PROTESTANT AMERICAN EVANGELISTIC LEAGUE
I
An Appeal
By Mark A. Matthews, D. D. EX-M ODERATOR OF PRESB YTE R IA N G EN ERAL ASSEM BLY CH AIRM AN OF EVAN GELISTIC COM M ITTEE SYN O D OF CALIFORN IA PASTO R OF THE LARGEST PRESBYTERIAN CH U RCH IN AM ERICA
ROTESTANTISM is not on trial. Its days o f trial have passed. It has been tried, and has been found worthy, capable, and possessing divine
ences which separate them into small groups or denominational families are per haps essential in order that they may be directed in the one sole purpose for which they exist. It would be a great deal better if we could eliminate the sub-divisions of the respective families. In other words, all o f the sub-divisions o f the Methodist family ought to be put into one American Methodist Church. All the sub-divisions o f the Baptist family ought to constitute one American Baptist Church. All o f the sub-divisions o f the Presbyterian house hold ought to be welded together into one great American Presbyterian Church. There is no excuse. for Presbyterians to be divided. They have the same polity, the same doctrine, the same essential confes sion o f faith. The only thing that keeps us apart is the insanity o f prejudice, and the asininity o f leaders. The rank and file are anxious for the union upon sane, sound, orthodox, Biblical confession-of-faith doc trines. The heretics in the Presbyterian Church ought to leave at once and go into the Unitarian association. They are close relatives o f Judas Iscariot if they stay in the Presbyterian Church and continue to betray it with a Pharisaical kiss. I f they do not believe the doctrines o f the Presby terian Church, they ought to have enough common sense and honesty to leave the Church. They cannot change the doctrines.
power. Its days o f service and opportunity are now upon it. Its obligations to the world must be discharged. It is in the world by thé decree o f Almighty God, to proclaim and present the open Bible to every person, to secure the liberty o f con science, and the right to worship the Triune God without political or ecclesiastical inter ference. Evangelical Christianity is not on trial. It is established and will last forever. Its greatest opportunity, so far as extent and influence are concerned, is now before it. Evangelical, evangelistic Christianity is the only force in the world o f supernatural origin that can do for the world that which must be done for it before the second com ing o f Christ. To be evangelical is to be fixed in the great fundamental doctrines of the Bible; and, to be evangelistic is to be controlled by the motive and program of those doctrines under the leadership o f the Holy Ghost, for the redemption o f unsaved men and women. The evangelistic force o f the world is divided into groups, or denominational families. They all hold to the same funda mental, essential truths. The minor differ
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