Monday, January 8, 2018

The Anti-Lutheran Theology of Dr. S. S. Schmucker by James Allen Brown (1821-1882) - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry



The Anti-Lutheran Theology of Dr. S. S. Schmucker by James Allen Brown (1821-1882) - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry:

"About the Author, Rev. James Allen Brown
“The theological attainments of Dr. Brown were extensive, and his general scholarship universally acknowledged. His knowledge was accurate; he knew things thoroughly; his thoughts were clear as the atmosphere, and his temperament cool and calm as a morning breeze. No opponent could throw him off his guard, and he was a dangerous man to encounter in debate, unless your cause was manifestly right. He was not born within our [Lutheran] fold, but from conviction entered it after he had attained to manhood, and heartily espousing our cause, he maintained it vigorously to the end.

Dr. Brown possessed a moral courage that nothing could daunt. If the whole history of his experience in South Carolina, at the breaking out of the Rebel [American Civil] war, and of his firmness in maintaining his principles, were told, it would excite the admiration of friend and foe. His courage in opposing the theological teaching of the man who had been his own professor in the Seminary eighteen years before, in a strong pamphlet, and showing his un-Lutheranism, deserves the highest praise. Many more characteristic incidents might be given. – John G. Morris. Life Reminiscences of an Old Lutheran Minister

About the Author, Rev. James Allen Brown
Justification by Faith versus Schmucker’s “New Theology”
Contents
Faith is not obedience

Download the Book

Justification by Faith versus Schmucker’s “New Theology”
“The substance of this fundamental doctrine may be considered as embraced in these two points – First, that the ground of the sinner’s justification before God is not any righteousness or merit of his own, but the merit and righteousness of Jesus Christ; and, secondly, that the condition of receiving this is not any virtue or morality on the part of the sinner, but faith alone, to the exclusion of everything else as a necessary part in the work of justification. This is the view that we understand to be taught in the word of God, and in the confessions of evangelical churches. It is hardly to be supposed that any one would be found in the Lutheran church, directly, and in so many words, opposing the doctrine. The question with us is, not whether this be so, but whether views have not been taught and extensively promulgated, that are in direct conflict with any correct understanding of the doctrine, and which, if suffered to prevail, will undermine the very foundations of our faith? The very thought of such a thing should excite our vigilance, and lead us to look to the priceless legacy handed down by Apostles and Reformers.” – Chapter 1

Contents
(80 pages)

About the Author, Rev James Allen Brown (1821-1882)
The Anti-Lutheran Theology of Dr. S. S. Schmucker
Introduction
The New Theology - Article extracted from the July 1857 Evangelical Review
Regeneration
Justification
1 The Word of God.
2 The Confessional Writings of the Church.
Reply To Dr. Schmucker’s Article.
I. Dr. Schmucker’s Reasons for Not Discussing Our Article
1 “The spirit of Rev. B’s article is generally thought not to be such as became him, under the circumstances of the case.”
2 “Because the entire article of Rev. B. is confused and unsystematic, showing that he has studied Belles Lettres more successfully than Logic or Hermeneutics”
3 “his manifest want of acquaintance with Lutheran Theology”
4 “glaring misapprehensions and consequent misrepresentations”
II. Dr. Schmucker’s Defense of His Own Views
1 Natural Depravity, or Original Sin.
2 Regeneration.
Summary
1 Dr. Schmucker alleges that “regeneration merely restrains the natural depravity, or innate sinful dispositions.
2 Dr. Schmucker alleges that regeneration “must consist mainly in a change of that increased predisposition to sin arising from action, of that preponderance of sinful habits formed by voluntary indulgence of our natural depravity, after we have reached years of moral agency.”
3 – Justification."

Latini is now the president of Gettysburg and
Philadelphia - quite a victory for a Presbyterian minister!


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