Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-06

my silence at that time. l had never heard of
that famous sermon on inspiration. "But,"
continued MIR. Smith, 81 am willing to meet
Bishop Ireland in a joint debate on three prop
ositions." No one of the three propositions
had the most remote reference to the question
at issue, and begged leave to call Mr.. Smith
back to the point By this time had become
convinced that Mr. Smith had no welcome for
the point. No doubt he had been studying the
subject, and had found the work more trying
one than he had fancied it to be when he first
said 81 say l can prove it," He had, no doubt,
at this stage OF the discussion, read DR.. Lee, of
Dublin, in quoting whom Mr.. Smith had
made grave mistake, since, as we will see
further on, DR.. Lee is most emphatic in
asserting that without the church the inspira-
ton of the bible cannot be proven. What to
do? Yes; he would prove the inspiration of
the bible He would repeat the lecture on in
spiration delivered year ago-in the cathedral.
The cathedral pulpit, he assumed, was the proper
place as no doubt the cathedral congregation
needed instruction on the subject of the bible.
Well, just then there was no question in the
whole range of theology that the cathedral
congregation was so anxious to hear discussed
by Protestant minister as this very one of
the inspiration of the bible. Mr.. Smith, how
ever, was not allowed the use of the cathedral
pulpit, and, l am very sure, he himself had
never expected that it would be put
at his service. A series Aof propositions fol-
lowed from the pen of Mr.. Smith, on my co m
pliance with which he intimated he would
come to the point. l was to limit myself as
to the time of my speaking in reply to his ar
guments and as to the number of my dlscours-
es. These propositions naturally took to
be intended as indirect means TO put off the
discussion. The question, he knew very well,
was the inspiration of the bible, and no one,
Protestant or Catholic, caredzwhen or where
no o6 y,,n dad ha nA
paid no attention to Mr.. Smiths uncalled for
propositions, and Iagaln reminded him of the
sole question at issue between us-the lnspi-
ration of the bible, telling him that it matter
ed not before the public under what conditions
he established it, provided, he but established
it. "Three times, "he answered,"I have offer
ed to discuss this subject of inspiration"
True, l replied, but better once to discuss it
than three times to offer to discuss 1t.
The subject was becoming gall to his lips the
more he thought of it. Three times he offered
to discuss, but not once did he reach the. ac-
tual discussion. Perseverance works wonders.
Can Professionalism, / continued to ask, prove
the inspiration OF the bible? The final, long
deferred conclusion, you know it: ION next
Sabbath evening [ shall commence a series Of
discourses on the pretensions of Romanism,
beginning with the Infallibility of the Pope"
During three Sabbath evenings Mr.. Smith
threw stones at the Pope, and the inspiration
of the bible was proven on Protestant princi-
Piles.
Not few of Mr. Smiths friends have ex-
pressed aloud their regret that he did not
bravely keep to the point and prove in di-
rect and manly way the inspiration of the BIZ
BILE. They must not blame Mr.. Smith. He
did as well as he could. He did as well as any
Protestant minister will do. You may send
to the East or to the West; you will never
bring to st. Paul a Protestant minister who
will prove on Protestant principles the inspira-
ton of the bible. Professionalism has but one
mode of defense-to attack the church.
There does not exist one positive argument
in favor of Professionalism. Look back upon
all your experience of the past Did you ever
hear its ministers defending it directly? They
are too wise even to try it; they see their pow
erlessness. They hope to throw dust into the
eyes of their audiences by leveling loud blows
at the Papacy, and the horrors of tile Papacy
are stock subjects for pulpits and Sabbath
schools. They aim to destroy, never to build
up. They would fain remove from the earth's
surface the Catholic church, and peering into
the vacuum which her removal would create,
they would fain point it out as the glorious
vindication of Professionalism.
Mr.. Smiths complete abandonment of all
positive defense of Professionalism consider a
most significant fact in the history of rel giOus
controversy in st. Paul. 1t brings home for
chilly to Protestants the true condition of Pro
utterly devoid of all foun
dation for its most essential prin-
cIple MY words, no doubt, surprise
without close investg alton Professionalism. 1t
was the religion of their surroundings they
supposed it safe. The dream, however, must
vanish as soon as they examine it. Its weak
ness reveals itself to them--the moment they
reach out the hand to touch the pillars upon
which it is presumed TO rest, the hand returns
to them to report that beneath it there are no
pillars-that it is castle in the air. 1t has
been frequent boast with Professionalism that
it is the religion of reason, whose right it re-.
spects aud maintains. professionalism" says
Mr.. Smith, "helieves in reason with the ration.
alist, and in authority with the Romanst, but
it adopts the golden mean between them-it is
rational, but not ntidel; it is Catholic, but
not Roman" Professionalism is the religion Of
unreaSon. Whatever else it MAJ be, it is not
rational, since it seeks to impose itself upon
the minds of its disciples without being able
to give one proof of its claims to their assent
1t demands the blindest submission. The God
of reason, who gave us mind to think, and
judgement to discern, would receive from us
no honor were we to attribute to him, as his
creation, a system of religion whose vital
principle is sheer assumption.
1t is an easy matter to take the new tesla
luCllG iuIO tuC uduu, duu w Gay lulS NOiuLuC 10
Gods inspired word-quite another thing to
prove The assertion. The books of the new
testament have no apparent connection
one with another. They were writ
ten by different authors, in different
places, at different periods of the first
century of the Christian era. Some are histor-
ical narratives; Others are letters addressed to
special persons or communities on special
topics, as the circumstances suggested Stimuli
taneously with them there appeared among the
early Christians other books with names APP
pended to them no less cOmmendable than
those to whom the books of the new tesla
ment were ascribed, which nevertheless have
not been included in the canon. Not for three
hundred years were these new testament books
all universally recognized as sacred in Christen-
dom; not until after the expiration of that
period of time were they finally Lut together
in one volume, and held all and one as an in.
spired book, and then the seal of divine au-
thentication was put upon them not by an an
gel from heaven, but by councils of African
and Roman bishops. These are the facts in
the case. Where does the proof of their in
spiration appear? which proof, aiming as 1t
would to substantiate most extraordinary oc-
currence, the inspiration OF the several writers
of these books, should be unexceptionable in
strength and lucidity, in order to secure as
sent. Take away the infallible church, and
the books of the new testament are historical
narratives, pious letters, philosophical trea-
tises; they cannot be shown to be Gods word.