# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_M rz 1858_S66
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

66 Where the Doctrine Is False, There Life Too Is Not Right.

Further: "But little children have no such increased inclination, no sinful habits, before they know how to distinguish good from evil; consequently no transformation, no regeneration in this sense, can take place in them." "Little children are not capable of regeneration in the proper sense of the word." On this Mr. Brown remarks that, if so, little children are not capable of regeneration at all, since Scripture knows nothing of an improper sense of it.

Further, that Prof. Schmucker, in agreement with his view of regeneration, defines original sin thus: "original sin is a disorder of the mental and bodily nature of man." Likewise: "All men are born, as a consequence of their descent from the fallen Adam, with a corrupted nature, that is, their bodily and mental system has fallen into such disorder that it manifests, as a result of its working, an inclination toward sin." On this Mr. Brown remarks: that the definition of original sin given, on account of the terms "disorder" and "mental" — the former of which is too weak, and the latter of which applies chiefly and mainly, if not exclusively, to the understanding — fits rather the condition of one suffering from dyspepsia or of a madman, who suffer in body and mind, than that of man as he is by nature.

Further, concerning children who are not capable of regeneration, that "when they die, their perishable nature will be changed into an imperishable one, and their mortal nature into an immortal one; and they, freed from their spiritual harm, will enter into the blessed presence of him who said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, etc." On this Mr. Brown remarks that this might appear to many a novel interpretation of the apostle's words, and perhaps a novel opinion concerning the resurrection; and one certainly cannot blame Pastor Brown for later calling these words nonsense; for would not catechism pupils in the parish schools be moved to laughter — if the matter concerned knowledge — and, if it concerned confession, be offended, by someone who, to the question how little children are saved when they die, wished to answer in Prof. Schmucker's words?

Further: "the actual granting of grace to the individual by God depends on whether he possesses the spiritual capacity required by God." "No sinner has the spiritual capacity for the granting of grace until he is regenerate, and has devoted himself to the service of God." "Without a new birth, a total spiritual transformation, in which the rebel lays down the weapons of his rebellion, and the servant of sin is freed from the dominion of his corrupted habits and becomes an obedient servant of Christ, who loves holiness and delights in the service of God, it is impossible for him to obtain grace, or to be justified." On this Mr. Brown remarks that clergy and laity, even of other church communions accounted orthodox in the broader sense of the word — Presbyterians, for example — put Prof. Schmucker to shame by their confession.