(6.) That the earth, after its conflagration, shall be- come habitable again, and be the mansion of men and animals, and that in eternal vicissitudes. For it is thus expressed in Isaiah : " Behold, I make new heavens and a new earth," etc.; and in Ilcb. i, 10, 12, "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth ; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed," etc. Where there is only a change, the sub- stance is not destroyed, this change being only as that of a garment worn out and decaying. The fashion of the world passes away like a turning scene, to exhibit a fresh and new representation of things ; and if only
ORIGIN OF EVIL
437 ORIGINAL ANTIBURGHERS
the present dress and appearance of things go off, the substance is supposed to remain entire. See Millena-
UIANS.
By the 6th century the Origenists had completely subsided, and there have been no attempts in the Church at revival. See Origen ; Origenian Controversy.
2. Origenists is also the name given to a sect of heretical Christians who, as appears from Epiphanius, were followers of some unknown Origen, a person quite different from the father of the 2d and 3d centuries. In one place indeed Epiphanius (a very bitter opponent of Origenistic opinions) says he is ignorant whether or not the sect was derived from him (Epiph. Panav. Ixiii, Ixiv) : but in another he speaks of them without doubt as followers of some other Origen [Anacephal.). These Origenists are spoken of as given to shameful vices, but nothing further is mentioned of them. There was an Alexandrian philosopher of the same name, contempo- rary with the great Origen, but there is nothing known which connects him with the sect. Philaster is silent about them, while Augustine and Prasdestinatus are only able to repeat the statement of Epiphanius.
Origin of Evil. See Evil; Sin.
Origin of Man. See Man ; Preadamites.
Origin of Species. See Creation ; Species.
Original Antiburghers is the name usually given to tliose Scotch Presbyterians who seceded in 1806 from the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod of Scotland. See Antiburghers. The occasion of their secession is generally called the "Old and New Light Controversy." This was a consideration of the power of the civil magistrate in matters of religion. The early seceders had held what is commonly termed the Establishment principle. Gradually a change of opinion came over a part of the body, and some were disposed to question tlie expediency and New-Testament au- thority for national Churcli establishments. In 1793 it became a subject of debate in the General Associate Synod, and from that time New-Light or Anti-Estab- lishment principles gained many advocates. Year after year the subject was keenly discussed, and in 1804 the Narrative and Testimony, or a new Secession Testimony, embodying these proposed views as those of the seces- sion body, was adopted by the General Synod. A small number of members, however, headed by Dr. Thomas M'Crie, protested against the New Testimony as em- bodying, in their view, important deviations from the original principles of the first seceders. When at length the Narrative and Testimony came to be enacted as a term of communion. Dr. M'Crie, and the brethren who adhered to his sentiments, felt that it was difficult for them conscientiously to remain in communion with the synod. They were most reluctant to separate from their brethren, and accordingly they retained their po- sition in connection with the body for two years after the New Testimonj' had been adopted by the synod. At length the four brethren, Messrs. Bruce, Aitken, Hogg, and M'Crie, finding that they could no longer content themselves with mere unavailing protests against the doings of the synod, solemnly separated from the body, and constituted themselves into a presbytery, under the designation of the Constitutional Associate Presbytery. But though thej' had taken this important step, they did not consider it prudent to make a public announce- ment of their meeting until they had full time to pub- lish the reasons for the course they had adopted. Yet, as they did not affect secrecy in the matter, intelli- gence of the movement reached the (General Associate Synod, then sitting in Glasgow, which accordingly, without the formalities of a legal trial, deposed and ex- communicated Dr. ISI'Crie. The points of difference between the original Secession Testimony and the " Narrative and Testimony" which led to the secession of the four protesters and the formation of the Consti- tutional Associate Presbytery cannot be better stated than in the following extract from the explanatory ad-
dress which Dr. M-Crie delivered at the time to his own congregation :
" The New Testimony expressly asserts that the power competent to worldly kingdoms is to be viewed as 'le- t^pecting only the secular interests of society,' iu distinc- tion from their religious interests. It is eat^y to see that this principle not only tends to exclude nations and tlieir rulers from all interference with religion, from employing their power for promoting a religious reformation "and advancing the kiuirdom of Christ, but also virtually con- demns what the rulers of this laud did iu former times of reformation, which ilie original Testimony did bear wit- ness to as a work of God. Accordingly this reformation is viewed as a mere ecclesiastical reformation ; and the laws made by a reforming Parliament, etc., in so far as they recognised, ratifled, and established the Reformed religion, aie either omitted, glossed over, or explained away. In the account of the tirst Reformation the abo- lition of the laws in favor of popery is mentioned, but a total and designed silence is observed respecting all the laws made in favor of the Protestant Confession and Dis- cipliue, by which the nation in its most public capacity stated itself to be on the side of Christ's cause ; and even the famous deed of civil constitution, settled on a Re- formed footing in 1592, is buried and forgotten." The same thing is observable in the account of the second Refor- mation. On one occasion it is said that the king jrave his consent to such acts as were thought necessary for secur- ing the civil and religions rights of the nati(ui, witliout saying whether they were right or wioug. But all the other laws of the reforming parliaments during the pe- riod, which were specified and approved in tlie foimer papers of the secession, and even the settlement of the civil constitution in lG4i>, which was formerly considered as the crowning part of Scotland's Reforniati(m and liber- ties, is passed over witliout mention or testimony. Even that wicked act of the Scottish Parliament after the res- toration of Charles II., by which all the laws establishing and ratifying the Presbyterian religion and covenants were rescinded, is passed over in its proper place iu the acknowledgment of sins, and when it is mentioned is condemned with reserve; nor was this done inadvertent- ly, f(n- if the Presbyterian religion ought not to have been established by law, it is not easy to condemn a Parlia- ment for rescinding that establishment.