New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01

work, 1t plains the astronomical arraheemen''
of the structure, and whyits purpose as al ooSoi'
tory was so soon fulfilled. III explains uo" ~
conld be Mt once n temple and al observatory ana
how it naturally would become tomb Moreover
if we admit that Cheops with the other Kings Oh MS
line devoutly believed in astronomy as nieans VI
unfolding the future and directing nm 10 triuhi'
phant success IN all his royal UNDERTAKINGS an
adeouate motive for the colossal work is at once
furnished.
No other hypolhesis begins to satisfy so many OF
the conditions presented in this problem of the
nvramil and il ought TO be added as strong neg
at We argument in support of Mr.. Proctors position
that no known fact respecting the pyramids or their
bnders is inconsistent with the astrological theory
THE RIGHT AND TIE WRONG USES OF TUE Fl;
BE. BY r. HEDER NEWTON Rector Of All Al, s9 9Gs
Church (Anrron Memorial, New YORK Up zo4
John W. Lowell Company, New YORK
Tho bible ALWAYS has been and probably always
will be tue supreme book of Christendom Count
less myriads of souls have been sustained through
life and comforted in death by its hopes and PROM
ises IL has shaped the destiny OF races and nations
and has left its impress upon literature. 1t has
Guided the soaring aspirations OF genius, anu mas
gwen lofty ideals to the poet the painter ana tio
sculptsr II has been prop alike to the throne ol
the king the chair of the pontiii, aud the universal
nlatIOrm
cent cause of many wars and prosecutions; but IL
has been also for mankind fountain OF beneneence
and goodness. 1t is the book the loss OF which
would he 1rreparablc Ia the civilized world.
The sermons before us profess to show the wrong
and teach the right uses of this great book. 1his
fact would give them an Importance even il they
pussessed little intrinsic merits OF their own. Du1
they nave many merits and deserve careful road
ing. 1t can be trhthiuIly said that from tue begin
ming TO the end there is not dull page III them
| Mr. Newton possesses the great merit of saying
what he means in simple ana forcible Engllsn. Inc
reader is led on from one proposition to another
from one topic 10 another feeling that lie is iohow-
inc one who has some place in view. and knows e1-
actly how to get there in the easiest way. Ihere
are few footnotes to distract the readers attention
from Il. main topic; and hore is no Alteration oil
pedantry ID the citation of authorities. TheNiewS
| euunciated in these sermons embody the most pro-
nounced results of the science of modern Biblical
! criticism Toa large number of Christian people
| they will appear to be radical and unwarranted.
| But while they are the outcome OF the new crit-
| cism Mr. Newton also maintains with seeming lalf-
ness that their conclusions arc in harmony with an
| historical school of thought in the English Church
| and in It's American daughter. The view OF the
Rible here gwen is" he SAYS IN the preface, dis
tinctly enuncated Iii the first sentence OF the hrst
sermon in the Book of Eomilies, set forth officially
for The instruction of the people IN both oil these
Churches Unto Christian man there can be MOTH
ing more necessary OF profitable than the knowledge
OF holy Scripture, forasmuch as IN 1t Is coHtdWtd
Gods true ,cord setting forth His glory aud also
mans duty.' The whole controversy IN Protestant
ism over the Bible may be summed into the question
| vnetber the Bible is Gods word or contains God s
| word On this question stand with the Book OF
Homilies, These sermons, he adds in eXplana-
ton. were meant for that large and rapidly grow
ing body or men who can no longer hold the tradl-
tional view of the Bible. but who yet realize that
within tbis view there IS real and profound truth
truth hich we all need if hapy we eau get 1t out
from its archaic form without destroying IT'S lie,
and can clothc il anew in a shape that we can In
diligently grasp and sincerely hold. To such alone
would speak in these pages, TO help them hold the
| subst ance of their fathers faith"
| The topic of the first sermon is the unreal
Bible and its object is to show that the common
nopnlar notions about the divine authorship and
falhbility of the Bible have foundation in fact.
| The splritnal truth Mr.. Newton holds, has been
| gradually turned into an Intellectual lie. The lie
must be dspro ed before the truth can DO accepted,
| else the gulf between the popular superstitions
and the thoughts of scholars may widen untl no
bridge can span it, and religion pershcs in it.
That the Bible Is book let down out of the skies
| immaculate inlallible Oracular-this perhaps eX-
PRESSES the traditional view with sufficient accu-
racy This theory. Mr. Newton says. has no Sufli-
! Gent sanction by the Church; the Bible nowhere
makes any such claim OF infaIblity for ITSELF but
| on tina contrary 1t carries the reiutatiOn Of this
theory on the face of its writings. In the name of
| religion" Mr. Newton says L" let this unreal view
of the Bible die 1t has driven away from the real
| revelation held in these sacred writings increasing
numbers IN the growing generations; deafening
their ears by its irrational clanor to the voice of the
Living tod which whispers in these pages, through
| the holy men who spake as they were moved OF the
| HOLY Ghost 1t has iathcred the doubt which to-
day SITS cherries and chill. within the hearts and
| homes of thousands who reoiced in the
| warmth aud light of God, but who now accept the
| alternative their teachers thrust upon them all
| or none 1T and throw away tho Blessed Book
wherein God of old revealed Himself 10 them" The
sermon that follows is the real Bible" and is a
ple in behalf OF the Bible properly understood and
| interpreted. In true and real sense the author
believes the Divine Spirit stirred in the men who
| wrote it, and they "spake as they were moved by
| the Holy Ghost"
| The two sermons the wrong uses OF the Bible
| will probably subject the author to the most
searching and scathing criticism. Many persons
| will look upon them az closely bordering on i'm
| piety rhe Bible itself, according to Mr.. Newton,
is intensely human throughout, and bears on every
page the idiosyncrases of its various authors; and
it il not possible to-day for ecclesiastcs to persuade
! men that criticism tell us nothing about the
Bible, or that it alone OF all books in the world is
exempt from the judgments Of reason and common
sense.
| Mr. Newton maintains that it is not to be
used as heather oracle fotich. but rs a rev.
! eation of Divine righteousness, teacher of pure
| and exalted morality, and the inspiration OF the
pest thoughts of humanity. Some of its historical
statements may not be verifable; some of Its mir
acles may be legends of far-away golden age OF
heroes; its geology or its astronomy may DO mac
curate. But these are only passing accidents The
4 h. Ne No att ennnia Ia