The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-25


THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP PoTTKRs LECTURE
The third lecture 10 the course for the penen' u
the contingent charity fund Of the Protestant Fps
copal Benefit Society. was delivered by Bishop foE
ter in the large chapel Of the University, on TUESDAY
evening, before very large and fashionable au
dience, upon Science and Revelation. The following
is the substance Of the Bishops address, cann1
enter upon this duty without some feelings OF n
proach / have made discovery that my materials
are not very ample and the time have allowed n.y.
self to prepare them was not sufficient. | confess
my indiscretion, and speak feeling that shall be
unable to the height of the great argument. The
hints | offer are for the friends of revelation. 10
them say that they not without sin In this nat
ter. The most serious impeachment that lies 10 .ne
way OF q reconciliation between science and ell'
gion is from misconception. The Bible has ben
subjected to many fiery trials, and from these
it has ever come forth with redoubled Dr4nt
ness. Sixteen hundred years rolled away ster
it was commenced, by Moses, before it was cloed,
by st. John. More than thirty different tnnds
contributed to it. When this book challenged
habits of nations It could not but be subjected to
the most merciless scrutiny 1t has been scrutIzed
by ALL How often has it been announced fro1 the
ruins of sone ancient city, that proofs have oeen
brought to light which can show that this book Is
not the word Of God? And how often have these
discrepancies passed away? 1t will be seen that the
Bible has made trial OF its metal, AMI thai its
triumph is an unfailing pledge that success awaits
is future career. The book of written revelation,
and the book Of natural revelation have each raced
( upon their pages the elements Of infinite wisdom.
NeSton is said to have compared his long and Illus
trious career to the sports OF d child playing with
few pebbles on the shores of vast ocean. This
must always be the case when we compare tle Unite
with the infinite. II it has taken the wald five
thousand years to rise to the perception OF that
which appears among the simplest things oficience,
long wOn1d il he bafOre could 1G4rate all
the wonderful works Of God? He who ha never
been acquainted with science knows enoughto GUIDE
him through the pursuits OF life. On The other hand,
he who knows the cline upon line and preept upon
precept" of our faith in Jesus Christ, knows what
will lead him to life everlasting Look at Tie revela-
ton of st. Jobn-to what scholar has it been unfold
ed Where is the church that can interpnt IL! II
this be true in the last, some portion OF y may be
true in the first book. We know that the COperncan
system was resisted in the Christian chur because
it was declared to be contrary to the WORD OF God.
But truth is too powerful even for prejudice Can we
say that what has taken place with potion Of the
Scriptures may not take place with otherportions!
ST. Augustines views of the creation Of tha world we
would stjgmatize now as heterodox. u merely wish
to show by this that we must not think Oui readings
Of Scripture infabe. As science has not interpre.
ted the whole of nature, theology has no. interpre
ted the whole Of the Bible, and this is why
a there 50 many apparent
ought to be anticipated. The function of
Gods revealed word is not to teach us science. Has
God suspended the laws OF nature and clothed his
Son in human form to teach man suience2 Moses,
when he stood on the borders of the Red Sa-when
he guided the people through the wilderness, and
applied himself to instructing that people in the
wonderful ways of God-was it his duty to teach
geology? II seems to me to be degradation of the
Bible to suppose it could be drawn away from that
great work Of speaking to the soul of man on the
awful question OF mis- salvation. The Psalmst cries
out ''Let the armament show Gods handy work."
but he takes that armament it reveals itself to ell
mankind. He speaks IN language for all people,
and all times, aud ignores scientific language. He
takes the language Of the heart. We, in our pre-
the phenomena Of nature, but that it should give US
its abstract laws and principles We should remem-
Der that there is some other power than the
logical power in the mind of man. The Bible is
dynamic power. 1t speaks to the heart of
hearts. When we consider the purpose for which
the Bible was written. and when we consider the
purposes for which science is written, lay upon
the former too great burden 1t is not expostor
OF science The Bible is the natural language of the
human heart when wrought upon by emotion If
said sat down this morDing when the rose,
would this prove my ignorance OF the Copernican
system There was a. school nl IN England lately
treatse on science. But we should not arraign the
conclusions OF science because they differ from our
conception OF the Bible. You might as well appeal
TO II mer in legal tribunal appeal to the Bible in
matters Of science, With which 1t consents to have
nothing to do. Beliarmipe lays down that when
a ply. law has been demonstrated it be-
cones our DUTY to revise the sacred text If
Tire one bears contradiction to the other. This, |
hold, is the true course TO pursue. Books of dog.
matte theology contains conclusions which often
wise. but they cannot be tested by any practical test.
| desire to draw clear distinction between reyela
ton and theology. In revelations from God there
can be no error but we may misconceve them.
One fihe most important services in physical exam
inatJn is to prove to us what are the functions of
the Bible. The Roman church is a reproach TO us.
1t does moi speak well for the spirit OF Protestant
liberty that the world should cry out directly a
variance is supposed to exis; between science and
revelation. There is work written by the present
Cardinal of Westminster, in which this subject is
ably and temporarily discussed. The Importance
attached to large portion Of apparent discrepancies
is the result OF allowing them 70 be the exclusive object
ofo thoughts. People exclude the most striking CO.
medicines between the volumes OF nature aod rev ella
ticn aid permit their minds b. rest alone upon the
discrepancies 1t is competent then, to us to turn
an objector away, by showing him the great
mass of condolences. When we take nature
and the Bible as revelations from our Maker we
have two sources of instruc onnature has its theo
lOpy ano the Bible has its theology. Then see whe
tber these two do not speak OF the same Being?
Are they not accordant? While the Bible untods
more OF Gcd than nature, nature affords her atrma-
ton or stands by silent. The Bible says, " Hear,
0 Ifrael, the Lord your God is one Lord" and IN
pature there is enough to deduce that all the works
Of creation the result Of mind. Is that which
we learn of men from man himself at variance with
that which we learn of man from the Bible? Does
not the latter hold up miniature to US OF the inm0s
soul and character of man? Where has man, I'M
aided by the Bible, ever found solution of the
problems OF nature When you take up the great
problem which presses down the heart OF the be-
reaved, ss they hear the words dust to dust"
will not the cry come up, If man die shall he
not live again! Where do you find this question Of
questions ans wered except in that volume? So with
regard to the origin of man. This question the
Bible also settles. In the crust Of the globe for ten
or twelve miles you find the chronicles Of the earth
which attest also the veracity OF the Bible. You
will find no fossil of man there. Our minds are
prepared by the wonderful revelations Of nature for
the still more ronderful revelations of Scripture
] remind you, in conclusion, that the Bible has
no danger to apprehend from science. The only
danger is tina: its friends may expect from it that
which it never pretends - give. As book reveal
ing Cod it stands in perfect harmony with she other
means by which he has chosen to reveal himself
The Bible has nothing to fear from the progress Of
civilization. Everything is proof of the boundless
wisdom aud sagacity OF that book. If we only in
bibe the spirit Of this book-the law Of love-we
should have found that the retaining of the wicked
is only delightful fact Wa NAV cav of the Ribla-