Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-12
THE HOLY WRIT

THE HOLY WRIT
Discussed by Rev. NJ. +. Dryden at thu
North street Church Last Night.
A large congregation assembled at tn,
North Street NJ. E. Church LAST evening tt
listen 10 the pastor, Rev. NJ. F. Dryden
deliver an interesting and instructive lee
tare on the topic, ''The Bible Sufficien,
Rule Of Faith and Practice" This wa
the first of series of lectures on the gen
eral subject, Professionalism va. Roman
ism" to be delivered by Rev. Dryden
and it was listened to at.entively.
After reading, as the basis Of his Ne
marks, /. Timothy, Ill: 1917, also MARI
yii.: 13. he said:
'3Cicero has said, Every argument should
proceed from q definition, in order that il
may be clearly known what that may be
concerning which we reason" He ther
proceeded to define the terms employed
taking them in their order. He said tha,
the Latin word tradito signifies that which
is delivered orally from age to age. The
Greek word, pdradesis, used in the Greek
Testament, "a translated precept, or ordi
nance, whether delivered orally or in
writing He said the Gospel was termed
in the Scriptures tradition" because
the Apostles received it from Christ and
delivered it to the world.
He then cited the three kinds of tradi,
tions referred to in the Scriptures and
classified them as follows: The tradi
tions of men, traditions of things non
essential" and traditions by inspira
tion." The first, he said, was mentioned
in the Scripture only to be condemned; Il
the second the Apostles attached but little
importance, and the third embraced the
Gospel as contained in the New Testa
ment. He said that Protestants, in al
matters of faith, following the example o
the Apostolic Church were governed only
by the last, because this alone was suflici
ent and reliable. He then asked the ques
tion, "What are We to understand by tn,
Bible?" and gave the answer in thes,
words: 1.-The Bible is that which wa
written by the inspired men Of God, IN
the Hebrew and Greek languages, and de
liyered to the Christian Church rs tn,
only rule of faith" He then quoted
from the Scriptures and also from
Josephus Jerome, Eusebius and Others ir
establishing the Canon of the Old Testa
ment, showing that the Apocryphal book,
were excluded from the Canon Of Scrip
ture both by Jews and Christians. II,
declared that these disputed books, con
trsry to the practice Of the early Christians
were made Canonical by the Council o
Carthage A. ID. 397, and were finally en-
dorsed by the Council of Trent after it,
fourth session. On this subject he quoted
the following from Du Pin, an eminent
Catholic authority, ''The ancient Chris
tians have followed the Jewish Canon II
the books Of the Old Testament. The frs
catalogue of Canonical Books made by th'
ecclesiastical Greek and Latin authors com
pretended no more" ''The first catalogu,
of the Books of the Holy Scriptures, wher
they added some books to the Jewish
Canon, is that of the third Council o.
Carthage held A. D. 397; when the Book
of Judith, Tobit. the Wisdom of Solomon
Ecclesiasticus, and the two Books o.
Maccabus were reckoned in the number o
Canonical Books"
He said DuPin also adds. There il q,
the end of this Canon Postil that Is very
remarkable" viz: LET the church be,
yond the sea be consulted before this
Canon is confirmed" Eco History, Vol. 1,
page II. He then asked by what author.
ity these books were added contrary to the
custom and belief Of the Apostolic fathers
and the Christian church. He said 30 far
as he knew the church beyond the sea wa
never consulted as the postil appended tc
the Canon required. And if they were
what authority had they to put upon these
books the stamp Of divinity?
After showing what constituted tn.
Bible, he declared that the genuineness
authenticity, credibility and inspiration O.
the Bible were questions long ago settled
and that ii stood TO day upon four immov
able pillars, viz: the power, wisdom, good
ness and purity Of God Almighty. HI
then made the following proposition: Th'
word of God as contained in the Old ant
New Testament is q sufficient rule Of faitl
and practice, and the only rule delivered
by Christ and the Apostles. And il il b,
affirmed that there il any other, the on,
who makes the affirmation must for
nish the proof, proof Of the sam,
kind, rs strong and convincing n
that offered in support Of the Scriptures
For as there can be but one absoiutel,
perfect Being. 30 there can be but on,
perfect rule Of faith. He said that wbil
the Apostles did not record eyerythin,
that Christ said and did, they omitted
,nthinn IN the lpa ,.f
The conditions are simple and are brief!
comprehended in two words, -repentanc
and faith. By following the teachings o
this book one is made "wise unto saliva
ton" and thoroughly furnished unto al
good works. And while We canDo
understand ali the Bible contains, it !
sufficiently clear TO meet the needs of al
men. God has gaciously adapted bi
words not only 10 the needs bu
the capacities Of men. Il speak
with such clearness on other matters o
faith, that no one, who will honestly erer
else his reason and conscience, aud seel
the aid of the Holy Spirit as bis iniallibl
teacher and guide, need come short OF th
divipe requirements. He said the Bibl
vas TO be read by the people and no on
had the authority TO withhold any part q
it upon any ground whatever. he said :
withhold the truth because some abuse
II, WIS like withholding food from men be
cause some init ored themselves by eating
And at this point he quoted the followin
from DuPin: 'Tf there be obscure an
difficult passages in the Bible, II Is nc
generally tho simple who abuse them, bu
the proud and learned who make ba
use Of them. For, in truth, il is not th
ignorant and simple who have formed he'
esies in pcrverting the word Of God. The
who do 30 are generally bishops 40
priests, learned and enlightened persons
See Diser. Prelim. sur Ia Bible '. /, c.
par 1701. This is the opinion Of III
worthy historian, and none csu fIil 70 NJ
prec;ate the wisdom OF his uttsrances upo
this subject.
He stated that il waa the mission
Protestantism 10 put Gods holy word
the hands Of all the people, and thus q
he world with the knowledge OF salvation
II was the heayen-inspirsd spirit Of Pro
estantism that entered the cloistess
J Rome, unclaimed the truth, broke the se,
J and gave il to the people. 1t was Protes
antism that freed this book from the ma
Of error that gathered about it in the dar
sges, when politioo-ocelsdastical tespo
held alike the word Of God and the col
science Of men. And 50 long ~ Il
. church remains will abe bold sacred II