The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
A FUTURE PROBATION.
Prof Egbert Smyth Has n Few Words to Say
the NIO0ted Point.

Prof Egbert Smyth Has Few Words to Say
the NOoted Point.
Report ia Chicago Tribune.
Professor Smyth said he desired very much to
make a brief statement on this point, and would
promise to say nothing of controversial char
acter or that any member present could object
to. By unanimous vote Professor Smyths time
was extended. He said:
81 know of no professor at Andover who cues
tions, or ever thought of questioning, the su-
preme authority of the Scriptures as the record
of special divine 'revelation-as the only per-
feet rule of faith and practice Applause We
emphasize the truth as it is in Jesus-that Jesus
is the Indispensable motive power in the recoy-
-ery of the soul to eternal life. We believe in
the testimony of the Holy Spirit as necessary to
personal conviction. and discovery, and assur-
ance of the truth Applause We believe in
the purpose of God to deal with all men upon
the plane not simply of justice and law, but of
redemption The chief, and practically
is given to the establishment of
the great fundamental doctrines on which
we are all agreed and TO fit men rightly to in
terpret the Scriptures and preach Gods message
to men, Applause. We however distinguish
carefully between doctrine and dogma. Doc
trine is, according to our understanding truth
of divine revelation; it is absolutely authorta-
tive; 1t is an article of the Christian faith which
cannot be denied without impairing the integrity
of that faith. A dogma is a product of human
reasoning upon divine truth; it is the work of a
theoogian or a church council. A dogma may
be true or it may be false. or it may be mix
ture of truth and error. The Christian church
in every age has held and proclaimed doctrines
and dogmas and we try to distinguish, and to
teach our students to distinguish, between the
two; and II some dogmas, whether traditional or
new, seem to us to be true we endeavor TO con-
vey just an exact impression as to what their
authority may be, that we may teach our stu
dents, as far as in US lies to proclaim not the
0ogmas or commandments of men, but the pure
truth, as it is found in Jesus Some of the breth-
rem seem to suppose that our teaching is largely
occupied with Especial dogma about the heather
There is good deal Of misapprehepsion on this
point, especially as regards the time devoted to
the teaching of this particular tenet. / asked
Professor Kinks one of our faculty, how much
time he devoted TO teaching this tenet during his
lectures, and he said he devoted but few min
utes in each lecture much more time being given
to the refutaton of the point by those of the fac.
ulty who Gissented from it. lam not now arcu-
ing for against this dogma would not take
any such advantage to thrust Forward my views
am simply explaining that we do not make
any hobby of this matter. / do not deny that
we attach Importance to our opinions, but
those Of us who at Andover hold the questioned
dogma, as well as those who do not hold it, will
admit that there is no inconsistency in attaching
importance to our opinions nor in saying that,
though it is not article of faith it is of value
and In some preaching of great value in the ad-
vocacy OF the doctrine of Christ We exalt
Christ-his person as God and man, universal
in its relations to mankind; his cross, equally
universal; his judgment throne, equally uni
versal. We draw inference which most of
you, perhaps, may not accept but We admit the
dangers of inferential theology and scrupulously
distinguish our differences from our doctrines
In the exercise of this right. brought under sub
lection TO the Scriptures, we do nothing that
may not be done under the traditions and sacred
and immemorial liberties of our Congregational