The record-union., 1891-02-22
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions from the Various
Religious Newspapers.

Expressed In the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
OF Professor Briggs inaugural address
the Examiner (Bapt.) says: "a question OF
no little interest raised by this inaugural
IS this: Win the Presbyterian Church
hear this bold challenge of it's cherished
doctrines, uttered from the chair of its
most famous seminary, and decline to ac-
cept lt? Never was the gauntlet thrown
with more audacity and assurance. What
ever may be the true Interpretation of the
Bible and of the Westminster Confession,
this at least is fact, the Presbyterian
Church of the United States interprets
both i'm very different way from Profess
Sor Briggs. Perhaps they are in error; per-
herhaps he will bring the whole church
to his way of thinking. If not will he be
permitted TO teach his views without pro-
test or hindrance? 1t is no concern of
Baptists, yet we cannot help taking GER
tain interest in these questions and their
probable answers
The Presbyterian Banner says: "Ac-
cording to DR.. Briggs, the divine author
ity OF the Bible is not in the style or in
the words but in the concept that is in
the meaning we may choose TO give to the
words of the Bible, thus making reason
the arbiter as to what is OF divine author
lty. The boldest rationalism can ask no
more; intidelity can demand no more.
This address will gladden. every infidel
in the land, while it will make sad the
hearts of the great mass of Christian men
and women.''
The C0ngyegdtiondtist says: "It would
seem, after all, that DR.. Briggs regards
with little reverence the reason and the
Christian consciousness, SO far as his
views are in opposition to their historic
expression. The language he uses is cal
culated to lfrltate rather than to win
those who disagree with him. He plainly
lntimates contempt for his opponents,
even when they represent widely concur
rent beliefs OF the Church. The theory
that there We're not errors in the original
text OF the Bible he says is "a ghost of
modern Evangelicalism to frighten chill
dren.' The belief in "a judgment imme-
dlately after death he calls a 'bugbear.'
The, limitation of redemption TO the world
is fault of Protestant theology He
declares that if the holy men of the Bible
lived among us and did such thinps now
as they did then, we would not receive
them into our families; yet he does not
think the Christian Church now pre-
sents any better history than did the peo-
pie of Israel in the olden time. The
method Of stating belief of which these
are illustrations, does not carry with it
conviction nor promote spirituality
The Observer (Pres.) says: .'It is his
abandonment of the Protestant positions
in respect to the infallibility of the Scrip
tttYn tt,n ~ 49,
regard to themselves, and many conse-
quential points, which has made DR..
Briggs an exception among teachers in
Presbyterian theological seminarieS. His
hospitable consideration of what is called
higher criticism has naturally excited
much astonishment among all who are
interested in religious thought, for the
greater and most conspicuous part of this
criticism has been VIGOROUSLY destruc-
tive, not only of all faith in the Bible as
the Work of God, but also of any respect
for its origin or authors"
The Watchmdn (Bapt.) says: ''In fact.
IN the Professors view, we have no veri-
table Inspiration at all. 1t is what he is
pleased to call concept instead, what
ever concept may mean. One thing
would seem quite obvious: that with such
professorships of Biblical Theology as
the one here indicated, the time cannot
be far distant, if these professorships are
to be worked after the ideal and the fash
ion of Professor Briggs, when they will
be both misnamed and misleading and
mischievous to the last degree. 'Destruc-
tive Theology would be a more fitting
name for such u professorship."
The Standard (Bapt.) says; ''We are of
those who hold in high estimation the
work of those students of the Bible who
n tA
this wonderful literature, and who
esteem 1t the worthy occupation of life
time to ascertain more fully its character,
and commend it more to the confidence
of enlightened men. Yet it is for them of
infinite moment that in handling such a
treasure as this they do not in any way
impeach its value or destroy that verv
appreciation of it which they so much
wish to promote. When the Bible ceases
to be to human apprehension in true
sense revealed message of God to man,
1t IS no longer that unSpeakable blessing
which the generations past have found in
1t. Nor is it possible to anticipate at
what point what is meant as work of
mere criticism may undermine founda-
ton stone, unsettle faith, and endanger
souls. We know of no man whose work
is done under conditions calling so inn
peratlvely for caution, for deliberation,
for guidance of that Spirit by whom the
Bible has been given, as that of the Bibli-
cal critic in the forms and methods now
so eagerly pursued.
''These are among the things which we
should like to say in the ear of those.
whether in the professors chair, in the
pulpit, or wherever else, who in the wears
which so many of us older men are never
to see, are to be the active men in the
busy and momentous scenes of the CEN
tury soon to begin"
The Churchnan says: 'sThe address of
DR.. Briggs was well worthy of the occa-
sion. 1t was a manly announcement of
the fundamental principles which are to
underlie his future instructions in that
chair. In matters of confessedly supreme
Importance, DR.. Briggs represents old
fashioned Presbyterianism good deal
more faithfully than many of the younger
generation, who seem to have almost for
gotten their spiritual lineage. He is not
afraid nor ashamed to declare his belief
in the church as a fountain of divine
authority; nor is he restrained by false
notions of inspiration from admitting the
necessity of a right use of reason in con-
sldering and Interpreting the Holy
Scriptures. In both of these respects DIR.
Briggs is simply faithful to the oldest and
best traditions of Scotch and English
Presbyterianism, which never belittled
the church to the pattern of a voluntary
society, and never for moment set up
the false god of ignorant photography"
The Christian I1,telligencer (Reformed)
says: "And all these cruelties are parad-
ed as removing the barriers men have
constructed around the Bible, and fur
nishing new life and new doctrine and
morals for the Church of God. DIR.
Briggs is not the first man who has
claimed to have made a wonderful adj
vance upon his contemporaries, while he
simply revamped old errors and added