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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Ftobt . Campbell , James fllow . Nath . Alexander , Andrew L > ickson . > Alex . Montgomery , Win . Gibson . William Glendy , > is > Wm . A ^ M'Bride . ' * William Porter ^ JoHn Alexander . The Rev . ^ Hjf Mitghel , on rising to read a serie ^ . / oi resolfMaon&jr < took that opportunity o ( expressing the , strong attachroeib ^ vifii ^ lj £ e bad / long ( felt for the Synod , of Ulster 1 He . had long cherished a pride / in reflecting that he was cpnnectefl wi $ h a body which reeoguized the great principles of Christian liberty . It } 1825 , it had . adopted a code of laws conformable with such principles * and U was going an making a character for itr self . But , within the last three years * it had carried through measures beyond
all question subversive of Christian 1 U berty—measures such as never had before been proposed and passed by any similar assembly . Mournful necessity had , therefore , compelled them to separate from that body ; aud they had come together to lay the foundation-stone of a new temple , in which they might offer homage to the only King and Head of the church . He then , read the resolutions , which were moved seriatim .
The Rev . Nathaniel Alexander , before moving the first resolution , wished to repel a charge that was often made against them . They had been called by the name of New Light . He conceived that they were die proper apostolical Old Light , because for three hundred years after the time of Christ there were no creeds or confessions . Neither were there creeds , when Presbyterianism was first established in the North of Ireland
It was not fa-ae that they set Reason above Scripture : they judged of Scripture by their reason , but if reason and Scripture appeared to difrer , they made the former , which w&s fallible , bow to the latter , which was infallible . It had been also said , that all those holding their opinions Were on the high road to destruction . » This had < terrified niany > but he called an their opponents to prove this assertion /* which he declared to be altogether ? fatee ; In the Scripture there was nothing ' * aid < as to the equality of
God attd ChiJisj—nothing of a Triirity ^ nothitig ' &f' ** * > tke" name lu > subtftantfe . " Though £ theyi < haJd » ne eh ^ denounced by men } 1 they wew ndt dfcnalitfced by GWd ; Gonfl 4 ltitl *» de « cl denounced di ^ ifte vei ^ ei ance a £ ai&st'aik $ ! terei ^ ft , farniwtors , lla r . s ^ druifltortf 8 , < and ; those- who love not the
Lord * tfeaus , ; j * t not against those whii dissented t ' ttfrn unscriptmal tests . Mr . Alexander concluded by moving ,
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1 . " That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the only infallible rule of faith and duty , and contain all knowledge necessary to salvatiori . " The Rev . jAipEs Davis seconded the resolution . He shewed" the difference between a Committee appointed to exainine students in litfelurnre , and one , such as the Theological Committee of
the Synod , whieff purposed to ascertain the faith ot'ffi € young men ; and contefid ^ d vthat it ^ aS unfair to reject the student if he did ndt feel' and judge according 'to a part ^ lar wHy . He was proud to say he was Mnrtected with men who taUe the New and Old ^ Testaments fortheir' guide—their * only ffalif of faith .
Welcoirte 'till tiials all privations , all persecutions ; they would ; through divine aid , be enabled td niefttfth ^ m isll . Bveu the "disciples of Christ disagreed on some points / Thiy toofe Christ ? as the author and finisher of their faith , and not Calvin , nor Arius , rior any other man . — If they kept straightforward in the course on which they had set o \ h , ' ifae blessing of God would accompany them .
The motion was then put aud passed unanimously . * ' »•" Rev . Mr . Glendy , before reading the second resolution , begged to say ' a few words . He regretted that it had been thought necessary to bring him so early before the meeting . Whilst he rejoiced at the stand the Remonstrants had uiade , he felt sorrow and regret at the necessity of their separation from the Synod . The observations which he should Uriel it
necessary to make On that occasion would be made more in sorrow than in anger . Mr . G . here read the resolution , and then continued . The Word of God must be taken as the law iu all spiritual concerns of the church , and it was the right of every man to interpret that law according to his own judgment , and as he shall answer at the bar of God .
There must be some ' standard for Chris * tians to walk by , 'but only one Standard —for as all will be fudged - . toy one ? Judge , so there must only be one law . Ail must appear before the judgment-seat , and by that which was put into their hands would'they be * judged . The S ^ n od say , in th ^ rr Overtures , that certain opiflidnfc
ai'fc contrary tk the accredited standards of their chtirdh : bVit th < rSyndd contend fbr avsirtety ^ f standards / "and thby have never Kaftl what thb ^ e standards are . Here £ ne > fteinonstrai ! tsdiff < ir ? fiOm them tttftotiidUy j they ' have 6 he he&d ^ ' etididalxJ ^ -and that not ^ ofmaii , but of God . if man lias ' a right to set up a standard tb try his fellow-man , why say
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W IntelHgence . —Remonstrant Synod of Ulster
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 496, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/64/
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