The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-11

appeal to what God has written; not to what,
in mans opinion, be ought to haze writter'.-
| 1t is cardinal principle, assumed and insisted
upon in all Calvinistic Confessions of Faith
that the authority of the Holy Scripture, for
which it ought to be believed and obeyed, de-
pendeth not upon the testimony of any man or
church, but wholly upon God, who is truth
itself, the author thereof and therefore. it is
to be receired, because it IS the word of God
Confession of Faith, chap. /, sec. a. Mr.
Barnes and those who think with him, reverse
the order of this doctrna statement. They
take the ground that the Bible is to be regard
ed in the light of a revelation from God, be-
cause, and Just so far as a as received by men
as being in accordance with their innate convic-
tons; and since it contains things against
which their innate convictions revolt the evil
dences of its being the word OF God are not
satisfactory and complete. The trainers Of our
time. honored symbols said, Speak, Lord, thy
servant heareth' Mr.. Barnes says, Speak,
| Lord; but speak according to our innate con-
yictions, or we cannot hear thee. This princl-
ple which he avows before the oracle, and
would inscribe upon the very shrine of in
spiration, must be impartially carried out in
| the Interpretation of the Scripture. The holy
book, in its detailed exegesis, must come up TO
the standard according to which it was received
as the word of God. Upon questions of theol-
ogy, as well as upon political and social ques-
tons, the nfidel will hold US to this point =
Not only the Epistle to Philemon, and the
sixth chapter of lst Timothy, but the fifth
chapter of Romans must speak according TO
the principles of our nature, or it cannot be
received as a divine revelation. And these are
the views which the ll-comprehending spirit
of re union is to bring under the broad shield
of historic Calvinisml These are the weapons
wherewith the rising ministry are to contend
against the humanitarian Pantheism Of the
nineteenth century This is the arrow, fea-
thered with choice plume from his own wing,
with which the prevalent unbeliefof this age is
to be stretched like a dead eagle on the plain !
During the writing of this article, we have
been repeatedly reminded of DIR. Van Rens-
selaer' declaration, in his Centennial Discourse
before our General Assembly in 1858 The
sum total of the causes which constitute New
Schoolsm, stamp their variations upon minis
terial character with such power, as to render
general ecclesiastical sympathy and co-opera-
ton at present impracticable As we pro-
posed in these articles, it is purpose to pre-
sent other, and perhaps clearer illustrations OF
this position. For the present, we venture
frankly to declare that it will be sorrowful
day, not only for our Church. but for the cause
of Christianity at large, when the sum total OF
the causes which have produced this book OF
Mr.. Barnes, and sent it forth to the world with
its peculiar sanctions, shall stamp their varia-
tons upon the character Of our rising minis
try. No unkindness or disrespect is intended
towards Mr. Barnes in these remarks. We
would not desire the sum total OF the causes
which constitute Methodism to be impressed
upon the young men in our Theological Semi.
naries; at the same time we recognize the real
worth. and honor the abundant labors of good
men in that denomination Taking Mr..
Barnes as a representative New School man,
and this book as the ripe fruit of his views and
studies. we simply say that We deprecate the
prevalence, or even the official liberation OF
such views in our Church. At the same time
we recognize his right to hold them, and his
sincerity in advocating them. We rise up In
the gate, and honor the hoary head. We do
not question the right Of the Faculty and Di-
rectors of the New School Seminary to choose
him for their lecturer, and to publish his lec-
lures with their official sanction. We do not
complain, as some have done, in regard to
| Hodge on the Atonement,' that the publlca-
ton Of such book, pending the negotiations
| for re union, is violation of the truce But
when the same men who choose Mr.. Barnes
for their lecturer, and publish his lectures, tell
lis er cdthedrd, that there is no essential differ
| ence between the Old and New School in their
theological opinions, and attempt to throw
upon those who hesitate about the proposed
reunion, until the evidence Of our unity shall
be produced, the guilt OF perpetuating, an I'M
necessary schism in the Church and when
these popular appeals from the other branch
are responded TO from ours by the cry that we
must all fall in with the movement, or be swept
away, we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard Silence, under such
circumstances, would be guilty; for this, if for
no other reason, because, to quote in part the
lead some good people to the ignorant and in
furious inference that the grasshoppers are the
only inhabitants of the field. ,"
H. J. V.