The record-union., 1891-05-10

1a!Se so lar as 1t relates TO the power OF
the human reason. 1t may assure us of
God and our need of Him, but there its
power ends. This is natural, not re-
vealed religion. 1t provides a witness for
God, and doubtless may prepare an earn
est soul to embrace Him. but it does not
reveal God and His salvation; that is
something which no act of mans reason
can attain. The soul stands ready, but
knowledge and grace come from without,
through divine and supernatural reve-
lation. In this part of DIR. Briggs essay
we find traces of that fatal tendency,
which at present meets us on every hand,
the tendency to confound natural and re-
vealed religion, by reducing the latter to
the terms of the former"
The Churchn,on says: "It will be no
easy matter for DR.. Briggs opponents, if
we may call them so, to show that the
views expressed in his inaugural address
are really contrary to the confession of
faith That venerable document does
indeed declare that Holy Scripture is the
Word of God.' Elsewhere, however, it
admits an important qualification by say
Ing that Holy Scripture is the Word of
God written and the Assembly's Cate
chism, formula of equal authority with
the Confession of Faith, modifies both of
these statements by speaking of the
Word of God, which is contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Tesla
ments.' Unless these different express
sions are to be regarded as contradictions
of each other, which is out of the ques-
ton, they must be so construed as to IL
lustrate and complete each other; and if
they are so construed, it will be difficult
TO prove that a Presbyterian clergyman
has offended against the teaching and
spirit of the Confession of Faith so long
as his views can be shown to be consist
IL, al
God written which is contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ments.' That DR.. Briggs does sincerely
hold the Bible to be the Word of God in
that sense we imagine that he himself
would vehemently maintain, and we re-
peat that it will be difficult to prove that
any deliverance of his is inconsistent
with that belief. If the result of the
present investigation shall be to show
how much more catholic the Confession
OF Faith is on the question of the Scrip
lures than some of its adherents have
imagined, that result will be of great
value to the Christian world, and not
only to the PreSbyterians, since it will
remove one more artificial barrier to
Christian unity by the pulling down of
an uncatholic cause of separation"
The Presbyterian Banner saws: "NIen
in high stations of the church sometimes
forget themselves and say what had bet
ter been unsaid. Professor Prentiss, of
mon Theological Seminary, character
lied the action taken by four Presby-
teries concerning DIR. Briggs as 'imperti-
nent.' The Rev. DR.. Schaff, of the same
institution, gave his view of what those
Presbyteries had done by repeating the
well-worn saw, Il know man who made
fortune by attending to his own busi-
ness In plain language DR.. Prentiss
or lnsA -f1,-s
III expressing their disapprobation of DR.,
Briggs inaugural address, and DIR. Schaff
said that address was none of their bust
ness Theological Professors have no
right to speak thus of the proceedings of
Presbyteries. The smallest Presbytery
IN the church has a right TO give its
opinion Of any theological Professor or of
any theological seminary. But what
must these Professors think now when
the names of Presbyteries calling upon
the General Assembly to institu te inquiry
as to the character of DR.. Briggs address
are falling in showers around them?"
The Christian Leader Univ.) saws:
Somebody who prefers to be known as
'Sixtus' rather than by his own cogno-
men, has published pamphlet Review
of Professor Briggs Address, The
author leaves the reader in doubt whether
he is Presbyterian or member of some
sister church. That he does not like
the position of Professor Briggs on the
subject of the higher criticism he leaves
in no doubt. 1t seems to us, however.
that different tone were better calcu-
lated to convince, and a different treat
ment TO enlighten. Professor Briggs is
somewhat sensational; he is fond of Start
ling statements; he trusts more to intui-
ton than to judgment or fact. He is,
therefore, theorist whose statements are
often open to attack. 'Sixtus' has no
difficulty in showing that Professor
Briggs Is not always careful in making
statements. But he fails to show that the
Professor Is in error in any essential mat
ter relating to biblical history and criti-
cism. He fails to fasten on him anv
greater sin than divergence from the view
usually held in Presbyterian circles
Either more strength, or a sweeter spirit,
or both, should be employed by those who
hope TO make effectual opposition to this
invasion"
The Examiner (Bapt.l SAYS: "Some of
our brethren, Baptists and others, are in
clined just now to do rather less than
justice to the Episcopal Church and it's
ministers. Baptists, of all Christians.
have no call to reproach another body for
consistency with its professed principles.
Have we not suffered enough unjust re-
proof for our 'exclusiveness' and 'bigotrv'
munion' TO be chary of hurting like epi-
thetS at other Christians? While we
differ from Eplscopalians on the ques-
tlon, we have no cause of complaint
against them because they read the New
Testament otherwise than we, and are
faithful TO their understanding of it. Nor
should we complain if they have the
courage Of their convictions, and follow
them out to their logical consequences.
"One OF these consequences is that no
one is properly ordained unless he has
been set apart by the laying on of hands
by q Bishop. If then, an Fpis-
copal clergyman invites ministers of
other Christian bodies to preach or lecture
in his pulpit, he invites them as Iaylnen
only. He can no more invite as minis
ters those whom he believes to be unor-
dained than Baptist pastor can invite to
the Lords table those whom he believes
TO be unbaptized. 1t is not a question Of
courtesy in either case but of fidelity TO
conviction, loyalty TO denominationaI
principle. In neither case is there cause
tor reprOach or callir. Of names. 1t is no
more illiberal or dfscourteous for an
Episcopal minister to say to a Baptist, Il
do not regard you as an ordained minis
ter, but as q layman,' than it would be
diScourteOus or illiberal for the Baptist to
reply, L do not regard you as baptized
Christian Both maintain their pro-
fessed principles, and in so far both are to
be equally commended.
I'VE have not touched the question
whether it is dignided or relf-respecting
for Baptist ministers to accept invitations
to speak as laymen in Episcopalian pull
pits. To our thinking that is not ques-
ton that needs discussion. Only one an
swer is possible"
The Christian Inquirer (Bapt.) says:
Everything of an abnormal character is
sought after or gravitates to New York.
1t is, therefore, no wonder that the Rev.
Howard MacQueary, who was lately sus-
pended from the Episcopal ministry in
Ohio, for his alterations from the re-