The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-26
SERMON.
GnspirdtiOBsF
BY IRVING A. sEARLEs.


not this Book have been go changed in the
lapse OF time as to make an essential difference
in some important facts and doctrines Con-
ining our remarks more especially TO the New
Testsment these are the questions before us
this evening.
First, then. we submit tho proposition that
the New Testament Is now IL the world, and Is
accepted as OF divine authority by Christian
people of all lands.
2. We next affirm that in the year 325 A. d.,
the New Testament existed and was thus
accepted by the Christian world of that
age. At this time there was the celebrated
Council of Nice. Christianity had become the
established religion OF tue Roman Empire.
Constantine, the Emperor, had himself become
convert to the new religion. Two great par
ties arose in the church over the question
" What think We OF Christ =" One said He was
an angel, the other that He was the very God.
Athanasius was the acknowledged leader OF
one party, and Arius OF the other. At this
council three hundred and eighteen of the most
learned men OF both parties met to settle this
controversy. Both sides appealed to the New
Testament as OF authority. They regarded it's
decision ss final.
8. We next affirm that the New Testament
was regarded as Of divine authority by the
Christian world az early as 225 A. D. CELSIUS a
skeptlc who lived about this time. wrote a work
entitled The Word OF Truth" In this attack
on the New Testament he does not intimate
that it was forgery. Nor does be deny the
miracles, but attributes them to magic. The
~. 49, l. -
tack the books OF the New Testament shows
that they we're recognized as authority by the
Christian world. Orlgen, writer OF this age,
says: That our religion teaches us to seek
after wisdom shall be shown both out OF the
ancient Jewish scriptures, which we also use,
and out Of those written since jesus, which are
believed in the churches to be divine" again :
&" The four gospels, which alone are received
without controversy by the Church OF God
under Heaven" Ireneus says Nor eau
there be more or fever Gospels than these.
For, as there are four regions of the world in
which we i've and four cardinal points, and the
church is spread over all the earth and the
gospel is the pillar and support OF the church
and the breath of life, in like manner Is it tit
that 1t should have four pillars, breathing on
all sides interruption and refreshing mapkind.' >,
Again: 1--WE have not received the knowledge
of the way of our salvation by auy others than
those through whom the gospel has come down
to u.s."
Tertullian says: Among the apostles. John
and Matthew form the faith within us. Among
the companions of the apostles, Luke and
Mark renovate it,"
Clement writes " In the first place we have
not that saying In the four gospels which
have been handed down to u.s." Justin Mar
tyr adds: - The memories of the apostles, or
the writings of the prophets, are read accord
ing az the time allows, and when the reading is
ended the president makes a discourse"
These quotations are proof of five propo-
sitions: CAD The New Testament, in some
form, existed as early as the year 225 A. d. -
(b) There were four gospels then, az now. (c)
These writings were read In the public assem-
blIes Of tine church. cd They were appealed
to az of divine authority. (e) They existed
prior to this date and were banded down" to
this age.
4. We next affirm that these writings were
in the world and appealed to as Of divine au-
thorty as early as the year 1l0 A. D. We have
in proof of this the writings OF Polycarp. lie
was disciple of the apostle John. He says
81 trust that ye are all well exercised In the
Holy Scriptures, as 10 these Scriptures it is
said, BE We angry and SIN not"
Here, then, we proceed in our evidence, step
by step. from the present age down to the days
OF tine apostles. We next inquire what reason
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not been 30 changed 10y interpretations as to
essentially change some important fact or
doctrine?
/. They were public documents. They we're
read in the public assemblies Of the church,
They we're committed to memory. An impor-
tant change would be readily detected, 1t
would be like one to-day attempting to change
any clause in the Declaration of Independence.
The American people are acquainted with that
document and any Interpolation would be at
once discovered.
2. They were sacred. Justin Martyr says -
"To mutilate the Scriptures would be more
fearful crime than the worship OF the golden
calf, or than the sacrifice of children to the
demons, than Staying the prophets them.
selves"
8. There is an essential agreement or the
books that we have now with the oldest manu-
scripts. One of these manuscripts goes bacb
to the second century. over two thousand
have been examined. Between the New Testa
: ment that we have now and the ancient YER
sions there is no disagreement in matters es
genital.
3 4. The quotations that we find in ancien
- writer's show that they were quoting from tn,
;, same book that we have to-day. II the New
" Testament were to be lost, all but twenty-si,
verses of 1t could be collected from the wrlter
Z OF the second, third and fourth centuries.
u Even greater evidence can be brought I,
show that the Old Testament could not bay
been essentially changed. To the ancient Jew
= the Old Testament was Of the greatest impor
= lance. II marked out their national boundar.
II line. 1t contained, practically the deeds o
J. Preached in Disciple Church, Paw Paw
e Sunday evening" Oct. 21st, 1877, and revise