Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches
That means, then, that the great bulk of God's children have been
created only that they may be food for the flames of the sectarian
hell, because orthodox Christian sects allow of no means of salvation
beyond the proclamation and acceptance of the gospel in this world.
But we shall not arrive at an understanding and the enormity of these
creeds--we shall have no conception of their abomination until we learn
something about the sectarian idea of hell and the continuation of the
punishment of those who do not accept Christ. Those who have not heard
of Christ are, by these creeds, placed in the same category as those
who have heard of him, who have heard his gospel and rejected it; for
they neither are nor can be, according to the teachings of orthodox
Christianity, subjects of salvation.
But before taking that matter up, let me read to you another section
from the creed:
Sec. 111, (chapter 10.) "Elect infants, dying in infancy, are
regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh
when, and where, and how he pleaseth. So also are all other elect
persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the
ministry of the Word."
This has been a very troublesome part of the creed to our Presbyterian
friends. It has been understood to at least imply the possibility
of some infants not being among the elect and therefore subject to
damnation, just like the non-elect who grow up to maturity, a view most
shocking to most people including--to their honor be it said--most
Presbyterians. The interpretation of this section of the creed by the
Presbyterian church is, that "all infants are among the elect!" If this
was the thought in the minds who wrote the creed, what a pity they
did not say, "All infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved
by Christ," instead of saying "elect infants," etc. What a world of
controversy it would have saved!
However, gentlemen, your interpretation is that all infants are of
the elect, and therefore saved, and I will accept your interpretation
because I believe you have a right to your own interpretation. But
say, by the way of whisper, and in confidence, I can make it extremely
interesting, if not difficult for you to make good your interpretation
both by reason of the implication that must fairly be conceded exists
in the language of the section against your contention, as also from
very respectable authorities I can quote, on the history of the
controversy. But we let that pass, and will concede your right to say
what your creed means. Especially so since, the abomination of your
creed may be established without pressing this point. Why should you
Presbyterians be so particular to declare against the damnation of
infants, when the promulgation of the doctrine of the damnation of a
good man, because he is not of the elect, is just as outrageous as the
damnation of an innocent babe?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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