, 1879-05-25
ARE TUE1 IN5fl&hUs
To the Editor Of This Tribune.

To the Editor Of This Tribune.
MILWAUKEE, May 21.-The question OF In
,piration seems to have been very suooeniy
brought to the foreground in theological con-
.roversies. aud all at once occupies command
ng nosition in the discussion Of current religious
ssues. The crisis has evidently been prec1pirateo
mon the religious world BY the recent 1cono-
elastic attacks OF Col Robert G. 1nEersoll, anu
It is to be hoped may result in more temperate
md rational views than have hitherto ootainea
in the Christian Church. DR.. Thomas has nnal-
" spoken, and while ne greatly admire anu
commend his Views touching the question ol
Bible inspiration, still We must confess that tney
do not reflect the doctrine Of the Methoo1st
Church upon the question at issue. The writer
was for fourteen years member OF the ID. =.
Church, but owing to recent change OF belief
similar to the transition which seems to be 60
ing on in the mind Of DR.. Thomas,-was asked
BY the "good ~ brethren to depart in peace
under penalty OF q trial for heresy-
Not wishing to suffer 1nartyrdom
at the hands ho ef .o,9S DgGt9a ID ne,ce
III uud now stands substantially with james Free
man Clarke upon the proud emtncnce OF re-
lgious freedom, where floats the bracing afr OF
liberty and the clear light Of the Gospe! ol Jesus;
aud where the vision Of religious truth Is unob-
which is far better. That it may be more gen |
erally known what theory OF inspiration Is COM
patiblc with Methodist doctrine, the writer
would beg leave to pass IN review stanuara
work issued from the press ol tue Mstaod,st la
Book Concern as text book for the use OF lay
members and theological students. The work
starts out with the following thesis: "1nspira-
tion is that lnexpicable power which the Divine
Spirit formerly exercised over the authors OF the
Holy Scriptures, To guic. them ever In the em-
plovment OF the words they were to use, and to
them from all error "a as we "a as etto tto%
lish isl 6y the Word Of God. that the Scriptures are
from God, that al the Scriptures are from 500,
God"
At the very outset Of the work. before max
ing au explanation OF the facts upon Wnlch 70
construct true theory, the author starts out
With this declaration oss on to
that this view OF inspiration is necessary mat,
men may know to certainty what they ougat
to believe. He further says 10 support OF ms
position that, Il II the ground is conceded that
there is single passage in the Bible that Is not
divine. then We are disarmed," for the intldel
wIll be sure to apply this privilege to the very
passages which most fully oppose has PRIDE, pas
sion, md error How Is the conscience OF
wicked race to he bound uo"n Dy eoalu, oue
link Of which is weak3" ...
1t will be seen that the necessity OF 9 certain
theory of inspiration IS here advanced on the
ground Of consequences which, tt Is assumed
lnothing raore), would follow If any other theory
o1 lnspualoa a.oa msas nnnsaousnces neariv a.
ment 1loa ,a; D.,% 4ut;ie 1hcories anil
| in false conclusions. The method OF science
which is also true in religion-calts Tor
an 1ooucnou y. 1ao' ~ 1',,a,nsa1voe n r. ia tn
consequfnS1 ,,,at rra 80 tndchtcd fnr the brill
tnls l1etnou ;aa I.a' "nd norvainus nroeress OF
modern science, No less is it true that the
marca ol ~, ort;nna ~ he alonp The same
neen, auu 49,, W. o.bna ~ scjence From this it
line with lns me.hou h = othod a. ~ tha work nnder
VII. apps js radically wrong in assuming at
lne ou1s9S iii, eu0 Pha - the nosition the author
entire blole. tun - ,afanI .G soo;net a1t odds.
states anu ptopose ~ oh;ectons to this theory,
hc lhen tn-a ~ has+ he can and proceeds to
reiute ail other theories OF inspiration which are
calculateu " s1PPaur apPnn n';.r summary of his
propagatlnh' e5 e5o-+oEae ro nrnve them true
couc1us11oa2, ~ sar+;nn ~ the hont- devotiug less
~ .nG ,f4 fv raScs thereto. while the previous 800
pages OF note ~ eh;aotinne ana combating the
ton, answering oojeG1.us, ~ a,,4hor assnn,es the
theories qi ouGa? ;t;o 80 +be a nrioT; grounds OF
truth OF n1s pa,oas pos1uou oa wh;ch = is assumed
pii9 fa1,ow he adontion of any other theory
wouto io1ton .ne ~ 1onlra ahont Tor .faots
OF lnspiae'gLs ,a.aaanna;ved u.au cnnclnsions Bu1
to sustain us pleconas7t pa - ~ a~am;notion o1
20" cau !, on1 Iao~es 1T nrccisjon or impartial
iacts Matn aIs ~ th;nEs that tie whole system o1
t; nm 1rnt Is exposed to ruin by the failure
to estaellsn ~. :, snnnnrt certain vicw o
himself pe1orenatR1 " !n%s aupp of re fsnnnnsed
lnsplraton ~ n.nnnt n aintain that receptive ani
necesslt3' '0S;t;on 40 1T MIMI which d far and i'm
unbiased conuaUn ~ ~ te ,r,th 1emnnda: ani
partial lnVeseanon u tne n,,d faIsehnod int
Is sure TO lnIIoee 90 1on or,ive ~ ot erroneous and
the e1amlnat1on' = ita a,,a deciJes heforehant