, 1880-11-14

XIIL1 E5
CASES IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

1IERESY.
CASES IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
London Times.
EnlSBURG, Oct 1D.-Thc Estublished Churc
OF Scotland has beer, during recent years re
mnrkabiy free from cases of hcresy. For SOM
years past tho Free Church has been athletes
and pcrplexed with the case Of prof. Hobert
eon Smith, and the United Presbyterian Churcl
has had her troubles with Mcssrs- McCrac ane
Ferguson, but nll that time the Established
Church has had peace within her borders !. wa
well known that that envintle state was b,
no means due to lnck Of hcrctics, or o
those who would have been deemed heretic
in the other churches, but to the desire OF tht
leaders of the Church that it should lnaintta't
brpad and comprehensive character, as
National Church ought TO do. AT Inst, how.
ever, the reign of peace has been brought te
an end and tho Established Church Is
threatened with a heresy hunt of the most
exciting kind, and on scale to which nc
other Church has ret offered q parallel.
Early in the present year there was published
volume entitled "'6cotch Sermons." The re-
puted editor OF the volume 1s tho Rev. Prof.
knight, Of ST. Andrews University, who under
went certain amount Of persecution some
years ago in the Free Church, anu who conse-
quently lett that body and joined the Church Of
Scotland The volume contains xwenty-three
chief REPRESENTATIVES. Of the Broad-Church School
Of Scottish Theology. Principal Caird, DR.. Story,
DR. Cunningham, and Mr.. ". l. McFarIan. In
his preface, The editor says that the volume is
tho work of those whose. hope for the future
lies mot tn alterations OF ecclesiastical orgnniza
uon. but In a profouuder apprehension Of the
essential ideas Of Christianity; and especially
method Of presenting them 10 shall snow that
they are equally adapted TO the needs OF bumhn-
ny and l IN harmony With the results Of critical
to expect fn book the spirit and object OF
which arc thus plainly announced Its contsnts
do do not belle this general description Of them
They abound with the most advanced views OF
compromising way. throughout, the writer's
of tSe +
ldenltsts who seek ru break down the traditional
Calvfnism 9th orthodox Two features OF the
Thought and cu1ture--tts eloquent and rervid
tone and its excellent literary form
The book attracted attenuon outside OF the
Chn rch before any sign of dissatisfaction or
alarm was given within 1t. The Nonconformists
ut their May meetings asked, with indignation,
was he kind Of theelogy On which Tue funds sf Of
the nation were spent The question WAS war
fanted BY the statement Of the editor In his
preface, that the teachtng Of the volume is Of
clergy Of the Scottish Church." His explana-
hon that It did not claim to represent the full
~
tendency and to show tho direction In which
Thought u moving. made matters worse IN their
eyes, and not better. The p'ous Lieerauoutsts
these boasts, and they derived from the Church
Itself new we9po1 TO be used against it. If
within the Established Church. disestablishment
was more than ever necessary in oruer ia
soothe their, violated consciences. In the
Church showed great unwillingness 10 move
n the matter. An overture begging the
General Assembly to take the volume and the
sent in: but the Committee on Overtures re-
fused. to transmit it to the Assembly,; on the
ground that 1t contained statements rejecting
on the character Of certain ministers Of the
Church. This decision exaspcrated the Nom
conformts1s stiil more On the following day
Free Church Assembly, and the desire Of the
Nardonui Church to tolerate heresy was prp,ni-
nenty referred to in proof OF its deadness in the
IMttn. On the part OF some OF the leaders OF the
thurch, This unwilltngness to raise discussion on
points or doctrine was undoubtedly due to a
genuine desire for liberation, Il NOT to sympathy
with the particular vicws cuunciated. In fle
case or others. however, it could be ascribed
only to wholesome dread Of the consequences
1i!ne when It is important thar it should appear
united and stronK. The difficulties Of the case
''r M increased p The circumstance that the vol
u1ne was tine production not OF single author
out OF ltaEuc. and that II one of the aufhprs
were prosecuted the Church might bo compelled
- - ,ake pssgeedings aEatnst the greater number
When the General Assembly. or its cousE1ttee.
it'usea r. =, Tx up the case against the nu1t,us
ter would not be allowed to rest. bill that it
would 30 brought Nd BY sou,e other means The
snyteI1an fes:g M form ot government affords great
laca!ltes 10r inSuTntlnX such proceedings. It IL
competent for any CO.. Presbytcr Of ans OF Tho
authors Ut these sermons to move his Ireslytery
to take up the case: This has now been done in
Ahe Itesbytert OF Glasgow. the particular clcr-
Fy1Man attached being the Rex. William Lcckte
McFafaau. Ut 1cnzie. formerly Of Cupur in FIrc%
III the rlume:-the ane on :. Authority" the
other on The Things which Cannot ueShakcn."
The former sermon is All argument 44,,.inxs the
of the Scriptures. Theauthor holds
that :. the Scriptures are authuritutlyc tniy in
~ Tar As they arc tr1le, and only tu such por-
lions Of them as awaken a response in those
~ which alone truth can he tliscerned, hive been
luly Developed He uxrces> '"in the main,'' ]
sith tie conclusions OF those who hold that |
they cannot be certain that nu the words in |
he Gospels attributed ~ Christ and His Apostles /
we're really the words they. spoke. undiluted, /
unexaggeratcd. Neither can they |
hem were ACTUALLY wrought BY them" While !
nus throwing over the " huie doctrine OF
lenary Inspiration and verbal infaIltbility, Mr.
lcFarlan yet finds in the Bible "a revelation OF
Irvine truths -"'1n INC second Of his sermons Sir.
lcfarlan expresses his substantial agreement
ith those who hold that the .doRmns OF schoi-
,odjt'ed; nore particularly these ooRmas: The
escenl Of Man from the Adam OF Genesis: tho
!. III Of ADAM the tmpatation Of his guilt 70
trough Christ: the doctrine Of election. and
aat OF the eternal punishment OF the unfegen-
p taE- Inc things that caunot be shnken arc !
1e tra1h thar n1ns + e <hs1
.eKs M f,ts 20 make us shareEs i'll His righteousness
~ ~ , is 9essedness; and that in the cravings OF
&c II, nui ~ Tor communion with that power with.
u u II there is the pledge al ils iuntrtaifry :
4ae fFcsbyserS met On Th.rstlsS, for lie Sec !