Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-03

II
nal does not run away with the spiritual.
80 long as We are fallible and liable TO err
In Judgment, so long error may appear in
lie, and such error as may lead TO fatal
results. In all we do, "wisdom is profit
able TO direct" A person protesting holi-
ness should keep as far away from visions
and revelations and mere impressions sup
posed to come from the Spirit as possible,
and follow the plain Word of God. There
| Is peril at every point, bat the Woro of
God Is lamp to our feet and a light to
our path. .'-ChristiGn HitaeSs.
Is there not degree of godlessness in
transferring moral qualities from the
human will to the outward objects with
which, or to the laws under which we act
Here, for example, is man who has per-
suaded himself that there is something
evil, and even devilish, in ordinary wine
NOT in the abuse of it, but in the fluid
itself. Even granting that the physical
character OF the wine of the Bible is an
open question, the use of it which our
Lord commanded requires so small a guam
tlty, and is so subordinated to the inward
significance, that it is perversion of his
command to lay more stress upon the out
ward part :han may be required to obtain
pure wine of the most natural and conven-
lent vintage.-Stdadard of the Cross.
Either doctrine of the inspiration of
the Scriptures making them a final au-
thority, or doctrine Of ''the inspiration
OF the primitive Christian Church" must
be asserted to secure a basis of dogmatic
belief The fundamental distinction be-
tween Romanism and Professionalism is not
justification by faith, but the answer to the
question whether the Scriptures alone or
the tradition in the Church and the
Scriptures are the final authority for be-
lief. In proportion as belief in the inspi-
ration of the Scriptures is weakened, we
find that serious minded men, in search
of an authoritative basis for dogmatic
belief, are betaking themselves to belief
in the inspiration of the Church as an or
ganization-a position that is but step
removed from Rome.-The Vdtchmaa.
Theory has played conspicuous part in
science, philosophy, and religion. II has
stimulated to research, discovery, and re-
adjustment of established conclusions; and
when not urged as a substitute for facts or
final truths it has guided the thinker to
results, either negative or positive, that
were OF value in the settlement of contro-
versial questions and obscure teachings
The scientist is getting weary with work.
ing hypothesis, he wants facts. Philoso-
ply likewise has passed through variety
of theoretic changes, and is still speculat-
ing on the problems of matter, life and
mind, with some expectation that it will
finally reach conclusion. Idealism is as
much theory as materialism; one is the
natural reaction from the other; both are
doomed to a deserved oblivion. While
the theorist is at home in science and phi
losophy he is equally familiar figure in
the sphere of religion. He stalks abroad
with notions, explanations, and announce
ments concerning every truth and doctrine
propounded in theology or the HOLY
Scriptures, and is never at loss to ac-
count for everything IN antiquity or to ex-
plain the darkest problem of human his
tory. He is useful because there are some
things that can have only a theoretic ex-
PLANTATION, as the mode of creation. the
nature of atonement, and the physical
aspect OF the resurrection Never
theless theology has lost caste be-
cause 1t has employed specua-
tive arts on Biblical truths. The crit
ical mind is now disposed to reject some of
the truths of revelation because they are
proposed as theories, or are explained only
in hypothetical way. The intelligent
man demands truth, not speculation; he
seeks facts, not sentiments. The Bible
should satisfy him, for it is not book of
theories. Its writers are not spectators in
the field of inquiry and, singuiarly, there
is not one theory in the book offered in
calculation of problem The theoretic
spirit is strong in Eliphaz Bildad and
Zophar, who, in contending with Job, hold
that calamity is proof of sin; but the
book does not teach that doctrine. There
is no theory of creation in the Bible; no
theory of evil; no theory of inspiration;
no theory of prophecy; no theory of in
carnatlon no theory of atouement; no
theory of resurrection; no theory of the
future life. The Biblical teaching on
these subjects is in the form of revelation
of truth, and in no instance in the form of
a theory. The Bible writers were truth
tellers, and the truths they taught should
be retaught as truths. Exegetes, theologi-
ans and critics, analyze, theorize, modify.
and agree or disagree; but the book is a
book of truth, and the Spirit that inspired
It will guide the disciple into truth
ReOielU for .j1liv