sermon that day was well
calculated to make the more orthodox members of the congregation writhe
in their seats.

He chose as his text the familiar sixteenth verse of the third chapter
of John, announcing at the same time that his topics would be God's
love as manifested in the gift of his Son; the gospel, the power of God
unto salvation; faith, the first requisite, which all who willed might
have.

Stone began by portraying, forcibly and tenderly, the love of God,
emphasizing the fact that "he willed not that one of his creatures
should perish." His love included the whole world, and Christ, instead
of being surety for an elect few only, had satisfied the demands of the
Father's love by dying for all mankind. Thus "by the righteousness of
one the free gift came upon all men unto justification," and Christ, by
office, became the Saviour, not of a few only, but of all who would
accept him.

He said that the only way to reconcile the two passages of Scripture,
John 6:44 and John 12:32, was to believe that the Father recognized no
other means of drawing men to him than that of holding up his Son in
the gospel; and that, therefore, all who believed on Christ and
received the Word were elected to salvation.

Stone next pointed out what he considered to be a marked contrast
between the teachings of the Scriptures and that of the Confession of
Faith of his church upon this point. He then spoke of regeneration, or
the "new birth," and said that the declaration, "born not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God," showed
clearly that the Word must first be believed in order to produce this
effect; consequently, faith preceded regeneration. Furthermore, this
faith was wrought in the heart by no outside or miraculous influence,
but was freely given to all who would believe. He explained the
passage, "Faith is the gift of God," by saying that the object of
faith, "the man, Christ Jesus," is the gift of God.

A strange sermon, indeed, to be preached at that time, to such a
people, by an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church! As he
spoke, several of the staunch supporters of orthodoxy shook their
heads, and looked frowningly at the daring young preacher. Many
recalled an incident of his ordination in that very house three years
before. Stone, who had long entertained doubts upon the doctrines of
predestination, regeneration and effectual calling, as set forth in the
Confession of Faith of his church,