Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-25
1t the Cathedral.

Whenever Bishop Ireland ascenas the pull
pit large congregation assuredly results, no
! matter what his subject, or where he holds
forth. Last evening. at the cathedral, was
no exception, and the reverend gentleman
was greeted with a perfect sea of faces, and
was listened 10 with wrapt attention through
out by the vast assemblage. He chose for
his subject 'sThe Church and the Bible .
the text being the Second Epistle of limo
thy, iii, 1917. He said:
The sub ect have chosen for this evening
| the Church and the Bible-completes pre-
vious lectures on the rule of faith. Protes-
tantism, have said, cannot on it's own prin-
ciples establish the inspiration and canon OF
scripture. The bible alone is not the rule OF
faith. The individual is not of himself capa-
bic of forming from it a correct system OF
religion. 1t might be asked, while demolish
ing Professionalism, do we not at the same
time completely demolish the bible? How do
Catholics prove its inspiration and canon:
What Office is assigned to it in the Catholic
church?
More precious than gold to the Catholic
church is Gods written word. Indeed, she
alone can tell its worth; for she alone can
give to it solid, firm foundation, and in as
signing to its own God-given Office, guard
its sacredness. The enemy of the
bible has been Professionalism. This fear
full spirit of modern infdelity, which
SCOTS at it's pages and at all Christianity, is
the logical result of the movement of the
sixteenth century. Professionalism wrapped
up all Christianity in the bible, and then
claimed for the bible a position which allow
ed no proof of its inspiration.
The mistake of Professionalism was this
Taking the bible from the church, the bible
sole and alone is its motto. The position
was not the conclusion of calm thought. It
was the result of impulse. Luther appealed
from his local superiors to the Pope, from
the Pope to-anything the bible, and
Protestants have since thoughtlessly MAIN
tanned the appeal.
| Professionalism cannot prove the inspira-
ton of it's bible. Inspiration means that
every page was written under the dictation
of the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural and
| invisible fact, to be known only bv revela-
ton. 1t is altogether another question from
that of the historical value of book. Nor
been written, as what books are singly in
spired? The bible is collection of books and
letters, bearing no direct connection one
with the other. For 400 years after Christ,
doubts existed as to the inspiration of books
now held sacred, and certain books now re-
Jected by all were by not few local churches
and fathers viewed as inspired. The coun-
Gil of Carthage, A. D. 397, first gave the
complete canon as the Catholic church now
has it.
The arguments of Professionalism on this
point are all faulty. No testimony of the
bible itself is of value; an extrinsic author
ity is required. Our Lord has quoted no
doubt from several books of the old tesla
ment, but not from all. and the new testa-
ment was not written in his time. The ar.
gument from the beauty and sublimity of
the biblical pages depends on the taste and
bias of each one. Some books are mere dry
narratives. If special graces were promised
the apostles, it was for the purpose of teach
ing, not writing, and Luke, Mark and Paul
were not among the first apostles; they were
but fellow disciples of Clement, Barnabas,
and Hermas, whose books are not inspired.
Professionalism cannot consistently appeal to
tradition, and tradition itself was for cen
turtles divided on the subject.
| moi Gun EfOIeSLanLlSm IN any way prove
that the bible is the rule of faith; there are
proofs to the contrary, many and irrefrag-
able.
Professionalism simply has no bible-con-
sequently nothing. And we are not called
upon to argue with it from texts of the bible
IN defense OF any of our dogmas until it has
proven that it has bible.
Catholics establish the inspiration and
canon of scripture easily. and logically. They
first establish the authority of the church,
and this they do with the proofs that estab.
lish Christianity itself. The same documents
which show Him to us working miracles in
attestation of His divine mission, show Him
to us teaching Himself orally, and instituting
a body of teachers to repeat to all nations
after His ascension with His own authority
the truth of revelation. His miracles wrought,
He stood before men the only-begotten Of
the Father, and turning to the Apostles, He
said with the authority of God: All power
is given to me jim heaven and on earth.
AS the Father sent me, SO also
send you. Go ye, therefore, teach
all nations, and going forth they preached
everywhere, says the Evangelist. Long be-
fore the new testament was written the
church existed In the world in possession of
all her divine prerogatives, at work convert
ing the nations. If Professionalism were cor
rect, the Apostles after Penticost would have
written out the new testament, multiplied