The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-24
CREEps AND TIE BIBLE.

Just what is to be the outcome of the dis
cussion relating to the sacred authencity of
the Bible, the value of creeds and the posi-
ton occupied by the Church as q teacher of
infallible truths, is well calculated to excite
deep solicitude in the ranks of thoughtful
people. 1t requires no argument to show
that creeds as they now exist are losing
their hold upon the respect and reverence of
the people. The Church itself no longer
asserts that its creed is to be implicitly
obeyed. The time when a blind adherence
to creeds was regarded as essential to saliva
ton has passed away forever. and now the
demand is that creeas shall be revised,
amended and improved. Orthodox clergy
men are becoming heterodox. Creeds are
now declared to be entirely human produc-
tons, and, what is still worse, productions
of an age when men were influenced by a
spirit Of bigotry, which warps and distorts
truth, letters mind faculties and an
tsgonizes liberty of thought and con-
science in direct conflict with the simple
precepts Of the Gospel. But just here, where
it is very generally conceded that creeds
should be revised, another difficulty, for
midable in its proportions, confronts reyisers
and reformers By what standard of com
handing authority shall the creeds be re-
vised3 Manifestly, all eyes are turned to
the Bible. But, unfortunately, those who
see the necessity of revising creeds, see with
equal distinctness the importance of revis
ing the Bible. Men of acknowledged learning
and piety, orthodox in heart and
thought, declare the Bible to be full OF
errors. They see that the Bible has been
tempered with to an extent that makes it an
uncertain guide, and that unless the Bible
can be improved. there is little probability
| that anything better than human conclu
sions can appear in the creeds Of the future
With alarming frequency, in the opinion o.
some people, great minds in the orthodox
army of teachers are proclaiming their dis
| emit from certain standard declarations
which have hitherto been regarded as abso
luteIy true and the foundation OF the
the Church. Henry Ward Beecher is con
stantly quoted as having abandoned the
creed of his Church. Now comes Rev. K
Heber Newton, an Episcopalian divine, said
to be q Biblical critic" a gifted writer
and an attractive speaker" who not only
takes strong grounds against creeds, as they
now exists, but declares that the Bible il
simply "a remarkable contribution to the
worlds literature" He holds that 1t is ;
wrong use of the Bible to consider every
thing true, because it is in the Bible" aDC
maintains that "the growing knowledge
OF man, concerning himself and God
is the real revelation of God" and hence
the inference that the Bible no longer an
swers the demands of the present age, what
ever may be said of it in the past. Th'
New York Herald, in commenting upon Mr.
Newton's position, entertains grave doubt
that "the best scholarship will approve o
his conclusions" and adds: biblical crit
cism is subject which only the ripest learn
ing can intelligently discuss, and it is mani
testify beyond the reach of the multitude
We are not unjust to any one when we sa.
that opinions on such a grave matter mus
be shaped by the best thinkers, not b.
the second best. Mr.. Newton's position
is not q fortunate one in this respect