The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-04-07

~pN y tbo NhuiCh PlhnIAN ano
watered by the Apos,lesl When a ques
ton If interpretation sriseS concerning
The meaning Of text or doctrine We
ask how was it received by those tc
whom ID was delivered. and on sucl
grounds ~s bap'izs infants, keep Sun.
day as the LOn'S day, and accept th,
creed of The Church. Whatever will
not bsar historical inv. siigation ia To D.
rejected ~ an innovation, and csnnei
hs forced on auy mans conscience rs :
matter of belief: fur sxsh,l L. pap4l In
fallibiii.y.
Wien wo refer to the New i.A.a-
nent SCRIPTURES we take tbetn A. his.
torie facts. We know when they were
written and by whom generally. We
distinguish between the true AID false
writings Of the Apostles on their bis.
toric basis, for We are no judges IS to
what the word Of God should contain.
We arc ready to prove the historic
accuracy 81 the Scriptures IS commonly
received. For example, when we read
in the Gospel that Christ was born in
tue days Of Ueroi the King and suffered
under PonLius Plate, We examine the
historic records Of Rome TO SEQ at what
times they lived. We find that PLATE
was ruling III Jerusalem at the time
which would have allowed our Saviour
20 have been born in the last DAYS
Herod, and be about 80 years old a
the gospels intimate. When st. Lux
tells us that about tie time Of Christs
birth there went out decree that all
the world should be taxed, or enrolled
Tor tic purpose Of taxation, we look 10
Profans history for notice of such an
important event.
When we read Of S.. Paul before
Felix va turn 10 history again to find
out who hs was aud when he ruled.
Tubs for the truth and accuracy Of the
Bible We appeal 70 history, and any at
tempt TO destroy the credibility of im-
portaht witnesses is st a blow o
Christianity Itself.
Tie Sculptures were not ell collect
ed at once because they we're written
IN different parts Of the world. It Is
most interesting 70 trace 30 far as we
We can, bow they were gathered to-
gsther. This much we know We rely
for their integrity upon men like these
whoa &C arc about to quete.
First and most important Of the sue
cessors Of the Apostles "a a witness, is
Ignatius. Some writings are ascribed
10 him which NC know are not his,
aAd on all hands acknowledged TO be
spurious. This however does not sf-
feet the genuineuess Of those which are
known to be his by every rule of his
toric criticism. Because some PLAYS
have been cal led shskespeare's which
We know are spurious, it doss not cast
the least doubt upon the authorship Of
the Iezt. Because the celebrated
Aiorry letter was ascribed to Gar
field, no one would dream OF thinking
the rest Of his correspondence false
The best scholars. of every land have
acknowledged the letters from which
we sre about To quote to he geanins.
The quotations / will make are hot
taken second handed from snv cnG-
troversial wcTs hut directly from CLARK
Translation Of the Anti Nicene I.ibrs-
~.
With regard to the l.fr OF ST.. Isns
tns quote from Chambers EneycIo-
pe,lis. Article, IsnasiuS.
"Igna,ius Bishop of Antioch Civine)
s(ter GO 4, ID. is said to have been IA
disciple of ST. John, and is reckoned
one of tue Apostolic Fathers. He bore
the suInams Of Theophoros, / e. one
Who carries God in his heart The
legend that be WAS the little chIld
whom Jesus set in the midst of his dis
cisles, may however, like the other
tradition of his relationship to S.
Joha, be taken as symbolical of lis
winning, sfiectienate nature. Isha-
thus was true shepherd of his peo
pie, one of those meek, earnest, loving
spirits to whose beautiful unobtrusive
piety Christianity ewed its frat and
best triumPhs. DJmitians' Roman
Emperor A. d. s5 persecution Of the
Church of Antioch proved him to be
M less courageous than pisus, aud
when that storni bad passed over, the
second sad fereer persecution of Ira
jan g-stiiied Ignatius' wish of being
sacrificed Cor his flock. He was con
demned to be led as prisoner tC
Rome, there to be- made the food ei
wild beasts for the amusement of the
people. The sentence was executed
A. ID. l0T, or according TO others III
A. D."
.H1w natural TO sAch a eh sracte
and how beautifully illustrative o
Ignatius character would the words
am about to quote seem, if they had
not directly interfered with tho Presby
terian scheme OF the equality of orders
In his fourth chapter to the Ephesiant
(shsrter form( hs writes Where
fore it is fitting that ye should ran to
gether in accordance with the will o
your Bishop, which thing also We do
For your Justly renowned Presbytery
worthy of God, is fitted SO exactly &c
the Bishop as the strings are to th,
harp. Therefore in your concord AnC
harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung
And do ye man by man, become
choir, that being harmonius in love
and taking up the song of God in uni
son, ye may with one voice sing to tn,
Father through Jesus Christ, so tha
J He may both hear you and perceive
} by your works that We are indeed tn
members of His Son. 1t ia profit
able, therefore, that you should live i,
} an unblameable unity, that thus "
may always enjoy communion will
God. (Chap w. For if l, in thi