The sun., 1891-05-25

He Stands Upon tho Nicene Greed as th<
Solo Test OF Orthodoxy.


Sole Test OF Orthodoxy.
The Rev. Heber Newton stated his views on
creeds and confessions in his sermon at All
Souls Church yesterday morning. The Thirty
nine Articles Of Faith and the Westminster
Confession he condemned. and he said that II
the Nicepe Creed were accepted in place OF
them it would settle all the difficulties that are
disturbing the Church. This simple distinc-
tion." he said, would clear the whole atmos-
phere to-day. Nothing is to be demanded OF q
clergyman In our Church save loyalty to the
Great catholic crceds Orthodoxy Is to be
tested by no other standard than those found
in the creeds. The thought OF laymen need
not concern itself with any doctrine not en-.
bodied in those creeds. What vast emancipa.
tor tho recognition OF this catholic truth
would work among us!'
Concerning the Bible. he said that We must
believe i nothing beyond that simple declara-
ton of the Nicene Creed-'Who spake by the
prophets?' That is the sum and substance of
the Church's official declaration on the ques-
tion OF inspiration. You may hold to the plen-
ary Inspiration of tho Scriptures and believe
may hold that lnrge and reasonable view
which Is spreading through our Church so rup-
iSy With equal loyalty to one only authority
The Church. Mr.. Newton said; bids us belieye
nothing concerning TIE creation ZION beyond the
Almighty. Maker OF heaven and earth" and
We are equally iree 70 take tho story q Gene
s 9s s MI snS tie ss.as
"be they Ira" or false. be they sound or un-
sound. have no part in our great creed. They
he outside the reuim OF essen tial Christian be.
Concerning future punishment and tie
the Of hs M
III; jadss DO both tSs asiat sad Il, tIs asaa, aa5i
Creed. The resurrection Of the body Is then
f. IL 81 II Eesns tho clsoa cssS ne
rection Of the body snot anil rm cd and Is MOTTO
immortality and 10 tho bodily ciothlns, ia ANY
sort. Of the dead who rise ipto the larser lie.
eral soIse OF the body laid away In the grave
Il Il u 4h So helps helps you HHu pfo iree to
God &c, and immortaLity and Tho Church,s belief
gin Mary, His crucillxion under Pontius Plate.
His ascension unto heaven. His cnthrohement
and ar Ia ssf
E,,S 81 tEo one G1h9e and A1Ds!olS Church
which these sprituai truths and slis @ Central ut
historic fact Of Jesus. tho Christ OF God is cast
thought Of ,hn ukurch fhrough Tho c.ntSros nsSs.
These doctrines are, first. tho trinity. End Sec
ond. the incarnation"
=, Mr. Newton had to say OF the doctrine OF the
Trinity that 1t was ordinarily assumed to be
the most irrational of dogmas the most mar
rowing form Of faith. BY u majority Of the
Church the doctrine OF the Trinity is n dogma
which tS not even imagined to be understood
or intelliReutly rehended: which Is not
even professod to be understandable. but which
ts placed above and beyond ell human thought
as a mystery. The doctrine OF the Trinity IS .
pasy a Sf%1s g. bs
the relation OF the Divine Beins to creation.
which again. is a mystery OF the nature OF the
The incarnation," he continued. lis a
spiritual truth philosophically stated. God is
In all lilo. He Is in all lie In proportion 10 the
place OF any lie In the scale OF being. He Is In
man as man tB the crown and consum nation
OF nature. He Is uniquely In Christ, a. Christ
10 unique man. new order OF creation. the
nature In. which God Is to be enshrined.
jesus Christ is, therefore. q man filled with
the indwelling God. God manifest In the flesh
Such unique man. stch a new creation.
such an Incoming OF the .piritual man. nan. mpst
order Of growth oi evolution; through which
tho truth which tho Church has shrined in her
doctrine OF the virgin birth. This truth. which
the, spiritual instinct oi man has recognized
and felt with or without any metaphysical In.
terpretation. has been philosophically stated
by tho CHURCH in terms drawn from the doc
In conclusion Mr. Newton said In part;
:" Our great creed is tho reconciliation OF
Christianity with ITSELF Christendom is torn