The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-31
"Inspiration and IntalIibiIity.v


To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Very often controversies are cut short by coming
to proper understanding OF the Technology mu-
tually employed. This ruae applied to your cor.
respondent ~. En- the 1.-TWO Great RevelatiOnsn
think viii settle the matter. In the first place,
'QuOd gratis asseritur, gratis etidm ne0dturn-
whatever Is gratuitously asserted IS also gratui-
t0usly denied. "Catholicus" think, chased his
tenets on proofs taken from the Scriptures them
selves. Let J. E. only look at them and "answer'
them. So far do not see that he makes even q
slight attempt to do so. What does he reply to
Luke L 81 Vague generalities and high sounding
phraseolOgy may DO very well as poetic flights OF
the imagination. but are little calculated to dis.
prove specinc proofs. But let us come directly to
the point Ii l mistake not there Is q great
confusion OF IDEAS In the article referred
to- When ~. E." says that "We have literally
in the BOOK Of nature q manifestation OF the anec-
lions, &C., OF the Creator, even to the most minute
particulars OF form,n &C., he evidently ought to
mean, "God manifestmg His goodness in creation;
and, indeed, God equally manifests Ills goodness
and wisdom BY creating the smallest insect as well
as In man, the crown OF creanon.n In this sense
Sc. Paul says "In Him we i've and move and are.n
And II tnls be the meaning OF j. E., 1t is only what
common sense teaches. But he arguing extra
rem. 'Catholicusr never dreamed or controverting
this. NOR would any biblical scholar OF even
mediocre capacity thus have understood him. From
the IacL that God shows His Infinite goodness and
wisdom In creating the smallest as well as the
greatest, ask any Impartial reader does 1t follow
tnat the HOLY Ghost dictated every word, nay, even
every slightest particle or word to ST. Luke a., 81
when sacred writer c0nfesses that he used great
diligence in attaining all from the beginnings |.
connection According TO the first prInci.
%ssn 81 asSce the Conclusion eoes no Is
follow from the premises. But -. f." admits I'm
l.Or m 0u a Oa
&c. why, That Is all for which "Catnolcus' ever
contended for Il thus be true then the language It
Is not always dictated by the Holy Gn0st and there
lore inspired seems to take T We s for the
misunderstood the whole state OF the question.
The sense'' OF the sacred scriptures, even in the
least DETAIL, Is inspired. but by no means the
''word' or language expressing It, This Is the
standpoint or "Cath0licusn
Catholic exegetical writer's Is the influence OF the
Holy Ghost upon the mind OF the writer. Influencing
and preserving him from error IN writing. Those
VINO MAINTAIN verbal inspiration contend that the
but reveals ali and dictates even the very words.
Hence the writer would ne simply an amanuensis.
let ~. En- answer the arguments brought by sea
thoncus' against this opinion But let US come to
cnSTch q e us that the are corr
rect" &C. Again, '.the intelligent reader intel
iectaaly comprenends the Interpretation 80 FAR as
I'm particular" ne would have us accept sweden.
bOrgs Interpretation. Well well let see II there
Is any truth IN this. II every intelligent reader can
Intellectually comprehend the sacred scriptures
why 30 many dlnerenr ana contradictory interpre-
tationss "Bnt J. E." may answer, Those differences
are merely accidental. But Is 1t q mere accidental
dinerence when swedenoorg claims 70 have been
the man chosen by God In these latter days, and
when he tells us moreover. that the days OF the
Catholic Church nave been fully numbered ~
Catholics contend that the words, "rnis Is nv
b0dy,n denote the change OF bread into the body
and blood OF the Lord Professionals. however,
deny 1t. Is this difference OF Interpretation merely
accidentals
strange, indeed, that every intelligent man can
comprehend what 81. Peter calls dlnlcut, and
which many interpret to their own pcrdltt0n The
greatest intellects such as Ambrose Augustine and
Jerome have been more modest fntneir pretensi0ns.
But OF course, these are old f0ges. SwedenD0rg
Is the prophet or the Latter Day Saints But where
are his credentialsY Where the miracless Unless
these are better than those OF Christ, the Apostles,
the bishops ana p0pes Of the Catholic Church. |
think no one can be 0nended II we think Swed9n-
borg no more than scores OF vis0naries found In
the camp meetings held all over this country. In
view or these things am inclined TO think tnat
"Cathoicusu would not be convinced that the
days OF the Catholic Church are fully numbered,
even by reading the writings OF the 'Rrand old
Swedish seer Swedenborg.n He would rather
admit the words OF Cnrst-that the gates OF hell
shall never prevail against the Church. she ID the
rock a. ST lNdore aAIA AGAINST WHICH hereslea