New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-01


| Augustine I, alyinistio But holding VIVA!
- SOM, win seem very stern and
ririd views it cannot escape rouce
that Ia has exemplifed in all his discussions
what he in other DAYS called the ability 10 diner
strIctlvs from his opponents. Nothing OF the
theoloeicum odum appears in his writing. Inc
| truth a. his view, has nothing 70 gain oup
everything to lose, in all such methods But ne
yields NOT lot to any modern depreciation OF
ltheolory ms O science. lie says tnere Is no
science ca rightly entitled to be denomina ed ap-
so]ute and netaphyscally certain as theology
It. IL . absolute in contradistinction to relative
knowledge Holding these high views OF dog
matte theology as science. he is not disposed TO
surrender 1t for what in modern phrnse Is terri "a
Biblical theology. He comedies to the iatte
legitimate province Biblical theology exam
| ines the Bible part by part, writer by writer
it brings out the theological teachings OF Isaiah
or Jeremiah. or Paul or John. But SHOULD
Biblical theology examine the Bible as whole
| it would become systematic theology. 1t would
bring all the varieties under one scheme. Inc
so-called higher unity to which the exegete en-
deavors to reduce the several types Of 'Bibhcar
theology is really dogmatic system embracing
the entire Scriptures" DR.. Shedd contends that
so far from being superseded by the sc-cailed
Biblical theology systematic theology Is needed 10
| balance and correct Biblical" theology for the
following reasons: The latter is in It's method
fractional and it is easier to Introduce subjective
| individual opinions into part Of the Bible than
into the whole of it. 1t is easier to warp the four
Gospels mn to preconceived idea of Christ and
Christianity than it Is to warp the whole Bible
a remark which has pertinence, in view of what
is called Elsmeresip" II is hardly necessary
to say that many Of the discussions in these vol
umes have direct bearing on questions which
are to-day agitating many minds outside tneo-
logical circles merely. One Of these is found IN
the department of Bebliology as 10 the nature ana
extent of the inspiration claimed for the SCRIPT
ures. 1t is opened by o luminous and valuable
treatment Of the related topics, revelation ana
inspiration. By some the two are confounded
the confusion of thought from this source is to be
deprecated and therefore DR.. Stedd expends time
and strength in clearing up the distinctions be-
tween them. When he comes TO state his view
OF inspiration he avows a doctrine Of verbal In
SEPARATION, because there is natural affinity and
q necessary connection between thought and Ian
gusge," and whatever prompts thought prompts
language, and an influence upon one is an
influence upon the other" Defenders OF
the inspiration Of the Scriptures will
raise the question whether his position is
not an extreme one, to be held with greater
difficulty than one which does not cover the
words so absolutely. At the same time the
author carefully discriminates between verbal
inspiration and dictation.
DR.. Shedd never shrinlSs from meeting the
questions raised by modern science as to the
treatment of scientific subjects in Scripture. His
view is that physical science is, TO some ex-
tent. taught by revelation. and recorded by in
spiration." In Chapter VII Of the division
in which theology proper or the doctrine Of
God. is treated. a Heightened discussion Of Crea-
ton win be found. Here recent scientific the
cries are Enthusiastically the various theories
Of evolution. He accepts theory of evolution
which means simply the transformation of the
homogeneous" but rejects that which maintains
that 1T is the transformation az the shomose-
neous into the heterogeneous Here again Dr.
Shedd will be thought by many defenders Of
revealed religion to have claimed too much; that
his attitude toward modern scientific views on
matter and motion does not sufficiently recognize
what is now regarded as we'll nigh, II not en-
tirely. demonstrated Many of our ablest men
of science, accepting fully the Scriptures as a
Divine revelation. affirm that such o view can
be held by scientific man only when there is an
utter divorce between the province of science
is no mediation possible-the only way GU. of
all difficulty being to restrict Scripture 10 It's
purpose Of moral and spiritual teaching. This
part Of DR.. Shedd's work will undoubtedly be
called in question by many of the Christian men
Of science.
His discussion of tho subject Of miracles"
will be found in Chapter TX of the Division on
the Doctrine Of God 1t is the briefest Of all
oh Tn for lu IN ha do
sired that he should have expanded this more
fully. The interest Of thinking minds in this
department Of theology is at this time very
great 1t is easy to make fun of the enormous
reading which Mrs. Wards now celebrated novel
has had in this country, and to speak OF Elsn ia
as one does Of diphtheria or malaria. But the
fact of such a circulation shows how much the
average man and woman is thinking just now
Of this vital question of miracle. II less space
had been given TO the subject Of DEGREES or that
Of the Trinity and more had been given to the
subject Of Miracles, the book would have met q
far moro pressing want Regret here is the more
keen, because the author has so proved
his ability TO meet camorous objections and settle
some difficult points Space does not allow US
to note some other discussions, in which valuable
service is rendered in meeting actual difficulties Of
the present day Perhaps not much Of that
New-Engand theology still survives which held
that the prayers OF the unregenerate were sin.
But in the authors treatment Of the subject Of
prayer is found far more enlightened and liberal
view. Much Of these, as Of any theological
discussions, win seem very remote from mems
business and bosoms' of the present day. And
yet we believe it TO be true that many in the
pews would be glad to hear more doctrinal dis
cussion In the pulpit That this need not be
ldpvr foh MN nj H.
The authors comments on the ignorance Of
what theology teaches often displayed by its
opponents, deserve careful notice He has given
instances Of such ignorance, which point his CON-
ments well. Hume, Gibbon. Of former day.
Rncxla. nraner and Erauda 81 c,zz.aI fa.d ]