The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-23
TIE VALUE or THE nInLr.
Tho Advanced Views OF the Rov. Nj
Hhort ENnraasgd nj Iuckaou MiaH

lno AuNhhCou NloWh OF the nov MT
Short Expressed at jackson, Mise.
Special Dispatch to The Appeal
JAcgsoN, Miss, July - Tho Rev.
VIM. short, rector Of -, Andrews church,
preached last sunday aud to-day On
Reasons Why many people do not be-
licye the Bible" These sermons have cx.
cited deep and general interest In the
parish, ~ advocating ideas that are new
10 many. lie began by stating that nearly
all Of the popular objection 10 belief In the
Bible could DO included under the two
general heads, intellectual aud moral.
'The root Of nearly all the intellectual
difficulties could be- traced 10 the mcrhani.
cal or verbal theory Of inspection, In which
all portions Of scripture arr held b. bo
inspired aud accuracy diyincly guaran.
tccd. lie claims that this theory was II
pOst.rciormation origin aud became popu.
lar NJ an offset the R0mish theory II the
iniallibility Of the church. Calyinisin
sought "a make q point 10y substituting
the Bible aud the Bible only ~ the
one infilliblo guide aud authority iof
man In H. place. II was this theory un.
der which lngcnoll WIS brought up and
against which lac had Tor ycnrs been hurting
shafts Ul fidiculc aud scorn, and suppOsing
that ho was fighting the Bible. The
trouble with lngcraoll n that he lacked in.
formation and had now found out the
Bible vas worth defending on any other
theory. lie asked aud doubted honestly,
III the words Of the Bible are not in.
spircd, what isy' And yet, had be- de-.
voted u very little time "a investigation hr
would have found that NJ biblical scholars
worthy the name have held that theory
Tor generation. AZ Miss Philips said in
the July North Im,rio1H R,ri1r, "ln bib.
Heal scholarship lac h a generation behind
the times"
Tho speaker quoted from learned bishops
aud teachers % show that the verbal ~
mechanic theory had no definite historical
testimony In H. favor Dean Wcsc0tt the
leading biblical scholar In England, char.
actcfizcd Il twenty-five years ago, ~ lat
variance with the whole form and fashion
Of ihe Bible, aud destructive Of all that Is
hottest In man aud highest In religion"
Mr lcechcr denounced Il ~ "tho devils
theory" 1.-THE difference between lngcr.
soil and the thcOlogian IN that the iufmcf
clings 10 the theory and casts away the
Bible, while the latter holds to the Bible
and casts away the theory, taking In H.
stead the common sense one" In con.
sidcring the moral difficulties Mr. Short
claimed that the Bible could never be-
rightly understood save on the theory II
gradual, progressive revelation. This
gave the key to all the moral difficulties.
Among the special instances illustrated
was that oi Abraham. Picture said
the speaker, this rude shick 1000
years ago. lie stands halling
at the sacrifice Of his frsi born ~ proof u
devotion. lie resolves 10 do the religious
thing, but as hc stands, the struggle II his
fathers heart In his pure and holy love.
catches the echo Of higher voice than the
Gods Of Canaan, voice moro humane,
more IN accord with what u highest aud
best In himself, even the voice Of Jehovah,
which says Stay not thy son, thine only
sou, but let the lamb he the symbol Of the
willingness Of thy sacrifice II WIS this
faith IN the trucst and best In bis own
fathers heart which helped 10 make