The Portland daily press., 1889-09-30
Another paper says :
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Sermon by Rev. Henry Blanchard.

The Rev. Henry blancnaru, pastor OF
Congress Sqnare Universalist church.
preached a sermon yesterday morning to a
very large congregation on "How can one
accept some parts of the New Testament and
reject others?" The text was taken from
the fifth chap. Of /. Thesalonians. "Prove
all things; hold fast that which Is good"
These words appeal to mans reason. They
are fitting text to a sermon whose motive
is to urge to clear and earnest thinking. The
question contained in the subject Of the SER
mon is one often heard. The speaker was
often surprised when it came from certain
persons. This is simple and reasonable
and satisfying answer. He priced the New
Testament so highly; its study can bring so
much peace and joy that he would help
gladly to make all men know it, love it, use
1t. "This little book" said Ewald to Stan
ley, contains all the wisdom Of the world"
The sermon then, was conservative. con-
structive. He would build up his people
and his hearers in knowledge and faith.
To the question, How can we accept some
parts Of the New Testament and reject 9th
ers?" the answer is-a common sense, earn
est study Of the origin Of the New Testament
show that IL Is reasonable to accept some
parts and equally reasonable TO reject other
parts. To make this evident, he would give
brief outline Of this history. His declara-
tl0ns would be the expression OF consensus
OF opinion of scholars, orthodox as well
as liberal. He would formulate seven
propositions so as to help the memory OF his
hearers:
1.-The Canon of the New Testament was
established by the two councils OF Carthage
in 397 and 419.
Canon means rule. Cononical Scriptures
are those which are adjudged TO be the au-
thoritative rule for faiLhsand conduct OF the
Christian church. Men should consider
what this late date means. 1t was the end
been dead over 800 years. The canon was es-
tablished by votes of fallible and oftentimes
ignorant men. A great writer has said. DR..
Wescott, that the canon was formed by In
stinct and not by argument.
u.-ThiS decision was made because
there were fierce debates In the church con-
cerning what writings should be made can
onical. jerome, 0rigen, Eusebius objected
to certain books regarded by the council Of
Carthage as canonical. Hebrews, I'd Peter.
I'd and Sd John and Revelations were all op-
posed as not being worthy to belong to the
canon. If we could have listened to all the
words uttered then we should have found
fierce condemnation Of the various opinions.
The opponents were good men, but good
men, who think they alone have the truth,
are often very ferocious against those who
they think are in error Just as scientists
denounce each other today so theologlans
denounced each other then. But the leaders
felt that there must be agreement. that the
people must be taught to accept only certain
books and put away all others. So the cOun-
ell of Carthage met and made decision.
III.-Previous to this settling upon the
present list Of books in the New Testament,
as we have 1t now. Other and different lists
were made by conspicuous leaders individu-
ally.
Thus Augustine made a list and the coun-
Gil OF Carthage gave earnest heed to his
words. Other bishops before him made
their own for use In their own dioceses.
another very often.
IV.-The four canonical Gospels were Sc
lected from many others.
Origen said: "And that not four gospels,
but very many were written, out Of which
these we have were selected and delivered to
the churches, we may proceiye." Other great
churchmen spoke Of the existence of other
gospels.
There was the Gospel Of Paul. There was
the Gospel Of Peter; But now both have
phal still exist. Gradually our four-Mat-
thew, Mark, Luke and John gained preemi-
nence. In the fifth century, a superinten-
dent OF churches named Theodore found
more than two hundred books received with
respect. He caused these to be put aside
and introduced in their place the Gospels Of
the four Eyangelis.s.
V.-Previous to the year It's, we can find
no evidence that our four Gospels were held
as preeminent. We read Of the Gospel, OF
accounts of Jesus and his Apostles, but
Justin Martyr and others of equal eminence
do not write of our canonical Gospels.
Our Tour gospels give US much needed in
formation II we will carefully study them.
Net one tells us who wrote 1t. John
m y fnr. ht.k 4.
inferentially designated. Even those who
named them called them according to
Matthew, Mark, Luke and did not say they
were written by these. They meant only by
these designations that the contents of the
Gospels could be traced back to Matthew
and the rest.
Luke tells us expressly in his opening that
many other accounts Of Jesus had been
written. The key to the Interpretation of
the New Testament is the plain indication
that Jesus return from Heaven was expect
ed In the life time. OF the first disciples.
These did not care for writings. They val
ned chiefly the spoken accounts Of Jesus.
The august witness OF Christ is the church
and not the gospels. The church gave birth
to:the gospels. II these had peTished, we
could reconstruct the main contents from
other writings Of the church,
The upshot, then, Of the whole argument
Is this,-our gospels. when we first get them,
have passed through half century or more
OF oral tradition, and through more than one
written account.
Considering all these facts, we may say it
Is reasonable to accept some parts of the
New Testament, and equally reasonable to
reject others. In conclusion, Mr.. Blanchard
gave Illustrations OF what one may reason
ably reject and what may be firmly believed.
emphasizing the fact that historical docu-
ments must reflect the ideas of their times.
lie pleads for study of these wondrous doc
uments. Davidson, Wescott, Reuss, would
give ample Information to all who will study
thoroughly. He asked men to consider that
despite the natural desire for certainty, some
things must be left uncertain. He besought
his hearers to read those parts which give
peace and joy, especially the words of Jesus.
Greater study would bring greater joy. 1t
would show that we may reject parts and
yet accept others. Men, knowing fully
these writings, would thank God that. in
their epistles, they become acquainted with
great Paul. and that In the gospels they can
see the majestic Christ
First Parish Church.
Rev. Narcisse Cyr, the agent of the French
Liberal Society delivered an interesting ad-
dress at the First Parish church on the
Work and Needs of the French Protes-
tants." He said that the words of Scripture
Cast down but not destroyed" applied per-
fectly to the condition of the French Protes-
tants;; They have experienced singular ups
and downs, being alternately tolerated and
hunted up and down the land by soldiery
until Bonaparte in 1902 gave them the foun-
dation of freedom.
The revocation OF the Edict of Nantes
gave official sanction to the work Of persecu
tion and churches were destroyed and people
massacred without mercy. Still, In spite Of
persecution the Protestants continued to
meet and to flourish. Napoleon's federation
was the basis of prosperity and at the pres
eht time tnere are over 700 Protestant
churches in the land, divided into 73 Luther-
an, 100 Free, 103 Presbyterian, 1872 Liberal
and the balance the old Huguenot churches
that have been modernized. When Napol-
con freed the Protestants churches he ne