Dwigfat, and, later, Taylor, of New Haven, and Park, of Andover. While not all of these agree in all points, and while the later views are considered by many ministers and churches to be materially differ- ent from those of the elder Edwards, yet the Calvin- ism thus explained is wide-spread. The great prob- lem ^ this "New England theology" has been to harmonize the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man, and fh>m that centre peculiarities in explaining other doctrines have proceeded. The result of these efforts has been a view of Calvinism of which the fol- lowing may be called distinctive features. The doo- trine Qiangmalsm is held as involving the hereditary corruption of men's nature, but not as involving the guilt of men before actual transgression. The doo- trtne of dqpramty is held as indicating a moral inabil- ity, or such an unwillingness and aversion as render it certain that man will not comply with (Jod's de- mands without the regenerating grace of God, but not as involvmg a natti^ inability. Of the WUL, the doctrine is held that it always chooses the greatest ap- parent good, but with a power of contrary choice. The doctrine of the regenerating grace of God is held as involving the certoMi^y of its accomplishing its ob» ject, but not as vrretitHbU, The doctrine of Deeru§ and PredettinaHon is held in the sublapsarian sense, and not in the supralapsarian sense. Of the Atone- ment, the " governmental" theory is held. In regard to the Trinity, the Incarnation, the mode of the Divine existence, etc., the **New England theology" has no peculiarities differing fh»m the general view of the Christian Church. This system is by no means held by all Congregationalists. Very many pastors and churches class themselves among the older Calvinistic schools, and all are held in general conformity with the early Confessions. The Congregational!^ are P»do-Baptists ; as to mode, while '* sprinkling" or "affusion" is tiie general custom, adults are held en- titied to choose the mode they conscientiously prefer. The doctrine of the Lord's Supper is variously held, although rarely debated ; but only persons professing a change of heart are admitted to tfaie oonmiunion, and membMV of all evangelical churches are freely wel- comed. The Decktradon ofFaitk set forth by the Na- tional Council in 1866, adopted on Burial Hill, at Plymouth, Mass., declares (1) the doctrinal standards of the denomination, and (2) the principles of ils reo ognition of fellowship with all the evangelical bodies. It is as follows :
** Standing by the rock where the I^lgrims set foot upon these shores, upon the spot where they worship- ped God, and among the graves of the early generic tions, we, elders and messengers of the Congregational churches of the United States in National Council as- sembled, like them acknowledging no rule of feith but the Word of God, do now declare our adherence to the fUth and order of the apostolic and primitive churches held by our fothers, and substantially as embodied in the ccmfessions and platforms which our synods of 1648 and 1680 set forth or reaffirmed. We deckre that the experience of the nearly two and a half cen- turies which have elapsed since the memorable day when our sires founded here a Christian common- wealth, with all the development of new forms of error since their times, has only deepened our confidence in the feith and polity of those fathers. We bless God for the inheritance of these doctrines. We invoke the help of the Divine. Bedeemer, that, through the pres- ence of the promised Comforter, he will enable us to transmit them in purity to our children.
* * In the times that are before us as a nation, times at onoe of duty and of danger, we rest all our hope in the Gospel of the Son of God. It was the grand peculiar-' itj of our Puritan fathers that they held this Gospel, not merely as the ground of their personal salvation, but as declaring the worth of man by the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of God ; and therefore applied
CONGREGATIONALISTS 480 CONGREGATIONALISTS
Us principles to eleytte society, to regulate edacation, to civilize hnmanity, to purify law, to refonn the Church and the State, and to assert and defend liber- ty ; in short, to monld and redeem, by its all-trans- forming energy, everything that belongs to man in his individual and social relations.
** It was the fiiith of our fathers that gave us this f^ land in which we dweU. It is by thLs faith only that we can transmit to our children a f^ and hi^ipy, because a Christian commonwealth.
" We hold it to be a distinctive excellence of our Congregational system that it exalts that which is more above that which is less important, and by the simplicity of its organization facilitates, in communi- ties where the population is limited, the union of all true believers in one Christian Church ; and that the division of such communities into several weak and jealous societies, holding the same common faith, is a sin against the unity of the body of Christ, and at once the shame and scandal of Christendom.
** We rejoice that, through the influence of our flree system of apostolic order, we can hold fellowship with sill who acknowledge Christ, and act efficiently in the work of restoring unity to the divided Church, and of bringing back harmony and peace among all *who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.'