Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-08
sEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.


Search the scriptures; for in them we think y
have eternal life; and they are they which
| testify of me.-JoHN v:39.
A meeting of the Baptist ministers Of
New York was held last Monday at which
the topic for discussion was ':Pastors
Habits of Study" The opening of the dis
cussion produced some hilarity, but fol
what reason it was difficult to determine un
til the subject had been pretty generally
commented on, when it was ascertained that
among the thirty odd ministers present, not
a single man was in the habit of studying
the scriptures-or in fact any other book
One had, he said, been formerly in the habit
of reading the commentaries just before
going into the pulpit, but for the past fifteen
years had not even done that much. An
other said he had no habits of study-that
he preached extemporaneously, giving utter
ance to "whatever the Lord put into his
mouth" Another considered the scriptures
SO simple that they required no study.
Towards the close of the meeting one of the
brethren, Prof. Fox, summed up the results
of the discussion by declaring that the bible
is the one book necessary for ministers to
know, and yet how few, after preaching for
twenty or thirty years, could pass such an
examination upon their knowledge of its
contents as law student is compelled to
pass upon Blackstone. He would venture to
say that not one of the ministers present
could give clear and succinct account of
the Mosaic law on the treatment of strangers
or animals. AS for himself, the speaker con-
fessed with shame that he could not pass an
examination on the bible. In reading care
fully portion of the book of Hosea lately
he was struck with the many important
things that he had never before studied.
We do not undertake to say that the clergy
Of New York and Brooklyn are exception
ally derelict in their duty as to the study of
the scriptures: They probably average we'll
with the ministers Of the gospel throughout
the country. No one who has listened to
many of the preachers Of the day could
avoid being struck with the ignorance they
exhibit regarding the plainest precepts laid
down in the bible. Not only are passages
frequently misquoted from the pulpit, but
interpretations are given them that are en-
tirely at variance with reason, common
sense and revelation. To have smattering
of the contents of the bible, to have read
and committed to memory Barnes, or
Browns, or Henry's commentaries, seems to
satisfy the average clergyman and make him
qualified, in his own estimation, to expound
the truths of religion. He appears to think
it unnecessary that he should search the
scriptures for himself, study and reason up
on them, and arrive at his own conclusions
his own interpretations. Second-han
thoughts are good enough for his purpose,
provided he can change the phraseology-
olothe the thread bare thoughts in new
lingual garb, SO as to give it semblance of
originality.
1t is notorious fact that among the
learned professions the clergy are the least
Informed as to the principles that are their
guide and their armor of defense. Every
day we sec ministers, presumably learned in
the divine law, Inundated in argument by
those who make no pretense to knwledge
of religious subjects. They fly right speed
lily to their 0e17aier ressort-sWell,i if you de-
ny the truth of the bible, I have nothing
more to say" It never seems to enter into
their minds that man can deny the truth
of any given Interpretation of the many
mystical passages in the bible and yet have
an abiding faith in it's divine origin; that
they argue questions for the purpose of gain
ing new light and if possible correct inter-
probation Of what is written in its pages.
The persons who ought in reason to be
expected to be able to shed that light are the
clergy. They ought to be able to explain all
that is dark in the word, and to satisfy
the doubling mind. But with rare
exceptions they are poorly qualified
to do SO. If you argue with them they will
insist that some explanation of disputed
passage, utterly at variance with both reason
OR revelation, must be accepted Without ques-
ton, and If the disputant refuses to so &C
cept it he is committed to ssthe demnition
bow-wows.''
The lamentable ignorance of the clergy
on. subjects upon which they ought to be
exceptionally we'll informed, is one of the
hindrances of the church. Few of them
are capable of maintaining an argument and
defending their faith with an unbeliever.
They preach gospel of emotion, and avoid
appealing to the reason of mankind. To
this fact is due the great growth of rational
ism within the past decade. Men of intelli
gence and culture refuse to be governed by
their emotions in the adoption of relig-
ion that will serve them both in
this world and that which is to
come. They must be convinced that the re-
ligion they embrace is right and reasonable,
and when SO convinced they will become its
active, earnest advocates. But they ask
light of the persons who set themselves up
as the Interpreters of the Christian religion,
and do net receive it-are exhorted, at best,
to dethrone reason and supplant it with blind
faith-to adopt theories at which reason re-