Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-02-19

P. d. Fuller. Norwich; G. S. Chase, Colchester;
A. N. Woodruff, Waterbury; A. Town, MIN. !;
Merrill Howard, Abbott's Corners, P. q; L. A
Dunn, Fairfax; G.. W. Arms, Westford; II.
Smith, Georgia; j. F. Ferguson, Montgomery
N. P. Foster, Montpelier; L. Smith, Whiting
w, G. Walker, St Adams; E. p Merriheld,
Swanton; H. D. Hodge, johnson; d. s. Frost,
Huntington; s. Woodbury., Braintree; G. ID.
Parker, East Franklin; C.. Coon, Essex; Nj.
Carpenter, South Windsor; W. n: Wilbur: Sax
ton s River; A. Hovey, D. D., Newton, Mass; ;
N. Cudworth, Perkinsville; s. H. Parker, East
Berkshire; L. b. Steele, West Bolton; j. Free
man, d. D., Vergennes; c. P. Frenyear, North
Springfield; H. A. Hart, Mass; s. NJ. Whiting,
i Windsor.
The lecture of Prof Hovey was in support of
the proposition that the inspiration Of the Proph-
els and APOSTLES made them infallibIe teachers
Of truth.
''By infallible teaching l mean" said the
lecturer 60 teaching which, all things considered,
sets forth by voice or pen, in the best manner
possible, the mind and will of God; which makes
known just what He desires to have made known
in just the way He prefers; which rightly inter
of men has no right to modify or reject but only
to ascertain and obey"
In sustaining the proposition as thus explained,
the lecturer referred
/. To their marvellous accuracy Of statement
in matters which can be tested.
2. To their remarkable originality and con-
sistency in their religious teaching.
8. To the Divine authority which the Proph-
cts and Apostles claimed for their teaching.
The consideration of this point was deferred
to the next morning session.
THIRD DAY, FEBRUARY IL.
The session opened with appropriate devotion
al exercises at O'Clock; after which Rev. Mr..
Archibald presented the subject of Lay Preach
ing. His points we're:
1. That it has the sanction of primitive ex-
ample
.. 1t is warranted by Scripture teaching.
But if it were not thus authorized, then
3. The love of Christ constrains disciples to
tell to others the joy of salvation. and to speak
the only ''Name under Heaven given among
men, whereby We must be saved"
The utility of lay preaching was illustrated by
a variety of considerations, after which the sub
ject was left open for discussion
Remarks were offered by Rev Mr. Town, Rev.
J. Goadby, DID,. Rev. E. Mills, Prof Hovey,
Rev. c. Hubbard, Rev. NJ A. Wilcox, and Rev.
Mr.. Walker.
All were agreed as to the usefulness of lay
preaching, and the disturbances Of employing /
it so far as there can be found in the churches /
peculiar gifts adapting the members to the work.
Professor Hovey followed with the presenta-
ton of his third argument, in support of the
proposition g That the inspiration of the Proph-
cts and Apostles made them infallible teachers Of
TRUTH namely, g The Divine authority which
they claimed for their teaching
l. Several passages of the Old and New les
taments were examined, as aiFording evidence Of
their right to speak for God
, Miracles attest their character as men
charged to communicate messages from God to
the human race. The philosophy Of miracles
was not alluded to, further than by the remark
that they do not suspend the laws Of nature,
but coanteract them"
With the calculation Of the main theme Of this
lecture, Professor Hovey closed his excursus On
the inspiration of the Bible, having maintained
the view that every word Of the original Scrip
lures was communicated by the Spirit Of God to
the men who committed them to writing The
Sacred Scriptures are therefore the inallble ora
cles Of God
Next the lecturer proceeded to show that no
raid objections hare yet been urged against this
rieir Of the Scriptures
Under this head he considered all the leading
objection urged by naturalists, biologists, phil
osophists and avowed skeptcs His refer
enees and remarks took wide range, avoiding
no difficulties, but meeting and removing
them. Having obviatel the principal objections,
the methods Of meeting minor ones would read
ily suggest themselves to thoughtful minds