proceedings in this matter will only tend to aggia- vate the unforeseen consequences which have resulted from the sermoa preached by Mr. Macdonnell. The foregoing reasoL were adhered to by Mr. Carmiohael 1 . ■ : I' I; <. N.B.— Proposed change by Mr. Macdonnell in hia reason of Dissent. 1. For words of o^^s, words of ' a committee,' 2, Between exac% and ^'■prei$,inaeTi*aton6sown.' — J. G., 5. C 6 MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY. of King, Mr. McLaren, Mr. M;»ec:illivray, Mr. Croll, ministers; and Mr. William Mitchell and Mr. David JohDston, elders. The following reasons ot dissent were also produced and refid by Mr. Macdonnell in his own name, viz.: it is unreason- able to demand that assent to a doctrine should be stated in the words of *others, when those words do not so exactly* ex- press the attitude of the mind towards a grave and difficult question, such as that under consideration. A committee was appointed, consisting of Professor Mc- Laren, Principal Caven, Mr. King and Mr. Robb, to prepare answers to the various reasons above given ; said answers to be submitted to the Presbytery at a subaequent diet. Also, on motion made by Mr. Pringle, Principal Caven, Professor McLaren and Mr. King, were appointed to represent the Presbytery before the Synod in this matter. •Extracted from minutes of Presbytery, ; t.: R, MoNTEATH, Presbytery Clerh, ■f t ■ » Eind on- in ex- cult Me- nard i to sent lerh, ^mI ent. and At Toronto, and within the Lecture "Roono of Knox Church there, the fourth of May, at nine A.M., the Presbytery of Toronto met again according to adjournment, with leave of the Synod, and was constituted, etc. , ,. , Inter alia, the Committee appointed yesterday to prepare answers to reasons of Dissent and Complaint in the case of Mr. Maodonnell, submitted answers thereanent, which, on motion made were unanimously adopted. The following art the answers just named : — ANSWERS TO l^easons of Dissent hy Rev. David Mitchell^ and others. , I The Presbytery regrets to find in the first reason of dissent a misstatement of fact. The Committee did not re- quest Mr. Macdonnell to give as alternative, "a written state- ment of his own," but a statement equivalent to a simple affirm- ative to the question. II. Inasmuch as th*^ form of adhesion given to the Con- fession of Faith, may very seriously modify its meaning, as will be shown in answer to the following reasons of dissent, it can- not be said to be " a desirable adhesion to the Confession of Faith." , , , i III. That the clause referred to in this reason, viz : " ex- pressed as it is cilmost entirely in the language of Scripture," IS, in the case of simple adhesion, entirely unnecessary ; and it can be fairly interpreted only in the light (1) of Mr. Mao- donn^U's declinature to give an affirmative aijswer to the question as proposed by the Committee, (2) of his per- sistent adherence to this form of expression in his statements^ and (3) of his interpretations of Scripture phraseology, as given in his sermon and in his first statement to tho Presbytery with its accompanying notes, — interpretations which have never been disavowed. It is but necessary to refer to the ex- pressed preference for "everlasting punishment" over the phrase " eternal torments," as found in the Confession of Faith; 10 MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY. •ustained by an assumed meaning of the Greek word aionioa, which, as stated in Presbytery, he holds to signify, " for agei of ages, possibly endless, possibly not," — an interpretation which is more fully explained in the notes to his first state- ment. In the light of the abjve considerations, the relerence to the Scripture in this connection, if al'owed, would obviously jecure for Mr. Macdonnell the same liberty' in interpreting the language of the Confession of Faich, as he claims in interpre- ting the same language, whon used in the Holy Scriptures. This adhesion therefore to the Confession of Faith becomes clearly nothing more than a modified adhesion. IV. The Presbytery must disclaim all responsibility for the peculiarity of Mr. Macdonnelie position referred to in this reason of dissent, nor have they been wanting in sympathy fsr Mr. Macdonnell, under his perplexities ; having ho directed their proceedings as to allow him every opportunity of having his views brought into harmony with the doctrine of ths Church. They have, moreover, dene everything iu their power, consistent with their obligations to maintain the truth, to givt Mr. Macdonnell relief, by making provision in the finding ap pealed against, for all such difficulties and perplexities as do not imply non-belief of the doctrine. The Presbytery are willing to believe that Mr. Mac>lonnell has been anxious to meet their requirements ; they have to note, however, that Mr. Macdonnell, although corresponding with the Committee by written communications, declined to meet with the Com- mittee appointed to confer with him, when they were not without hope, that interviews with him might have been use- ful in the solution of the case. The Presbytery would add that in their judgment, Mr. Macdonuell's position in his last statement, as must indeed be evident from the answer to the foregoing reason of dissent, remains essentially unchanged. V. The Presbytery have only to say that in their whole proceedings in this matter, they have endeavoured to walk m (he path of duty, leaving consequences to Him in whose hand ail issues are. I i MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY. 11 aiomos, fur agei tretation lb state- srence to jviously ting the nterpre- liptureB. becomes ►ility for oio this mpatby directed f having ) of the r power, I, to give ling ap- es as do tery are dous to ei, thai mmittee be Com- pere not een use- J Id add his last sr to the iged. ANSWER TO ,. Mr. MacdonnelV 8 Reason of Dissent. ' '■).<■ If the altitude of Mr. Mucdonnell's raind towards the doc- trine of the Church were such as the Presbytery could allow, Mr. Macdonnell would have been able to give a categorical Affirmative to the question foiraulated b} the Committee, or a statement equivalent thereto. And that so far as expressing assent to a doctrine in the words ot others is concerned, the difficulty is not greater than in giving a categorical assent to the questions proposed by the Church at ordination. It was then moved and agreed to, That the Sermon preached by Mr. Macdonnell, which originated the process, together with his verbal explanations thereon, as reported ia the Globe of November 5, 1875, and also the minutes of the Committee appoinjbed to conter with Mr. Macdonnell, be trans- mitted to the Synod's committee on Bills and Overtures ; and that all parties be cited apud acta to appear before the Synod. Extracted from minutes of Presbytery. '' ■ ■ ■. R. MoNTEATH, Presbytery Clerk, (I. • ir whole ;o walk D whose * - l>•^ ■,- 'i »- . f — ; r i ,, ■/ :-W^ D At Toronto, and within the lecture room of Knox Church there, the fourth of November eighteen hundred and seventy- five, at 11 A. M., the Presbytery of Toronto met pro re nata, »nd was constituted, &c. . ;• The circular of the Moderator, adilressed to the various members of Presbytery, and calling the present meeting, waa read, of which the following is a true copy : — "•Toronto, 23rd October, 1875. Dear Sir, — Having received a Requisition from members of th« Presbytery o^Toronto, requesting me, as Moderator of the Presbytery, * to call a meeting of Presbytery, to take into cunsideration the doctrin* •f a sermon, said to have been preached by the Kev. D. J. Macdonnell, in St. Andrew's Church, on the 26th ult. , and what action may be neces- sary there anent,' I accordingly call a pro re nata meeting "f Presbyterj for that purpose, to be held in the usual place, the lecture Room of Knox Ghureh, Toronto, on Thursday, the 4th of November ensuing, at 11 •'clock A. u. I am, yours sincerely, . ; ■> i 'jit, (Signed) ALEXANDER TOPP, . Moderator of Presbytery.*' On motion made b^' Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Dick, th« Moderator's conduct, in calling this meeting, was unanimously approved of. The Presbytery then proceeded to consider the matter set forth in the foregoing circular. Principal Caven was heard on behalf of fche Requisitionists. Mr. Macdonnell was also heard OD his own behalf. It was then moved by Professor McLaren, and secf^"" 'ed by Mr. Smith, That the Presbytery, havine; had their attention called to the teaching of a sermon said to have been preached by Rev. D. J. Macdonnell in St. Andrew's Church, Toronto, on the 26th September last, and having heard his explanations in reference thereto, agree to appoint a com- mittee to confer with him, and to report at a subsequent sede- runt. In amendment it was moved by Mr. Mitchell, and sec- onded by Dr. Jennings, Whereas, from the explanations given by Mr. Macdonnell, tlie doctrine of the sermon in question ii considerably moditied; whereas, Irom the sincere and loyal ai- MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY. 13 t Uchment given this day by Mr. Macdonnell to the government and practice of the church, we have good reason to feel confi- dence in him ; Resolved, that the matter in discussion be no\r dismissed. The amendment and the motion were successively* put to the vote, when 7 voted for the amendment and 21 for the motion. The motion was therefore declared carried, and agreeably to the terms thereof the following were appointed a committee for the purpose specified in said motion, viz.: Prin- cipal Caven, Profeasors Giegg and McLaren, Mr. King, Mr. Reid, Mr Robb, Mr. Carmichael of King, Mr. Aitken, Mr. Dick, Mr. Brecken ridge, Mr. Smith and the Moderator; Professor McLaren to be convener. The Presbytery then adjourned to meet again in the sam* place at half-past seven o'clock. Same day and place, at 7:30 P. M., the Presbytery of To- ronto mat again, according to adjournment, and was constitut- ed, &c. Professor McLarren, as convener of the committee appoint- ed at the foregoing diet, submitted and read a report from said committee, of which the following is a copy : — " The commit- tee, having conferred at length with the Rev.D. J. Macdonnell, B. D,, finds as follows : while admitting Ihe general correctness of the report of the sermon, Mr. Macdonnell stated that tlier« were soma omissions and some alterations, the general effect of which was to lead to the supposition that he had declared his acceptance of the doctrine of the final restoration of all, and denied the eteanity of future punishment, whereas he had •imply stated the difficulty he had in arriving at any conclu- lion. 2. Mr. Macdonnell stated that he felt it was unwise to speak in a way not in harmony with the Confession of Faith on this particular subject, when his own mind was in a stato of perplexity, and expressed his regret for doing so. 3. Mr. Macdonnell engaged, while seeking further light on this subject, not to contravene the teaching of the Confession of Faith on Ihis point in his public ministry, and expressed his willingnest mm&m mf. '~.wt. 14 MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY, to state his views on this matter to the Presbytery when call- ed upoa. And further, in view of the above explanations and Statements, the committee Leg to recommend to tne Presbytery for adoption the following deliverance: That the Presbytery, taking the premises into consiueration, agrees that time be granted to Mr. Macdonnell to consider more carefully the ques- tion involved, in the hope that his views may soon be brought into complete harmony with those of the church. But the Presbytery, recognizing the fundamental importance of the doc- trine of the eternity of future punishment as taught in the Canfession of Faith; and the necessity of maintaining in itS' integiity the church's testimony thereto, requires Mr. Mac- donnell to report to this court as to his argument with the teaching of the Confession on the doctrine in question not later than the last regular meeting before the next General Assembly ," On motion raade by Mr. Mitchell, the foregoing repori was received. ,^ .,, ,_ .... - ■ . „.,^.j,, ,_,^,^, .,^^^, ,.,„,., k ■• V i k •. • It was then moved by Principal Caven, and seconded by Mr. King, That the foregoing report be adopted, which motion was carried unanimously, and the report was adopted accord- ingly. The diet was then closed with the benediction. Extracted from minutes of Presbytery, , ' K M-OJaiEiLiH, Presbytery CLtk' ■ til '■\ i! 1 ; At Toronto, and within the lecture room of Knox Church there, the fourth of April eighteen hundred and seventy-six, the Presbytery of Toronto met and was constituted, &c. Inter aUa, Pursuant to a resolution of Presbytery, adopt- ed on the fourth of November last, there was now produced and read a paper from Mr. D. J. Macd.)nnell, reporting as t» his agreement with the teaching of the Confession of Faith oi the doctrine of future punishment. Whereupon it was moved Vy Mr. D. Mitchell, and seconded by Mr. W. E. McKay, That 'M .■^: L MINUTES OF PUESBYTERr. It the Presbytery accept the paper of the Rev. D. J. Macdonnell as a sufficient answer in response to the requirement that he should report to the Presbytery his views on the subject of eternal punishment at this meeting of Presbytery. In amend- ment it was moved by Professor McLaren, and seconded by Mr. James Brown, That Mr. Macdonnell's paper be referred to a committee to report thereon to a subsequent meeting of Pres- bytery. On the amendment and the motion being put succes- sively to the vote, 17 voted for the amendment, and 9 for the motion. It was then declared that the amendment carried, — and agreeably to its terras, the following vere appointed a committee to consider Mr. Macdonnell's paper and report there- en, viz.: Prof6ssor McLaren (convener). Principal Caven, Mr. Carmichael of King, Mr. Aitken, Mr. Robb, Mr. D. Mitchell, Mr. Breckenridge and the Moderator, together with Hon. J. McMurrich and Mr. James Brown ; said committee to report to next ordinary meeting, which was appointed to be held in I the same place on the eighteenth current, at eleven A. M. The paper ot Mr. Macdonnell, above referred to, was ordered tp be KQiat in retentis, . . , , . .: Extracted from minutes of Presbytery, ; , B. MoNTEATH, Preaiytery Clerh, .Ji .•'! •-, iv- ■■■ , nU'i' ''•" M:,)tin7ii; „'>;t < > i» „ '. «• ; r - • . ! ' '-. . )M^r<''rMlfL M f , I'l ■ E ■r.' • f It STATEMENT OF MR. D. J. MACDONNELL. 1 jj; il .ill y < To the Moderator and Members of the PreS' 1/; by tery of Toronto. -^ " ' Fathers and Brethren, — At a meeting of this Presby- tery, held on ihe 4th November, 1875, a resolution was passed requiring nie to report as to my agreement with the teaching of the Confession of Faith on the doctrine of future pnnish- ment not later than the last regular meeting before the Gene- ral Assembly. In accordance with the terms of said resolution, I desire now to submit the following statement: — • ■ 1. So far as the language of tha Confession of Faith on this point is concerned, I find that it is almost entirely bor- rowed from Scripture, and I declare my adhesion to it, under- standing the phrase "eternal torments" to have the same mean- ing as "everlasting punishment" in Matt. xxv. 2. While I do not consider myself debarred by the teach- ing of Scripture from hoping that God may in some way put an end to sin and suffering, I am satisfied that it is not s part of the message with which I am entrusted as a minister of the Gospel to hold out any hope of future pardon to those who have in this lite rejected Christ. "Now is the accepted time." What God may do hereafter is apparently not among the things revealed, or intended to be known. I hope that this statement will prove satisfactory. ^ I am, fathers and brethren, Yours respectfully, D. J. Macdonnux. STATEMENT OF MR. D. J. MACDONNELL. 17 INELL. .I.I- le PreS" lis Presby- v\^as passed 5 teaching re pnnisho the Qene- resolution. Faith OB irely bor- it, under- line mean- NOTBR ON STATEMENT SUBMITTED TO PRESBYTBRT. 1. — I substitute the words " everlasting punishment/' or rather the Greek words kolasin aionion (Matt. xxv. 46) for " eternal torments," because the former is in Scripture applied to the punishment of wicked men and the latter is not. There is an obvioub distinction between "punishTnent"and"torraent8." 2. — The word aionios may, of course, mean absolutely endless. I do not deny that there is stro" ;^ ground for assign- ing to it that meaning in the passage quoted. But it has otten in Scripture a more limited signification, and if there is room for even a shadow of doubt as to whether the Saviour intend- ed to teach that evil would be endless, there is room to " hope," however vaguely, that God may in some way put an end to ain and sufiering. the teach- way put is not ft I minister to those accepted ot among >0NN1ELL. p *II>UTKfl OK ri'EHBYTKRY ANENT STATEMENT OV UR, MAODONNErU At Toronto, and within tho loctnro room of Knox Churcli Micro, tlie cix Church fiovonty- itod, &c. <'i])(3r sub- tile siunc. report Thoie- printed, tnd that ! thereon MINUTES OF rUESUVTEUY. 4^ Thercnfter It was niovt.'d in finiondinont by Mr. William litchcll, and secondt'd by Mr. C.inuioh.iul, of M u kh im, That he Pi'esltytiii'v, con>iderin<; all the ciiuuinsfc'iUL'Os, acojpt llcv. ). J, Maodonufdrs st;it(?niont, witli tlio subsofi'ieMt notes, and •.hat the matter be now allowed to drop. Wlion the votes vere about to bo taken, a in'jinbor of lurt dtjinimlel that he roll lie called; and the roll was eallel accoidingly. It was hen found that Ji votes were recorded for the aui'mdmont, nd 28 for the motion. Tiie motion beinuf thus carried, the ame was din-larod to bo the mind of the Presliytery. The 'resbytery then adjourned to meet again at eight p.m. Toronto tuted &c. !'it paper (hereon, .'ui again McLaren. iRroed to leir dili- dinors in seriatim, ?e''ondod nclusion Macdon- pnnish- tery. It was )ur,witt ::4 Same day and place, at 8 p. >r., the rrosbytery of Tt- uito m3t again, according to adjournaiont, and was constitut- J, &c. Inter alia, The PresV)ytcry proceeded to conf^ider the ■<*cond tindiiig in the Committee's Report anent the paper of Mr. Ma(;d()iine!rs. It was moved by Professor McLaren, .and seconded by Mr. Smith, ]{(\solved, in i-eference to the second part of the rejmrt, that in the judgment of the Presbytery Mr. Macdonnoir.s ntatcment embodi<'s a deviation from the teach- ing of Sci ipturc and the received doctrine of the church, which thi.s couit i.s not at liberty to allow in one of its ministers. In amendment, it was moved b}' Mr. Wm. Mitchell, sec- onded by Mr Carndchael, of Markham, That the second. find- ing in the Committee's Report be not adujited. * In further amendment it was moved byP.incipal Cavcn, •econded by Mr. Gemmell, That the second finding be passed over in the meantime, and that the Presbytery pi'oceed to con- «idcr the third finding. At thi.s Titagc Profe.ssor McLaren, with the leave of his sec- onder, withdrew his motion. Al-so. Mr. Mitchell, with. leave •f his seconder, withdrew his amendment. S i I, jj r 20 MINUTES OF PRESBYTEBT. There remained therefore only the nmendment of Princi- pal Cavcn, which was put tu the house, uud curried unani- mously. The Presbytery then proceeded to tho third finding in the Oommittec's Report, nnd on niot.ion nmdo bv Pririeipiil Cnven, it was agreed to appoint a Coininittco to| confer with Mr. Mac- donnoll, with tho view ot asct'rlaining v\ lietlier tliero bo any prospect of his sentiments being brought into hu'inony with those ot tho church, — to report to tho Piosbytery tit a later period of the diet. The following Committoo wcro tlion ap- pointed, viz: Professor McLaren, Convener; Prir\eipnl Caven, Mr. David Mitchell, Mr. Carmichael, of King, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb and Mr. King, ministers; Hon. J. McMuirich, Mr. Jas. Blown, and Mr. \Vm. Mitchell, elders. After being ab.scnt .sometime, tho Committee returned and reported through their Convener, Professor McLaren, that they had not leen able to arrive at any definite conclusion, and they uslced leave to sit Jigain, and that JJr. Topp, the Moderator, bo added to their number. Said np|)lication waa unanimously granted, and the Moderator was also added to the Committee. It wns then moved nnd agreed that tho next ordinary meeting be appointed to bo held in tlje same |)lace on the first Tuesday ot May, at 11 a. m. Closed with tho buubdictioo. Extracted from minutea of Presbytery, »■ R. MoNTEATH, Presbytery Cltrk. G(l) »t of Princi- ricd ununi- nding in the cipal Cnven, til Mr. Mar* hero bo nnj »inony with ^ at a Inter 10 tlicn ap> 'ipiil Caven, r. lU'itl, Mr. ;h, Mr. Jas. ee returned L'Laren, that conchision, 'i\)\)[>, the ication wasi u added tu cfc ordinary on the first bdictioD. tery Cltrh. Plli'ORTOrCDMMITTF'.KOFPRRflBYTKRYONRTATElIBNT OV MH.MACDONNBI.L. The Con»tnitt(30 appointed to consider and report to the Preshy'ery upon the stiitoinont hajided in hy Rev. D. J. Mac- tionnell, nspci'^finL,' his a;.(recm snt with the tuachinpf of the Confession { 1' F.iith on \U'^ doetrino of Future Pnnishmcnt, met and coiisiilcrcd the same, 'Uid havin^^ re(piested and ob- tained iin in'erviow witli Mr. M lethmnell, the preeiso meaning of certain portic nsof ids staterii)d, sin and purii?^hment shall come to an end, and all God's intelligent moral creatures be restored to the Divine tavonr. Those who maintain this, view necessarily hold that such expressions, as " everlasting punishment," oc- curring in Scripture, do not mean endless punistiment, but a punishment which is of li.nitod duration. The bearingof this upon the meaning of Mr. Macdonneli's statement will be ap- parent. Your Committer feel that they cannot recommend the Presbytery to accept Mr. Macdonneli's statement as eatis- , factory, for the folio wiag reasons, viz.; — 2t' REPORT OF COMittlTTEE, 1 -fli ■■| ■" i 1. He tloes not declare lii.s adliesion to tlie doctrine of future puni.slirnenttis taught in the Confession of Faith, in the well understood and historical mcining of it? language. H« saya that the language of the Confession on this point is al- most entirely borrowed from Scripture," and it woMJd appear that it is only when construed in the manner in which he is accuston:ied to construe Scrii)ture tiiat he dechiros his adhesion to it. For in leference to the well understood phrase " eter- nal torments," which he says is nut in Scripture applied to the punishment of wicked men, he accepts it as having the sam? meaning as "everlasting punishment," in Matt. XXV. Did Mr. Macdonnell accept the doctiine »^f future punishment, an taught in the Confession of Faith, accoiding to the ordinary and historical meaning of the terms, this explanation would be unnecessary. 2. Mr. Macdonnell in his statement does not define in what sense be undstands the phrase "eternal punishment" which he substitutes far "eternal torments." This omission is the more unfortut ate, after the grave doubts excited by hie aermon respecting the meaning which he must attach to such Biblicallacguagc . Probably few Univere distt would objecl to the eternity of future punishments, if they were only al- lowed to understand eternal punishments as having the same meaning as they attach to "everlasting punishment" in Mat- thew XXV. 3. It is evident from tho concluding portion of his state- ment that Mr. Macdonnell does not understand '* Everlasting Punishment," in Matt. XXV., in the sense in which that phras* has usually been understov I in the Christian Church, as de- noting a punishment which is strictly eternal. If God's Word teaches the endless duration of the punishment of the wicked, it necessarily excludes all hope of their final salvation, but Mr. Macdonnell holds "Everlasting Punishment" in such a sensd th.at he can'declare, " I do not consider myself debarred by tht teaching of Scripture, from Jioping that God may in some way put an end to sin and suffering." And when notwith.standing tho distinct Scripture announcement that the wicked shall go auay into everlasting punishment, Mr Macdonnell can write, '* What God may do hereafter is apparently not araon^ thft' •It RRPORT OF COMMITTEE. 2a :lnctrine of iiith,in the )()iiit is al- yold appear 'hieh he is is adhesion •ase " cter- plicd to the <^ the sntn? XXV. Did ishincnt, as le ordinary Lion would t define in mishment*' is omission ited by his icli to such puld objecl e only al- g the same It" in Mat- his state- Iverksting hat phrasd 3h, as de- od's Word le wicked, )n, but Mr. ch a sensd red by tht some way thstanding .'d shall go can write, imoD^ the' tilings revealed, or intended to be known." It is evident that he holds " Everlasting Punishment" in Matt, xxv., in a .sense different from what these words convey to the ordinary reader, and altogether unlike that in which they have been gecerally understood by the christian church. It is manifest that the word everlasting is not used by him in his statement in its or- dinary meaning, but rather as equivalent to a meaning which it is assumed the original Greek aionion, may bear. This is in- deed distinctly recognized, in the appended notes herewith* submitted, where he says, ** I substituted the words' '* Ever- lastingPunishment,"orrather the Greek woYd»,kolasin aionion (Matt. XYV., 40,) for " eternal torments," etc. 4. Your Committee have only to add that the view of the meaning of the paper to which they were led by its structure, waf. fully contirmed by Mr. Macdonnell's personal explanations «o that no room is left tor. doubt that the statement covers and was intended to cover a deviation from the doctrine of the Confession of Faith and the Creeds of Christendom, and from what your Committee believes is the teaching of the Holy Scriptures* Your Committee therefore regret to say that they have been led unanimously to the conviction that Mr. Macdonnell's statement should not be accepted by the Presbytery as satis- factory. II. In reference to the second question, your Committeo cannot regard the position taken by Mr. Macdonnell, viz: that the Scriptures do not reveal the proper eternity of the pun- ishment of the wicked, but leave it open for us to hope that all may be ultimately saved, as one of those minor deviations from the truth which the Presbytery is at liberty to overlook, in one of its ministers. Your Committee on the contrarv, believe that the eternal punishment cf the wicked is a doctrine clearly taught in the Holy Scriptures, not merely by the phrase "Everlasting Pun- ishment," and parallel expressions applied' to the doom of the ungodly, "but by a great variety of representations, which rihould leave no "room for even a shadow of doubt," in the minds of those who bow to the authority of God's Word. m •I 24 nuruitT OF COMMITTEB. Your Committee cannot but regard the view which Mr. Macdonnell cherishes, as tending to weaken the sanctions of God's law, and detract from the power of those appeals by which the gospel is urged upon men; and they cannot but view as perilous to the best interests of mankind, any teaching which is fitted to lessen the weight Qf those awful .sanctions, by which God has enforced the precepts of His Law, and th© invitations of His mercy. Your Committee also regard Mr, MacdonneH'js position as inconsistent with the acceptance in its integrity ot' that Rystem of doctrine which is embodied in the standards of the Presby- terian Church in Canada. Your Committee may add that it is not competent for any of the subordinate courts of the church, even to entertain the question ot granting, by their own authority, a relaxation of tlie terms of Minibterial Communion. Your Committee therefcro are of opinion that Mr. Mac- donnell's statement embodies a deviation from the teaching of the Scriptures, and the received doctrine of the Church, which the Presbytery is not at liberty to allow in one of its ministers. ni. In reference lo the third question your Committee recommend the Presbytery to appoint a Committee to deal with Mr. Macdonnell, with a view of ascertairiing whethei there is any prospect of his sentiments being brought into harmony with those of the Church, and to report to the Presbytery at a subsequent sederunt. All which is respectfully submitted. Wm. McLaren, Convener. G (2) ^hich Mr. ictions of ipeals by i but view teaching sanctions, and tha osition m it system Presby- it for any rtain the cation of Ir. Mac- iching of h, which linisters. mmitteo leal with there in larmonv tery at a mvener. BBPORT OF THK COMMITTEE APrOINTED TO CONFEE WITH KKV. D. J- MACDONNELL. Tho Comraitte lirvvina recriird to thej^reat imp«rtance of the flnctrin* nf tho Church on Futviie Piiiiirtlmiuiit, and llie necessity of the Church'a teatimoiiv to it bfiiig uneqnivociilly bume, in oippositi-ii whether to the idea of Ri'stoiatioii, or to that of the amiiliilation of the wicked, feels that no decision of this case cmi bo satisfactory in which that doctrixw fthall bo in any way cunipnjiuised. The comniitteo is also very desirona that no injustice shall be dona to Mr. Mjicdoniieil in iniputinuj to him any nioditicatioii of opinion — any attitude t<»ward3 the standard.s which ho docs not himself acknowledge as truly representing his position. With regard to tho dootrino concerned, or indeed any doctrine, th» following attitudes f)f mind may be clear!}' distinguished: (a) That of nnembarras«(>(l acceptance. (/).) That of njiction. (c ) That of sus- pense; in whicli the evidence /or and the eviilcnce o[iai)td seem so nearly balanced, that it is felt to be impossible to decide c»ne way or another. — (d.) Tiiat in which the evidence for a doctrine is seen to be of such wei<;ht that the mind, notwitlisiandin;.,' difficuUii-s, whether in connection with the evidence, or in connection witli the relation of the doctrine to other doctrines, reall}' embraces it as true. The Committee havi)ifj re^'pect to certain verbal statements, mads by Mr. Macilonnell to th<} rresbyteiy, deeni?d it li'.-ht, in order to re- Djove all pi)ssil)ility of misconception regarding; his views, to endeavor to •scprtain whether tlie position last indicated, is that which ho occupies towards the Church's doctrine on Future Punishment. In order to make this point certain, the Commitree agreed to p\it to Mr. M icdonnell the ft)llowiiiu' (jiiLstion, n.iinely: " Whatever difficulties or perplexities you may have in connection with the doctrine of tho Eternity of the Puiiisliinent of the Wicked, are you prepared to signify your adhesion to the teaching of the Confession of Faith regarding it V This question and the foregoing portion of this report was sent to Mr. Macdonnell with the intimatiort that in the event of his seeing his way to give a simple atlirniative to the question or a statement equiva- lent thereto, tlie Coinmiitoo would recommend to tho Presbytery that the proceedings in the nuitter should be allowed to terminate. This morning the Committee received the following amended state- ment from Mr. Maciionneli, in favour of which ho asked leave to have nil previous statements to bo withdrawn: " In re«a>d to the Eternity of **F«inro Punishment I have arrived at no conclusion at variance with ' the doctrine uf the Church. I do nut conceal that I have difficult •■ w 'l!r 26 / REPORT OP COMMITTEE. "and perpltixities on tho subject; but I adhero to the teaching of the- " ConfesBion of Faith in regard tu it, ezpreaaed at it is almost entirely " iu the lanIe aftirmative that the pro- N, Cont«n*i- Mitchell,- h submitted, arily modify ended to do n the matte' I > ; ' .'' cL mHUTBH OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO COMFKE WITH MK. D. J.MACDONNELL . Knox Church Vestry, 25th April, 1876 At 2 o'clock P.M., the Committee appointee! to confer witl Rov. D. J. MacdonncU met, and was constituted witli prayc by Mr. King. Sederunt, — Revs. Prof. McLaren, Convener, in tlie chair Drs. Topp and Principal Caven, Kinfj, Mitchell, Keid, Car michaol, Robb, with Messrs J. McMurrich, James Brown an( Wm. Mitchell. The Convener reported that he had notified all the mem bers of the meeting, and that he had written to Mr, Macdon nell, requesting his presence. The Comir.ittee after waiting for about one hour withoui the appearance of Mr. Macdonnell, or any word from him, ad- journed te meet again at the call of the Convener. Extracted from minutes of Committee's proceedings by J. Gardnkr Robb, Secretary. Knox Church Vestrv, 27th April, 1876. At 2 o'clock p. M., Committee appointed to confer with Rev. D. J. Macdonnell met, and was constituted with prayer by Principal Caven, D.D. Sederunt, — Revs. Prof. McLaren, Convener, in the chair ; Drs. Topp and Principal Caven, King Mitchell, Robb, with Messrs. Brown and Mitchell, elders. . - The Convener intimated that he had called the Commiite* together in consequence of a letter and enclosed statement re- reived from Mr. Macdonoell. Mi'. Macdonnell's letter explain- 28 MINUTES OF COMMITTEE. ed that no communication had reached the committee fron him on the 25;h inr-it., o'viiig to the mistfiko of his messentjer in. taking; his cumuuuiication to Knox College instead of Knox Church. The Committee proceeded to the consideration of the fur- ther statenicnt now fi)r\varded by Mr. Macdonnell, Whcronpon it was move*! by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. D. Mitchell, ;in(l Mt^freed to, TliMt the Convoncr, wif,h Principal Caven, nnd Mr. King, bo appointed a sub-coinmittce to draw up a report, doiding with the stateineut of Mr. Macdonnell, and enibodyinp; stic'h recoinvnend.ttions in connection therewith as may be con:sideied necessary. The Conunittcc 'uljoiirned to meet again on Monday, the 1st May, at 10 o'clock A.M. The Convener dismis-iod with benediction. Extracted from minutes of Committee's proceedings by J. GarDin ER E,OBB, Secretary. Knox Church, Vestry, l^t May, 1876. Committee in this case Jigain met, and was constituted by Convener. Sederunt, — Pvcvs. Prof. McLaren, Convener, in the chair; Drs. Topp aiidReid, King, Mitchulland Robl), with Messieur* Hon. J. McMunich, James Brown ani Wm. Mitchell. Convenor submitted report of sub-committee, whereupon it was af^reed to ask Mr. Macilor.nell to answer the question proposed by sub-committee in theii- report, or to fi;ive in hitt own words a statement equivalent thereto. .•u ittee fron sssenjrer in. of Knox 9f the fur- MINUTES OF COMMITTEE, A9 Committee nrljournecl to meet at 9 o'clock samo evening, and wus dismissed wilh benediction. Extracted from minutes of Committee's proceedings by ad by Mr, Piincipal i to dravr icdonnoll, therewith J. Gardner Robb, Secretary, nday, the ings by Secretary, ay, 1876. ituted by he chair ; tlessieur* lereupon question 'e in hit( Knox Church Vestry, Ist May, 1876. At 9:30 o'clock P.M., Committee in this case again met, and was constituted with piayei by llev. \Vm. Reid D. D. Sederunt, — Revs. Prof. McLaren, Convener in the chair ; Drs. Topp and Reid, King and Robb, with Messrs. Hon.^J. Mc- Murrich, Jas. Brown and Wm. Miichell. Letter from Rev. D. J. Macdonnell, with another state- ment enclosed, were read. Moved by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. James Brown, and agreed to, That Dr. Topp be requested to call wiih Mr. Wm. Mitchell on Mr, M-icdunneli, state to him clearly the Commit- tee's oV'jections to his statement, and press upon him the de- sirability of his giving a categorical answer to the Committee's question, or making a state.iunt ot'his own equivalent thereto; and that the Committee adjourn to meet again to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock a.m. Committee dismissed with benediction. Extracted from minutes of Committee's proceedings by J, Gardner Robb, Secretary. u 30 MINUTKS OF COMMITTEE. Knox Ciiurcii Vestry, 2n(l May, 1876 At A.M., the Committee appointed to confer witli Rev, ), J. Mucdonnell met, and was constituted by the Convener. Sederunt, — Tlevs. Prof. McLaren, Convcnf^-, in t])o chair; I-. Topp, Reid and Principal Cavon, Kin<^, I'ohb, Mitchell, iirniichaol, with Messrs. Hon. J..McMurrich, James Brown, nd AVm. Miichell, elders. The Convener received and read a letter from Mr. Mncdon- icll, declining an interview and enclosing another statement. In regard to suid statement tlic Committee agreed to re- •piest Mr. Macdonnell's jiersonal attendance for tlie purpose >f receiving exjilanations of part of it, and af obtaining tho vithdrawal of the last clause. Mr. Wm. Mitchell left to request Mr. MaedonnoH's attcnd- uice. On his return Mr. Mitchell reported that Mr. Macdon- leli respectfully declined to aj>pear before the Committee, a.s n liis ])resent state of mind he did not think his appearance .vould rev'vdt in any good; and that Mr. Macdonnell desired to withdraw all his prcvicus statements in favour of the last. Report to Presbytciy was then drawn up. Moved by Mr. ving, seconded by Mr. Brown, That the report as read by tho Convener be adopted and lor warded to Presbytery. Moved by Mr. D. Mitchell, seconded by Mr. Wm. Mitchell, Mmt the stsi'tement from Rev. D. J. Macdonnell herewith sub- nitted be considered satisfactory, in as much as it does not leccssarily modify ihe adhesion now given, and understanding hat it is not intended to do so, and the Committee recommend hat further proceedings in the matter be dmpiiod. On divi- lion two voted for amendment, and five for iiic'ion. M«ssrs. J), and W. Mitchell asked and obtained leave to enter their oli.ssent from this findinfi:. 'Extracted from minutes of Committee's proceedings by ■ ' . J. Gardnes RoBB. iS^-crftoTT^r. d May, 1876, for with Rew Convener. in (.1)0 cliair; .bl), Mitchell, anies Brown. Mr. M;u'{]on- iv statement. afjrecd to re- the purpose ibtaining the noil's attcnd- Mr. Macdon- ununiLtoe, a-s { appearance L'll dosiied to of the last, vcd by Mr. read by tho • ni. Mitchell, re with sub- it doe.s not derstanding recommend 1. On divi- n, Mfefssrs. enter their idings by SECOND STATEMENT OF MR. MACDONNRLI.. ':^2o the Moderator and Members of the Prc^' |fc hytery oi Toronto. ,- Fatheks and Brethkux, — Inasmuch as it hn.s been in- dicat'^d that my position may still be misunderstood, notwith- standino the explanations given before the Presbytery, and lieing desirous to have no construction [mt on ni}' words other thiui they were intended to bear. I have thrown my statement i.ito another form, which I desire to substitute for the pievi- (jus one, ;.> The doctrine of the eternity of ])unishment is still to my • n^ind involved in great difiicult^e.s, arising partly from certain toxts of Scripture, the most obvious interpretation of which : seems to be that sin shall at some time or other close, and i)artly from general considerations of the characterof God, a.s^revcaleil, o( Plis intinite righteousnes.s, in all His moral creatures; His infinite wisdom, whose plans cannot be baffled; His mere}', which endr •oth forever, — considerations which, taken by them- .selves, would form a ground for hope that God would lind out some way of putting an end to sin and suft'ering. • . On the other hand there is one way of deliverance, and one only, pointed out, and concerning those who reject this way there are awfully severe statements, especially from the lips of Christ Himself, which seem to t'hut the door of hope, and which lead me to say that I do not consider it a ])art of my message as a Ministor of the Go.spel, to hold out the hope ot future j)ardon, to those who deliberately I'eject Christ. I have arrived at no conclusion at variance with the doc- trine of the church. I do not conceal that I have some doubt whether the Church is absolutely correct in her interpretation of the statements of Scripture referred to; but I admit that they ])oint with ahnost irresistible force in tlie direction of the endless punishment of the wicked. I have no intention of making this doubt a part of my preaching. Having made theoe statements, I have no difficulty in de- ■ut COMMUNICATIONS. daring my adhesion to the teachings of the Confession of Faith on this point, tho more cspccial'y as tho hin^uago used is al- most entirely borrowed ivuin Scripture. 1 am, yours respectfully, D. J, Macdonnkll THIRD STATEMENT OF MR. MACDONNBLL. To the Moderator and Members of the Pres- bytery of Toronto, Fathers and Bretiiukn, — Tnnsmuch as it has been in- dicated that my poyition nuiy still be misunderstood, I have thrown my stuteinoiit into another form, which I desire to substitute lor tho provious one. In regard to tbe eternity of future punishment, I have ar- rived at no conclusion at variance with the doctrine of the Church. I do not conceal that I have some doubt whether the Church is absolutely cor;ect in her interpretation ot cer- tain passaijcs of Scripture, which, nevertheless I admit, point with almost irresistilile force in the direction of the endless punishment of the wicked. I have no intention of making this doubt a part of my pieachiiig. Having made this statement, I have no difficulty in de- claring my adhesion to the teaching of the Concession of Faith on this point, the more especially as the language used is al- oiQsfe entirely borrowed from Scripture. I ara, Fathers and Brethren, Yours respectfully, D. J. Macdonnell. esslon of Faith iiir ruiidcra: — Tho text was taken from llomans v., from tho 12th vorso to tho end of thoChiii»»or. I'c> befjati by oxpoinidiiir: Iho pnssa-.to at somo lc>)i'.,'l]i. TIio turniii't point of it \vat» tbo rt'iirosontiitiiiji ui thd I4tli vur.so of Adam as Llitj typo of tho cumins^ one, Jesus Christ. In tho 12th und 21st vov.soh, which won* aiitithcsoft, tlio p<.i!itn wow. .stated tliat as tht* sin of Adam brrm^ht death \ip /;i all inon, ho tho ri','litt;i)usiu?ss of (Jhrist broii^^dit etLrnal life to all mo!i, an.! in tho IHth, Kith, and 17th versLvs thoro was a coiitraHt stated to flhow tliat tho frciol yifb by CliriHt was i;iv;itt>r buyoiul all C')ni[>ari!!on than tho trans','rossion by Adam. Home pointH were nuitt! clear — tlisfc, that .sin ia tinal'i-i'ably linked with doalh, ri'^'htooiisnc:fti with life. Thevo w*ro tho (i\'i' wordti— .nin, death, graci', ri'^htuousiic.s.s, life. Sin and death, tho two evil powers, on tho oiio sido; rii,ditei>tHiio.ss and life, tho tw(« grand results of (!od'.^ yraco, on tho otlier side, and (Jod'ii i;raoo botw&s-n abolishing .sin and death, and brinyiii'j; fortlvriL;htei'ii.'mc;V) and lil'i'. Tho favour of (iod could mdy rest on tho ri!,diteou.s. So, if you \v<.r,Id be blessed on naitli, liviiiL,' as a man morally and spiritually in the imayo of God, yon must bo ri^dueouH; and tho righteousness of no other boiui,', and fif no myriad.-i of liein;j;.s, wonM do you .a pari icio of f;;o(\l if AMU are iioi n:,ditc(Mifi yoursi !f . in ivgard to death, sin and ri'^litcons- nai-,«;, the Innnnn raee is an organic w hole, not a mass of isolated uui'' - and tho whole lu.idy feels tho power of tho .sinful head or tlio power . '' .ho ri^hti ()U3 head, ft^in i.-. traci.'d to itn soiiree in Adam, our natural head; righteousness is traced to i!,-! source in Christ, our spiritual head. ^VJlOIl yon'couio to explain iiow we LM-t our sin from Adam and our ri'^diteonsuc^n from Christ, you com*! to the luiiuaa iiit(;rpretation3 of the Diviius record, which often lead us into !;r(!at p'.'i-plexity. Tho l'ela:.dan theory th.at every chiln is liorn into the wo'UI perfect but falli through bad example «ot it by its parents, as Adam ic 'in (he bo'dmiing set abad example; the .■Vuc'ustiiie theory, that tl;e act of Adam was the act of mank-ind, tho •vhole race bcin.:^' contained in lu:u a.s the '.;erm; tho Fedeial theoiy, tlia' hero was a covenant between Goi)cuieiico slioUid be imputed to his doscemlants; or tho Arioiniau *hoory, that there btiii:^' an on^anic unity of tho race, corruption of the nature of man has been eiitaih.'d upon the descendants of Ad;iin i)y AdamV- sin, wbieli, however is rather to be called an (n'i;,dnal misfoi tune than an orij,'i:;al sin, for which God in Clirijt h;is provided an abundant remedy— ho did not consider as vcjisonablo ns th.it of the Wostminstir Conf'^ssion i)( Faith, which wa.s a kind of combination of the Au'^'ustinian view anrl the Fedend the(UT. After (piotii;^- the Confession on tho subject, tho KEPOIIT OF Tllb: SKllMON. !cl report of !(. pt(;iiil)Oi, wo 10 to tho end TIio funiiii'; \ ns tlie ty[io evaoH, which Inui l)iYiiiL;Iit iti'i'iml lil'i! ti> ) ;;, cmitrast r bojoiul :ili tH wi!ru ([11 it'.) onsiu'Mtj with jUHiie.>s, lifj . MX1.S110H4 ,111(1 3, 1111(1 didd'lt inIltOcll.'illCiVl .iOIIH. So, if qtiritnully in 11S1U\S.S of 1!() ■I icio of ^ocd n\ ri'^litcous- ul uiii'"- IlTUl lowev ' •' .ho latimd ht'iul; ciid. When ■i'^'hti'oiisno.sH iviiu! ii^cord, th(!ory th;it I»;id cxuinplo 'xaiDpld; tli'j i;mkiiid, tlio tlu.'OLV, Uia-' attor nhonKI. (tlicilii'iico oi 10 Ai'ioii)i'i!i iption of tho ui hy Adam's tmio tlian an mt remedy— ;r Coi.f'>ssioii ian view and subject, tho ''^ epcikcr went on to Bny;— " This is a huiiian iiccomit of tho matter— it in not <<(iHi)cl truth. Iti.s ns yood an ivccouiit uh uny i»hiluHO|>hor tliut I hnve ever read anything' of can yet n'lVti — for ti'iis i.s a matter for tho jthiloHoiilicr art well n.s for tlio theoloLiiaii. It is not tdarted by tho iJible; it i.^* started by man's ccjnscienco. 'J'hero i;» tbi» fact Htaniii,' you in 'die fiico that men are sinners. If tlioro wore no Ijiblo you Avould still seo that such i.s tho oaHu. Observe, it is not n bare le^'al iuiput.ition of AdaniV bill to men who had no share in it. Tiiat wc couM not b( licvo — it would 1)0 niijiiat It is an imputation of sin to men wlio sh are tho nature of Adam. The poi.soii that h in tho root eoiiies out inevitably in tho leaf — tho mud that i-t in tho fountain head miii.i^le.4 with the stream as itndla onwan'i. I think that is tho intellii.!ent viuw, and 1 don't think it con- IJict.s with (((mI's ri,i,ditoousnes3. 1 say death pai.sed upon all, beijauso all Binned. There never has been a man yet that did n(.>t sin, and eo with regard to Christ, the ri,£;litoi)Us head, there is no bare imjaitation of His riyhteouHiioss to men who have no shave in it; but there is an imputation to men who li\e in Christ as tho braiieh in the vino. All .His fnlliius.s ovGrl'ows into them; every part of II is ri;^diteoii.Hiic.ss becomes theirs. ¥ur pood or for ovil tho race is out) organic whole. The stream of sin has flowed nn'.nterniptediy from tho one fountain, Adam; tho stream of rinhtoousness flow.s piirenniiilly from the one fountain, JesuaChri'it. A.s tho wliolo race siiliered throiij^h Adam's sin, so tho whole raco shall be benefitted by Chri.st's lifjhteonsness. That is wliat therio phrases seem to say, and this (luestion at once occurs. Does this passa'40 teach iiniv«rsal salvation — salvation of men without cxceiition? Is that what tho words mean? It is Avhat they seem to mean. Tho passage seems to say, as clearly as human language can .say it, that tho justiJication isco-cxtonsive ^Aith the j\ul;j;ment; that the sanctitication is co-oxten.sivo with the sin. And it SDuiiis to say that there will bo a mi'jhty pr<.'ponder;inco of tho good secnrod by Christ over the evil inherited from Adam. Just read tho 18th Terse ; when you say that 'judgment' came upon all men to condomnation, you don't except anybody; and when Paul says, ' Righteousness camo upon all men to sanctitication,' why should y"ij except any? 1 state tho d, ty, and wlun.i ho xn Uod, i-ebelling or. J3 that tho . can understand )eforo, and I say em to me almost -eternal punish- ew of explaining ,king thera homo eve. EEPORT OF THE SERMON. 37 "Matt- xii, .32. — And whosoever sjicaketh a word apfainst the Son of Man, it leliall he forgiven him, but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall «ot bo forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to oome. j\ratt, XXV, 40. -And these shall go away into everlasting punisb.ment, but the rii|h tonus into life everlasting. IVIaik ix, 4;i.— And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off ; it is better for thee to «nter halt into lifo, than having two hands to be cast into hell, into tho fire that nevor shah bo ciuunohed. tivo. While that is figurative language, the word ' uever' is not figur.i- II. Thoss. i, 9. -Who shall bo punished with everlasting destruction from tho ^resonco of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. "' Everlasting destruction r They are awful worda, whatever they mean 1 I. John V, 10.- If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, ■lie shall ask, and ho f^hall ^'ive him life for them that Bin not itnto death. Th^re is Ik sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it. "Just like the unforgivable Bin again 1 There seems to be aline fjeyond which if men pass, «ven their brethren should not pray for them. Why, this is terrible 1 .Fucle 6. — And the angels -which kept nrtt their first estate, but left their own liabitation. He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the ■judgment of the great day, " Well, that doeen'^fc refer to man, but to angels; and if punishment may be eternal in one case, it may be in the other. Tliese are the ■strougest passages I know on that side. Let us see some oh ^tbe other side ; for I say that the teaching of Scripture is not clear and immistak- able ou this poiut. It is not such as to givo Any one t^ie nght to say dogmatically — 'This is true, and that is false.' In Romans xi., atter a long argument about the Jews and the Gentiles, and about how the fall of tlie Jews was for the good of the Gentiles, and about how the gather- ing in of the Gentiles was to be for the good of the Jews, and all Israel was to be saved, we read.(32ad verse), ' For God hath concluded them all iu unbelief, that He may have meroy upon all' — the mercy is as wide as the belief. This is the natural interpretation o£ these words ; — I, Cor, XV, 22.— For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be mwle «Iive. 25th verse,— For He must reign till be hath put all enemies uuder tia feet, douncll to niake any explanation in regard to the sermon in question if he desired to do so. Rev. Mil. Macdonnell then addressed the Presbytery. Ho said : — I need hardly say tiiat the matter which brings us here to-day has caused me much and anxious thought. I winh to say at the outset that, what- ever the result of your deliberations may be, T have no fear that these deliberations will be carried on in any other than a spirit of brotherly kindness. I shall be the last to raise the cry of unreasonable interference — the readiest to admit that the claims of truth are vastly more important than any personal considerations. I have no desire to deviate needlessly from the current teaching of the Church. Nor do I wish to have any deviation exaggerated or intensified. I feel it to be necessary to guard against being drawn hy the sympathy of those who approve of my utter- winces, or driven by the opposition of those who denounce them, to tak« a position which I w«uld not otherwisb have taken. Moreover, while willing to stand or fall by my real opinions, I do not wish to be held responsible for more than I have actually advanced. I trust I can honestly say that I am willing to be guided by ** the Spirit of Truth," who has been promised to guide us into all the truth; and, further, that I am ready to listen to the counsels of truth-loving men who are older and wiser than myself. While the report which appeared in the Witnass and the Mail is, in the main^ correct, it is only fair to myself to staie tkai ■ MR. JrAC'DOXNELL'S EXPLANATION ON SEIWION. 41 died now — msness. If '' a inau can I~for there Lt is not the shall snft'er ; (lanj^erous life hoyond )reachecl to not think iciplo with ily through purity our ) Scripture fully, read,^ me that if 1 abounded fo more as- hat declare all be eter- and '6' -jry the {jlory n Mr Mac- question if Ho said : — has caused liat, what- that these brotherly iterference impertant needlessly have any / to cfuard my utter- in, to take ver, while o be held ist I can if Truth," ther, that are older e Witness «taie thai thei'o are Homo, oniissiou.s and sonio alterations (uiuntentional, no dcubt,) the n'eneral etl'ccjt ot uaicii h to lead io the sup[)o.sition that I declared my acfu[ilance of the doctrine of tlie linal ivKtor.-U'.on of all, and denied the eternity of fntni'e punishment, whereas I simply slated the dillioalty I had in an ivinic at any eonclusion, iniisnmoh as the teaohin<^ of Seriptiuo a[)peared to he oantlictinL;". It is dillicult to make verbal coiToction^, ia- aHiinich as tiie latter portion of the disconrso waa not written. On two or tiireo points 1 can speak with certainty, tho',V-;ii I'ne \vl;o speaks rapidly and extemporaneously must always be ready to admit tliat ho may not have s;uv the time wilt come (as the -jcriptures plainly teach there. will i)esucli atime) wlieij all thini;.) shall be put under Jesu.s Clirist," ilc. , the parcntlietical clauKii ought to read thus: " As the rtcvi;>tures seem olaiidy to teach." A'^ain, in referring to the Coijfession of I'idth, I uaud cl;e f>)llo\vin',' words, which do not a[)pear in the report: " 1 do not say tl:ar. the (eaching of the Con- fession ol: Faith on tliis sui>jeot is unseriptura.l." i do not think that llui following sentence in tlio ri'[)ort represents at all fairly the spirit of wb.at M'as actually said. '• 1 think the Christian Church, instead of putting iiit:) its Confessions of Faith that there is to bo eternal punishment for the majority of the human race, woidd be wiser to sit down in a devout jiosture and study llomans, and £{)he.sians, and Colosoians." If I did use such language 1 regn.'t ii; and I may add that there are a fev,- other expressions — especially one regarding my relition to the Conl'es.*ion of Fairh— which I acknowietlge to h;ive been unwise and improper, a'.ul which, but for the excitement of the nuanent. Would have been uttered, if at ail, in a dillerent tone. I have the grealest conlidence in making the above corrections aiul explanations, inasmuch as several persons who heard the serunni, and who did not at all :^ym])athizo with my diiiicnltie.^, liavo volunteered sta.tements v,'hieh conlirni my own recollection. Of thi.'i I am (piito sure, thfit aii^ain and a^ain I wa.H careful to guard myaelx against the positive assertion of the universality of salvation. While I do not comi)lain of being n)isre[»orted to any great extent, I do regwt that; the sermon was reported at all. I am in no seivse rcaponsible fur ita publication either in lli.) U'iii;,:.;.-t or in t]]Q Mail. It is one thinc'; to speal^ out of the fullness of tne lieart t) (nie's own peo[)lo, who hear other j^ or» tions ()f()ne's teaching and can view tlie questionable in the light of tho un «o. It may not ln^ ;niii.s.s to st;iti' that the circiMistjuices lunlor wliicli the locfciiro was dulivcrod. j did not '40 out of my way tn .sutdc n pasnai^o 011 ^vIlioll to preacli the viow Pcii fort):. .1 liad bcoii eii;;,'a'4ed for Home Sun- days in exixtnndinu; tin; K])i>Jtle to tlie llomans. 'I'his passau^e in llie 5tli chaiiter .slionld have formed the snbject of discoiir.se on tlie 2!>th Aii,i,'Mst, Init 1 have fomnl .';o i^'reat dilliiMdty in i^dvin;,' a satisfactory interpretation, that, after f!penpearini,' to teach the eternity of i)nnis!iuient, and the otlier a,j4)i,'ar- in^' to to.ich that there would come a tiuie when alienation from God iinu rebellion against Him should cetise, when al! tiling's sliould be reconeiled. when Cod should be all in all, .iiul when ei>nsexpre.ssed the wish tliat the doctrine of thu tinal sal- vation of all miirht be true — (piotini,' the word.* of Tennys m — and I indi- cated that tho passage quoted fnnn the writiivis of St. I'aul a])])eared to favour that doctrine. At the same tiuie I ur.;ed just as stromrly the force of the ex|n-essions iu which, apparently, tlie cteniitv (1 tlu' ■»4)iirati(iiis i ui'.UculLios V that it was ill ]iavall(l i3 StatC'UK'Kts put tti!,'otlier iiri! — tlio oni! tlu.'!' appt'iii- (Ull (Iml ailu 10 rt-'CoiK-iloil. UUl'llt sliniiM »ut txpress^il f reason, anl OunfosHicii (if ^ l)assii'.^(\s <'!' iMt'iiIs (if 1!k^ ' ju'idifnunit, tli« tinal f;al- — and 1 iiuli- [ a]i])iMroil 111 stroll u'l}' tin; f punisluiient )rt.;, was that is point, and luij^dit throw 1 sh(!uld liave sa'40 — ono cf of exposition, d exjihuiatioii est 1 conhl iif [hi one that 1 of ri .;iit. It ivtaiit matter vhcu my own vi(iw would iberty to say n possibly bo I tliat I was f themsolvea, without even MR. IMACDOXNELL'S EXPLANATION ON SERMON. .i3 ftttompiiiigto solve tliom. Moreover, 1 found that some of the hcfstcom- aaentatoiH, Hueli as Tholuck, LanL,'(', and Olshaustin, who have done noblo service to the cauae of JJihle truth, and who are looked upon as safe ynidiJd in the intorpretalion of Scipinre, favour more or h;.s.s di.stnictly tlie vie^v of restoration, One does not feel that in sueh com[)auy he can bn so very far astray, I urtjo this point, not to osiablish nlie correctn(;ss of the view. but simply to siiow that in following; men who are the leaders of ovan- gftlical thouccht in Germany, one does not necessarily exhibit any lack of ino(h;sty. To tlie names ah'e.-uly quoted may be atlded that of i!:ihlwiii Brown, one of the best preachers and writers amoiiL; English iN'onconfor- mists. IMiose names are of conse(pienco as indicating,' that men who ataiid hi,j;]i in the J'lvamjelical Churches are upholders of the view sn;,'- gested. it is loaa and less tlie case that the Ohristan i)eoi)lo receive witli unipialified assent all that is taught from the pulpit. They are accus- tomed to weiidi and discuss every ojiiuion advanced. There is all the more reason, tiicrefore, wliy a miiiister shoulil take them into his conli- dcnce. At the same tiine I have lieen almost forced, by the opinions of many wlio.^o judgment is better than mine, to the conclusion that it wa,-} lUnviso to speak as 1 did on this particular subject when my own mii'.d was in a state of perplexity. At the best tlieru is little 'LriM\ind in Hcriu- ture for the Ikjijc, and I i'eel more and more the force of the arL(umcnfi that wo ought not to try to make the matter clearer than God has chosoa to make it in his word, lint it may ''O said, Is not the teachiuLj of the .Confession of Faith explicit euouijh .• and is not that the standard by which the prcacliiuy of a Presbyterian minister is to bo tested ? Inas- much as accusations of dishonesty have been made a!,'ainst me in variou.^ quarters, on account of real or supjxised deviations from the Confession of Faitli, 1 am not sorry to Inive the ()])portunity of statinj,' lieforo tliis Presbytery what I think about my own relation and that of other minis- ters to tliis document. I think most men will admit that, were wo no-v for the (irst time framint,' a Confession which was to bo the test of ofOco in the Church, the result would be a document contaiuiiii,' fewer pro- losiiions than the Westminster Confession, and leavin:,' more ro(jm for illeivnco of opinion, 'i^he tendency of Christian thouL;ht now-a-days i.5 to ri.,^ I'd fewer and fewer articles as es.ientird, ami so to make it possiblj to embrace v.'ithin one Church a laii,^er body of lelieviii:.' men. Most men viU likewise adunt that the Church has tlie right to revise and amend her Confession from time to time. It mi'.dit have been better for tho Jpresbyteriau Church had there been a perimlical revision and curtailiu ,' pi tile Confession, One mny be ready to assent to all that the Coiifcssii u ((jontains, and yet iTia> not accwpt all its propositions as nuuters of faith neccsp.arj^ to be believed in order to the holdiui^ of oHice in the Church. Reverence f(n' the Westminster Confession on account of its anti([uity ast "Well as on account of its undoubted i^xcjlienco has stood and does stand in the way id any attempt at revision. ijCiides, it is felt that it woulvl bo a inty for any one section of tho Presbyterian Church to act alone in 'this matter. If it is difiicult for a Chr.rcii to move iu the direction of 'change, still more dillicult is it for an individual. The only plan then hu't open to hini is to qualify the terms of his assent to the Confession. Thi.! is what I did. The words of the question put to Candidates for or- I 44 MR. MACDONNELL'S EXPLANATION ON SERMON. dination in the P. C. of Canada, Church of Scotland, at the time of my imliiction, appeared to mo so striiiiiotit that I declined to answer without qualilication in tlio aflirmativo. The Presbytery, after full deliborati(m, accepted tlio qualified answer. Tlio year followini; the question was alteroil, and the terms of adherence were made mucli more reasonable, veiy iinu'li to the satisfaction of a liirge ninnber of those concerned. I mention .hcse facts by way of iins