The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-23
THE OHURCH AND HER FOES.

Biblical Criticism the Enemy Most Dreaded
Destructive Wholesale Vandalism,
From ne sz#OH QfDr, RObEsi, 1odtnatOr, Before
PrtibNEiaR GeRaul AHaRbly.
There is no ground to fear that pos
tive science will ever undermine the
eternal principals Of the word Of God,
AS yet she has not discovered in the
tombs Of Egypt, among the ruins OF
Assyria, in the chemical laboratory, or
on the faded psrChmsnts OF antiquity,
q fact, q law, or an established principle
subyersiYe OF q single doctrine OF Scrip
ture, Alleged contradictions have been
paFaded by would.be scientists, but sub
sequent and more thorough inVesti-
gallons have shown them to be ground
less, Seeming conflicts between science
and religion will probably continue yet
for many years, The former is young,
and like most youths, II has more daring
than wisdom, more impulse than ex-
perience, and Is generally wanting, in
this country at least, In the reverence
which Is produced by multitude OF
years,
The Church, on the other hand, Is as
old as the race, and can well afford to
deal gently with the young man Science
and set before him an example OF kind
ness and Christian iorbearance, She
can afford to wait until his blood has
grown o little cooler, his judgment o
little clearer, and his heart little more
imbued with respect for authority,
When that day shall have arrived SCI
enCe and religion will appear as two
sides Of one great revelation, perfectly
agreeing with each other on ali points
they have in common, The day is not
distant when new discovery in the
heavens, or on the earth, will no more
be expected TO contradict the doctrines
OF Scripture than the finding Of a new
planet will be expected to do away with
our need OF the sun. When a great dis
coYery In astronomy Is announced no
journal in this or any other land dares
to intimate that II will enable US to dis
pense with the sun. Butwhen very un-
Important discoveries Of bones imbed.
ded in the earth, Of footprints In some Of
the geological strata, or Of ancient man
uscripts In old converts or monasteries,
are made, respectable newspapers and
scientific journals tell us that they will
render the Bible untrue, and therefore
useless.
The enemy which the church most
breads in these days Is Biblical criticism.
Many are afraid that 1t will ere long lop
off some Of the living branches OF the
tree OF life. The pruning.hook, beyond
doubt, Is handled by many who have no
regard for the tree. There Is no objec.
ton TO their tearing away any parasites
that absorb It's juices or hide It's beauty,
As Creepers grow all around an ancient
tree, encircle the trunk, cucumber the
boughs and weave themselves among
the branches, 30 q few unauthorized
human additions and mistakes Of tran.
scription have found their way into the
sacred Canon. For the removal OF such
we can afford to welcome modern crit.
cism. Nothing worth possessing will be
removed-a few words, or hali-dozen
verses at most. The New Testament has
come out OF the fiery furnace OF revision
without as much as the smell OF fire
upon Its garments.
We should, however, resent to the ut
most OF our ability the reckless haggllng
Of the Word by such penknives as those
Of Jehoiakim. The process that would
set aside whole chapters, or even entire
books, because they SAVIOR OF the super
natural and miraculous is to be arrested,
This wholesale vandalism is destructive
Of that which alone can afford comfort
and consolation to us in view Of death
and eternity.