The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-25
VINO will Interpret the Bible7

Rev. W: s. Curtis, d. D., in the Chicago
Interior, expresses some curious sentiments
Tor a Protestant, on the private interpreted
ton OF the Bible. 1t is scarcely necessary
to point out the inconsistency involved,
and the doctor points out no remedy for
the evil demonstrated. Perhaps it is a
hopeless case. The following is an ex-
tract:
The Bible, we are told, casts a shadow
as we'll as the light. 1t contains a vulture
Ito tear on" vitnls, as well as dove to
smooth our troubled spirits. 1. contains y
as well as green pastures and still waters
by which We may be led and refreshed. 1t
has sent the mariner on to the shoals, and
dashed his oark to pieces, as well as guild
ed bin to the haven of, rest.
Yet aeaia, we ask, who shall decide what
IL true aud false, what is good and bad
what is inspired and uninspired Each
man for himself, according to his own
view of the sub ect-matter-its worthiness
or unwor:liIness, its fitness or unfitness, to
be included in, or excluded from, the word
of God. Thus the Bible is subjected to
ignorance, prejudice, Incompetence, whiu.,
petuiance and stark intideiity--not as to
what it ne&ns, but what absolutely is the
word of God. John and Paul, and the
other great apostles, we are told, were in
-splred; bns we are totally to disbelieve in
the alctation of any one word, or sentence
or argument in all their writings. There
is no Eeas"n t" suppose that one of these
apostles wa, in such sense inspired that he
could not teach false doctrine. They might
know the truth, but not be compelled to
speak the truth. Peter and Barnabas, for
instance, were induced by false shame to
dissemble the truth revealed to them, about
fellowship with the Gentiles, aud TO draw
others into the same fault.
How the imperfection of the apostles, as
men, has anything to do with impairiug
their Inspiration, which is dirine act. we
fail to see. Besides, if human imperfection
impair inspiration, then surely it impairs
the Judgment as to what is, or what ia not
inspired. How then can it be claimed that
the Judgment is to settle this question!
In the face of this, we are told that hui
man nature is the criterion of judgment.
The more we know of it, the more We
should be led to respect it, and believe in
it. That which is the more honorable to
human nature in the word of God, it is to
DO believed, is inspired. The opposite is
to be cnt out.
In other words, what ,contradicts each
mans individual sentiment, he is at liberty
to cut out. If he deems Pauls's reminder
to Iimothy, to bring with him the cloak,
books and parchments, left at Troas, too
trivial to need inspiration, then it is not
iusplteu. III Tue UOcCrlDe OF the total de-
prayity of the race be found to conflict
with the charities amoue men, in any in
dividnal Judgment, let take out his
cn-knife, open the blade, sd cut out the
accursed Leaf. If the doc,r5.- of the end
less punishment of the wicked in a future
world, CRATE on his sense or justice, let him
apply the f,uiie. So of the divinity OF
Christ, of regeneration by the Spirit, or
any other doctrine that shall c'',:..ct with
individual opinion. For.if the sacred text
itself cannot escape the knife, then may
not the meaning of the sacred text escape
"a similar destruction. The human mind is
made more intaIlible than the word of God
When the two stand face to face and seem
to conflict-for we hold that reason and
revelation rightly understood never de con-
dic5-we are to give the precedence to the
first. Fa!libie human Judgment, even ig-
norance, prejudice. wrong education, and
the demands of selfish interest are made to
take the place OF the verities of the Spirit.
Thus in effect, what is obnoxious to each
individual destroys the whole Bible.