New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-28
WORDS OF WISDOM.
PROGRESS IN THEOLOGY.
THE FIRST OF SERIES OF SERMONS BY TIL
VI.

nue. Presbyterian Church, began interesting scrlcs
OF sunday evening sermons The Theological Signs
of the Times" last night. As DR.. Thompson was the
chairman of the committee which recommended to tho
last General Assembly Of the Church the overture III
reference to changing the Confession of Faith m's
course Of sermons Will have than usual Interest,"
to all interested in the question.
DR.. Thompson took for his text last night Matthe"
XVI, 3: "le discern the face of the SKY can
ye not discern the signs of the tines lie sau 4"
part:
This statement and question are especially az
prOprate nOw The Pharsccs and Sadducees Waltz
a sign from Heaven Chri,t SAID to them me! W." 40
expert enough about weather signs lhey sd" f,iT
sky red in the eve, and they said, II VIII Oc .h ar
weather; red and lowering in the morninE anu anu, and
said foul weather There other signs as ral a,
reliable and easily read. why could they nov DOL
and understand the religious signs OF ue , d't they
The prophetic sky full Of signs Why colh .uv
not understand them! In these days OF ri ~
science Chssts words are very appropraieeee about
the weather is a great science by CERTAIN d -,
on the barometer and Thermometer and by ue S wc
lightning reports across the breadth Of continent md
can map out current and diagram the clonas n,
forecast the weather for days ahead Ihe sioatbcr
of our confidence certain signs gathered for
tokens across the continent not the mere fact rnis
experience has taught us that such ana suCm Sasis
are followed by such and such changes The piI ~
Of our confidence is the knowledge that no par, vi
nature Is tul 10 escape the coh.roi vi h,t
Il had Us force and direction determined by the shape
OF the continent and the laws OF heat anu - cIence
ton We beginning to understand theT ere Is almanac
arc supplaned by the meteorological reports OF the
farmer plants And fast our induction Of nnce
becomes broad and comprehensive Will our s sC he
come Old Certainly Now II there can be science 10 ~
the clouds and the winds. there may snISS a,ses Is
one OF thought II the sequence of natural caag' N
of so orderly character to give us cOuIaeU an
predict the drift OF tomorrows storms or 10 rroTy
out over a continent O-morrows hight OF tne that
winds surely there IS law OF facts and truths t""'
ere the marshals of events quite rs certain
PROGRESS CONDITION OF LIFE
There are some conservative people whom the s'a'e
mcnt of such a subject will startle For progress -
theology is proposition that has been stoutV uoI'or
and In some quarters is still resisted But We in''
well face the fact that progress in anything Is ,no
condition of life Growth and life are scen'hodny
SYNONYMOUS And if our theory does not grow " Wi,i
necessarily follow that It has no me; dn1 IRON,
10 the phrase progress IN theology comes Ven we are
msconcepon or a confusion of IDEAS Ihu, "" ,rnib
told the Bible gives us revelation OF Hte mans
Gods truth is not an experiment hAo .o m
1t is an announcement sn Iobp saws
cursed is he that adds to that book Ihcrc9T i
inferred that theology must likewise be COLI p
SCIENCE since IT. has no NEW aT Cavn and tho
living theoogsns all have the same book from VIII"
there are Just two divine books the book OF the
Bible and the book of nature and one a. to pt IS
the other. science needs 10 be nnnDe e io thought
Is II not equally true Of the Bible Is moi ta at
an infinite revelation. in which are Pms Nm NAV
reasonably exTcci 10 learn more I'm the future 49, cal
The facts Of the Bible are chanselesS; nt inc facts sy
ence of theology, which puts those la sc -
cnce. is constantly changing thing: men sed
philosophy and have demanded that they should Keep
pace with the new lights on the HORIZON Du. IncS
be improved The result IS our religion has had to
carry loads which God never designed IT should c5iaG
and met criticisms TOO sharp 10 BIO easily rcpellc,d'
What is theology? 1t is called a sacred science
II Is 80 in the that II deals with sacre1 ihrrS'
Bnt il is human-aS astronomy and geology and chem
L.. ara /. a human statement
inst as natural science is human statement OF
natural facts and Is therefore just as liable 90 error
venture 10 say there some reasons why u u
specially liable 10 error II enlsts the emouons
and passions Of our higher nature and these some
outlook Of truth The man Who WORKS . an ex zr
scientific man, he approaches nature with no theory,
and he has no personal interest At stake.
Logan working in problems into which faith and
hopes enter He works in an atmosphere which hope
has colorcd, or doubt has overcast
RELIGION CANNOT BE sTEREoTYPED.
He then. Of all men, should own his liability to
error, and be willing to correct every observation by
fresh reference of IT to the standard of the Bible
and the Christian consciousness. lie, least of ali.
should claim fnaly for his science The heavens are
final. and astronomy must square with them.
The Bible IS final, and theology must square with
that And swift willingness 10 submit every theo-
logical statement again and again 10 the Christians
ultimate standard Is the first condition of true theo-
logical spirit Let us accept the fact that we can no
natural science. II we are asked Is nothing then
settled! Must VIC always be I'm debste7" | answer.
In our judgment many things may be settled. We
may never have debate with ourselves about them
But II they are called in question we must always
the arbitration of Gods word. Nothing is 50 fatal 10
the progress Of any science claim that is
and must not he opened again We arc poor, crrng
and debating until VIC things in Heavens dry light
think' therefore, 1t Is absurd 10 believe main
tain that any known statement Of truth can hold
Us own century after century without cmenda-
any statement is Apologize tRa is intended 10 resist
the attacks If error. And that for the very plain
reason mat the an aclung front is constantly chang
Ing. What would be thought Of a general conducting
an active campaign against alert and powerful
enemy. who should build . font point the guns in a
given direction and LET them stay 50! Would not
The enemy Hank his position and sail him the
guarded point Fort tactic, do well enough if you
are only STRIVING 10 hold the fort but II your cr Is
aggressive a. ours was during the civil war II YOU
want to subdue the enemy then IS folly TO dig en-
uenchments Now II it is the aim OF The Church inst
70 hold some fort Of orthodoxy then lei her cntrcnch
behind some Ntercotypcd form Of words her get I'm
some bomb proof confessional fort and stav there
iet her hold herself TO the conservatism Of sticking
o,, lei her be satisfied with merely logical de-
Bur If her aim is more daring If she remembers
hef commission II she j. 10 go into all the world IL
SnG Is 10 bc campaigning Church. If her ideal *
hostile standards and bring ali people 10 Acknowledge
the sovereignty OF the tru;h as il is in Jesus. then
resisting front Of the enemy
=, AIolosetc theology can't he stcrcotypel And as
constantly changing lines an our tbcoIorv Is anoI3
gelc. You can hardly make theological statement
'hdt VIII mol have gun In front OF II 10 assa H.
THEOLOGY IS APOLOGETIC.
You cannot affirm the being of God but a score of
phhoSophc and scientific sappcrs and miners are ready
TO try TO undermine II. You can't affirm Heaven but
straight the materiatc spirit of the age rises against
H. Nor hell but the rational!sic or sentimental
sprIt OIL the age rises against II. SO by the activity
OF the enemy theology is always Apologize that is
II IS not serene statement. 10 be serencIy and per
Pe.uaN accepted, but II j challenge be resisted
hot mathematical statement, made as i'm school II
IS can n the midst OF battle. And If
ihere ue sun some thcOlOgians who. forgetting the
intent Of the saviour, commission uni, ~ tbn truth
Only as something 10 be protected and taken rarr Of
VINO conscious OF III" mprenajly Of thcir theo glcal
ioHiesS, ana mOcklng al all attempts IA batter down
rs iogcay bullt bastGns. simply III down 10 hold
thH lor' am Iei the dying world look out for Itself
HdFc - say mat process end In starvation.
lou cant raise grain In fort 10 nOurish the
defending army. The fortress that can't be stO1nrd