New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10
,RMoR AGAINST MODERN INFrpELITy

physical impOsSOiity OF writing out the shorthand
notes in time consequence of It's nonappearance in
PRINT ts repetition was requested. and Prof Chrsilieb
son ave Presbyterian Church. IL printed in full in
THE TRIBUNE ~ among the most impOrtaut-prob0bly
the important paper. excepting that Of DR.. Noah
Porter. delivered during the COnference.l
ny THEODORE CHRIsTLEm, d. D., PROFESSOR OF
THEOLOGY AT BONN, PRUSSIA.
I. To be true to her essential spirit and
character. the Evangelical Church must eschew all
methods Of defending her faith which do not rest upon
spiritual and moral basis and do not aim at bringing
opponents accept the truth IN Christ by means
OF free personal persuasion and conviction
III. The most effectual method OF combating unDe
lief IN individuals Is the moral isagogc, g. that oy
which the conscience is touched, the religious need
awakened. and salvation in Christ heartily aud lovingly
testified from personal experience TO De tne trutn
which alone can satisfy the inward cfaNlhYs W wv
Ill I'm combating the systems OF unus s!t $500 20
only 10 be hoped for from really scenunG methOo OF
defense. This consists on the one bau III tue cohstt
employment oi the eVeI,lniON - ~ oi obi"ctin
investigation ON the other manu. IN tui qu'.t
spirit only OF which Is % atta 70 tue truth
both these beng combined WIN tny goSoue ctLaadtg
that the scientific struggle mas ~ az aHNs
not little toward grounding the Cuurch IN het hOiy
faith and showing bow hfln are ~ 30 , ,t
~. The chief systematic tenuchcles OF modern nm
deity be comprised under three heads: URChrls
tim Philosophy Destructive Historical Criticism, anu
Miraculous Natural Science The hret stop IN an enecta
scientific defense against these must be TO define clearly
the extent Of those doctrines which constitute the
specific and therefore naienabe nucleus OF the chris
tan faith and thus to distinguish plainly between the
Fundamental and central truths necessary 10 SaNannn
and those less central ones which elbow OF various shades
subjective opinion in word. 10 recognize the diner-
enoe between the Biblical substance OF our religious
belief and Is cOgmatic formulation.
" Against autl-Chrisuan speculative philosophy, our
scientific apology should especially defend the Christian
idea OF Co.. rs that which alone corresponds 10 the con
cepuOn OF the Absolute; and the Christian view OF the
world IN general IS compact and organic unity In all
TEN take ne the help Youchsted by God Ia Christ
sinful world which approves iGcif to our conscience
as an inward necessity Tor me tue satsiacuOn OF our
religious and moral needs IN view OF the Impotence OF
all human sclihep In overcoming evil The uncertainty
and uneuabene,s OF all even modern philosophy shonid
Do proved nom the constant hlCtuaJlOn ana cbauGe
OF It's principles TIE UndenoDstratod character OF It's
assumptions, Inc inner cOhJraIciloh IN l.s
OF the relations between God ana the world, ana the
world and its failure " yield any positive and lasting
results.
Vi The duty OF orr scientific apology against dis
tinotye historical criticism Is 10 SHOW that the Scrip
lures unlnte igbe If their inspiration be Denied
while at the time should uphold heir human
divine (RCt solely diylne) character ana distinguish be-
shows false aversion to the miraculous The latter
must be cOmbattcd by exposing It's false Philosophical
principles, which apply merely human standards TO in
commensurate divine magmtudes It's subjective arb
by pointing the growing testimony OF modern arch
biological research IN favor or Scripture but especially
ture which the Gospels give Of Christ of any su
explanation Of the original Christian belief OF the
Gospel narrative AS historical fact
VII Agaius, the attacks OF antimiracul0us natural
the and objects OF the Scriptures and that of nat
raj science; showing that the former record Of Di
IN fraemcntary manner and with few general out
hues for the purpose OF laying foundation for ITS moral
and spiritual teachings while the latter Is confined 70
empirical observation OF things as they are, and can,
therefore only conjecture the processes by which
the world originated but cannot possibly render the
iStouco OF spiritual ana invisible world doubtful
matter v any results OF microscopic OF telescope
vcsgaOls After having rejected the antimiraculOus
aXOIs OF modern science BY resting on the Christian,
40 tho only reasonable idea of God and his relation to
the world should proceed 10 take our stand upon the
harmony which has already been established In general
outlines the Bible eOsmogony and the results Of
las "a "a
future solution OF all differences which yet remain.
Further, TO expose the uncertainty and rash
OF OF their conclusions which, though isup
posed 10 be exact yet rest upon mere hypothesis ana
are constantly being modified by tricter Investigations
Finally, must repulse their hypothesis 10 the
of man from natural forces being
attack on his true dignity, by arguments drawn from
the soptura doctrine of the divinity OF human nature,
and By pointing the Physiological but still more 10 infer
historical arguments for the unity Of our race.
VIII Our defense against the appearance Of inhfely
as social power must IN order 10 DC eieouai De con-
Quoted according 10 the rule " by their fruits ye shall
know them" To this end we must furisl practical his
fOrical proofs of the dcStrucvrness OF nhtelty far
extensively than has hitherto been done, by fear
less exposure OF its positive fruits IN spreading an un
limited pride, confusing all moral ana religious IDEAS,
and founding despOsm Of hollow phrases; further, in
exhaustng all vigorous and independent congregational
life regards bOtn worship discipline and church gov
eruneut Ia pardy zng ali energetic and sesdcrlclng
work Tor the extension Of Gods Kingdom. Especially
we should point out the utter NANNY OF uhDeiei 10
minister 10 Tie wants OF souls or TO supply any practical
religious need particularly IN tunes OF trouble ana It's
Destructive eHccts III uiueImiunH duu running euucd-
ton aud ani civil aud political society, aud all
tiOnal aud social prosperity.
TX. The most irresistible method OF defense against
the asnaued forms OF infety the actual proof of
a Christian he the duty Of furnishing this proof falls
parity 70 toe lot OF the Church by the removal OF all
unnecessary quarres and ealouses at home aud abroad
and by cheilshnga wide-heartod DrOtheTly love and
union among all Evangelical denominations partly II
falls to he OF congregation by openly aud Joy
fully witnessing word ana deed for Christ before the
world; 10y developing vigorous Christian assoclalona
lie; by exercising a Christian influence on the press
und popular teratuTe partly also t fails To the lot OF
indylauas by arming themselves more fuuy with spr-
itua weapons through prayer; by moral and religious
personal conduct which shall Outsiue that OF the Oppo
by aithiulneas in work. patience ia suffering and
IT, in view OF these increasingly radical threatening
attacks, we inquire after me best methOs OF Fep9lse
thereby indicate tnat there various methods OF
differing value. The defense must OF course vary IN ats
method ON the one mana "ccOIuHs 10 tne natuIe anu
extent the unbeef the causes Of ITS origin, and the
manner in winch II conducts It's assaults against our
faith; on The other hand according 10 the position
which desire 10 defend But we may safely say that
there are always have been certain recognized aud
welietDed lines aud maxims of defense, though differ
aug much from one another IN value
A thoroughly wrong method-one which ls diametrl-
cally opposed spirit of the Gospel has not,
sad 10 say always been used by the Roman Church
the suppOsOn OF opposition against certain dognas
BY physical force by merely appealing 10 the out
ward authority OF the Church ln che same way We re-
ject-and l think yOu will agree with Inc in this-as
uneYsncelga unirulttul ana pIouueuVe oi conluslOn
the oOgnae tendency shown by the extreme ecclasas
cal party in the Protestant Church 20 oppose the
uubrdcd independence and subjective arbitrarness Ot
the criticism OF day by Oyerstrained assertion OF
the rights OF the presty oce.and VINO would endeaVor
TO raise a barrier against the preNalehce OI Hee
investigation spontaneous appropriation 0f truth by
actions OF the Church. which the advanced of them
already begiiAing 10 make into sacrlncai rites
These theories and TENDENCIES reject, FOR kuOWl-
edge or appropriation Of saving grace communicated
otherwise tnsnby moral tnO magcaD means Is opposed
no less Scripture than 10 the spirit OF our age.
The trust sustalns IN this tremendous struggle
wsged not with men alone, but with all the powers OF
darkness, must not be founded ourselves nor ON
other weak not on any outward assistance from
the State nor forms and ceremonies Or cursed Is
fbe man that maketh flesh his arn"-Jer., xviii 81, but
ON the Lord himself who sits exalted at his FatEers
right hand. as Raler ALL even the raging OF ms
eDemes His presence is not bound 10 outward forms
on traditions; He Is the Spirit III Cor, Ill., ~ and from
Him proceeds the spirit OF truth To tnis HIS spirit We
must in the last resort leave the work Of convincing
mems hearts and minds OF the truth Of Christian reye-
laou without spaTing them the trouble OF free nyesu-
cation or OF conscientious decision and seltrcsOlve.
In accordance with these principles our human task IN
the battle against unDee can be no other than 10 over
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