CREEDS AND DOCTRINES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3065, 8 March 1892, Page 2

CREEDS AND DOCTRINES.

TO THE KDITOR. Sib,—l am not a Wesleyan, and I do not knew the strong points in their tieology which was sufficient to cause fch'.ni to separate from the Church of England and not become Presbyterians when they did i leave the fold of episcopacy. Still, though I do not know, I have an idea or supposition that one of the differences which separata Wesleyans and Presbyterians is upon tho question whether true Christians cau or cannot backslide. If lam right in my supposing that a Wesleyan holds that a Christian may fall back and is once more a sinner, and then again get regenerated and once more become a saint j whereas the Presbyterians hold to the doctrine that onco a saint a saint fwr ever, and that there cannot be the backaiiding of a true Christian. If lam right in supposing that these two different doctrines are the principal two pointß of difference between a VVosleyan and a Presbyterian, then I say, wiiat tomfoolery is on both sides ; nay, it is worse than tomfoolery—it is presumptuous blasphemy for either party to have any supposition in the matter, and that each of them is talking of what is beyond their knowledge, and in that lies the tomfoolery, and what is worse—the blasphemy. The Creator, in his comprehensible works, has secrets which on this side of the grave will never be known to man, and that they are secrets which cannot be, or intended to be known makes it blasphemy on our part to suppose or imagine or have anything to say as' to explaining in our poor pigmy way what theso secrets aie. Fore knowledge and fore oidination along with responsibility of man is a mystery to us, as it is a mystery it was intended by the Creator to be a secret, hidden from us, plainly our duty is to have nothing to do with conceiving or supposing what these secrets are. What cannot be known was uever inteuded to be known and it is a sin to pry into God's secrets. Mr Editor, creeds are an abomination. To those Christians who do not and who do believe in the Godhead of Christ to both alike is his lovely life an example for us to follow, the following of his example and precept is religion, and men will be more religious in trying to follow that glorious example than in prying into and construing what cannot be known. To me religion is far more of religion which has works and deeds without faith than the religion which has faith without the deeds and.works. Somehow, or other, my observation lias nhvays been that those (just like Ne.v Zealand liberals ns regarding liberal ideas) who worn strong upon faith were weak as to their deorls so far as love and chanty were concerned. 1 hey seemed to dopend upon their faithi for tho sort of belief that they wero bfltt-i anil more holy than their neighbours all the; time they wore mere shams as to what constuiuea rslif?ion ' HABAPBPK.