Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-04
Theological School.
Rev. w. M. Taylor, D. D., at Marqua
 

Rev. w. M. Taylor, ID. D., at Marquan' | Chapel.
 | Dr. Taylor, of New York, delivered tn | first of two lectureson ssThe IRductive Stud. l of the Scriptures before the Divinity schoo | yesterday afternoon. z1s-s. The chapel was comfortably filed. Tn lecturer was introduced by Dr. Harris in { few appropriate remarks.
 The eloquent preacher did not fail to at tract and hold the attention of his audience Speaking upon 8 subject more or less fanil jar to the theological student, he was yet able to exhibit it in so earnest and fresh a way af to benefit and interest all who heard The line of thought pursued was somewhat as follows:
 When Satan tempted Christ to cast Him self from pinnacle of the temple, reminding Him that .lt is written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee, and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest Thou dash Thy foot against 8 stone" Christ an- swered him with, 'It is written again.
 So we should accept each part of the scrip lures as it is explained by all the rest.
 We must explore the Bible with purpose and a method, as the scientist does nature. For what nature is to the philosopher the scripture is to the theologian. Systematic theology is a result of such exploration clas- sifed and arranged
 But we must study and formulate these things for ourselves, and this should be done by the inductive study of the scriptures. It is not sufficient for us to say it is written simply, but to show that the passage quoted 1s in keeping with all other scriptures.
 There are three things which we should observe in this method of investigation:
 l. That all passages quoted have bearing on the subject in hand. Even the most casual student has observed how little bearing many of the marginal references have upon the texts to which they refer.
 A ludicrous example of this kind of error is seen in series of pamphlets which have been recently published attempting to prove that the English people are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel
 2. We must see that we accord to each pas sage it's own weight and no more. For ex- ample, in the Book of Job we may hold that the inspired account furnishes correct state- ment of what Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu said, but it would be absurd to hold that they were all inspired in what they said Nor should we be justified in quoting the paSSdR6: Sk1u TOT SKlu, yea all Guab d Iudu hath will he give for his life, " as the inspired word of God For it is Satan's statement of what he had observed to be the character of human nature.
 On the same principle we should not quote the words of Nicodemus in the third chapter of John to prove Christ's divinity.
 B. We should take care that our induction ofpassages is complete. A few subjects may be noted in illustration of this principle. In the case of the Trinity we find that there are many passages which emphasize the unity of God, but there are others which as emphatically speak of the Father as God, of the Son as God, and of the Holy Ghost as God
 So of the person of Christ. If it is written He is a man, it is written also He is God. The true inductive method impels us to ac- cept both statements.
 The Atonement is spoken of under four different representations The great source of the discussions waged over the Atonement is found in the fact that each of the disput- ants has taken one of these representations. We have had too much of these different views of the Atonement let us have the Biblical view.
 So of prayer, some wild statements have been made because men have not harmonized the Scripture statements.
 There are three general principles which may be inferred.
 l. Every heresy has in it certain amount of truth. Ask what is the truth contained in the heresy that you will be able to deal with the error.
 ?. The truth thus mixed up with error is generally something that has been overlooked
 B. Let it be acknowledged frankly that it is written" but add to this, it is written again. Grant the moral theory of the atonement, but show how it is written that the Atone ment is far more than this represents