The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-05-01


treatment of the fourth Gospel may
be generous to the sceptic, but is most
unjust TO the believer. That docu-
ment has equal claims to credit with
the other three; and we strongly pro-
test against the slight which is thus
cast on an integral and most precious
portion of the records of Christianity.
Still more exceptional is the attempt
to eliminate the apostolic -doctT ne
from Christianity, and restrict it to the
teaching of the Saviour Himself. In
both attempts the author has failed;
for he is compelled to refer frequently
to st. Paul, as well as the fourth Cos
pei, In order to make out his case, even
imperfect and misleading though it
be. He found it necessary. he states,
not only to trace the biography OF
Christ from point TO point" but to
accept those conclusions respecting
Him, not which church doctors, or
even Apostles, have sealed with their
authority, but which the facts them
selves. critically weighed, appear to
warrant" A more audacious sentence
we have seldom read. What necessity
or obligation can any man be under
to reject the conclusions which are
sealed by apostolic authority? This
is simply implicit treason against the
Lord Jesus. who gave com mandment"
to the Apostles whom He had chosen
that they should go and teach all
nations, and declared to them, " He
that heareth you, heareth Me; and he
that despiseth you, despiseth Me"
Nor does our author hesitate to
speak rather disparagingly of Moses,
David and Isaiah. He also repre-
sents the spirit of prophecy as some
thing purely human; as perplexed
| by the new institution of hereditary
monarch, " finding an escape in a
given method, and consoling itself
for the failures " of certain predic
tions by inventing others. He sets
higher value on the discov
cries of modern science than on
the Old Testament Scriptures, and
brands as "graceless zealots F" those
who quote Moses against the ex-
Founders of wisdom which Moses
desired in vain. because it was reserv-
ed for far later generation. for these
| modern men, to whom we may with
accurate truth apply Christs words,
| and say that the least among them is
greater than Moses" (P. 353)
Again, our author says: No
amount of disobedience which can be
named, 40 amount OF disbelief or
ignorance of doctrine is sufficient to
deprive a man of the name of Chris
tian." A happy Church indeed,
aud we'll furnished for its mis-
sion to the world, must that be in
which the authors principle should
be carried out. Here, for the pres
ent. we pause. We have shown the
authors method to be a wrong one, both
in its principles and conclusions.
| Morals and doctrines can never be
successfully divorced so long as the
Bible is regarded as the standard
| Christian textbook. As we now un-
derstand the author, he is engaged in
visionary scheme to remodel the
| Christian Church, to override its doc
uments, usages, traditions, privileges
and doctrines; and to substitute what
ne calls the Enthusiasm Of Human
ity." But he will fail A church
which requires faith neither IN the
! Godhead, nor In the atonement OF Je-
sus, whose members are advanced a
| long stage beyond what they will
! find in Moses or Isaiah, who area law
unto themselves in a sense which
makes written law needless, has never
yet existed, nor ever will exist on
earth. The bond of personal devo-
ton to Christ, on whs5a the author
relies to hold men, together, cannot
| be formed or maintained, except by a
common belief IN His atoning sacri-
| fee; and all substitutes for this doc
trine, even though they may consist Of
eloquent panegyric on His life and
| teaching, are but another Gospel,
which is not another" because no
| Gospel at all.
THE question of lay representative
| is to be voted on next June by the en-
tire membership of the M. L. Church,
male aud female.
DIR. Coke, one of the founders of
the Methodist Society in this country.
| returned to England and lived and
died there as Parish Minister of the
Church of England, as did Wesley
himself
A DISPATCH from Madrid states
that on Easfer-Day fifty Spaniards
received the Communion according
the telegram, . is the first time this
the time of Philip Ii. "
Mr.. GLADSTONE, the Premier of
| England, is an earnest COMMUNICATE
OF the Episcopal Church, and has
son in Holy Orders in that Church.
THE "disestablishment" question is
calling out unexpected opposition
from even Wesleyans and Presbyteri-
ans in Ireland. Large public meet
| iugs have been held in which speak
els from those bodies took ground
against the proposed act. 1t is argued
that the only advantages will be on
the side of the enemies of the Gov
eminent, (the Romanists) while its
friends, i. e., all Protestants, will be
injured. All this time the Papists
themselves, care less for 5isestablish-
meDt than for "repale" of the Union
itself.
POSITIVE doctrines in religion are
as necessary as positive Bones in the
body. They uphold the entire struc-
ture, and give 1t form, and beauty, and
stability. Science has its dogmas as
well as the Church. Chemistry is
built upon nearly twice as many dog
mas as the thirty-nine articles, and
five times those of the Apostles
Greed. Virtues are the fruits of
principles. Every grace and every
practical benefit of Christianity
grow out of some necessary doc
trine. Men who affect to ridicule all
dogmas, because they are moro re-
mote than their results upon life,
might as well sneer at their fathers
because they are not themselves.
--
WIZ. G. TURN0GK & 90,
BRASS FOUNDERs