The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-26

vine authority 90 in the face os history
and the creeds of the church.
One--The whole intent OF my discourse
was 10 exalt the authority OF Holy scrip
ture by showing that lSs essential con,eIls
appear in the discipline OF olbiicai theo.-
o9y. evince divine authority l en-
dsaFored to remove the obstacles 70 divine
authority set M by some d0gmaticians OF
modern times In order 20 get &C the real
divine authority lodged IN the teaching
OF the Scripture, that might show that
Holy Scripture - indeed the ihiainoie rue
of faith and practice.
Second-That the church Is source OF
divine authority IS taught by ali the or
ranized churches of Christendom-
Dr.. Briggs Quotes as length from the
confession of faith 10 establish this view of
the church the following chapters and sec
tons: Chapter =, sections 2-3i chapter q,
section 8. chapter 3, section z, and chap
ter So sections IL Then he adds:
No one who supscribes sincerely to the
Westminster confession can deny divine
authority in the church.
ThirdZThere are many who hesitate to
admit that the reason IS a source of divine
authority.
Surely no one can deny this without
cutting At the roots of ali religion, and at
the same time coming in conflict with the
Westminster confession OF faith.
Unless conscience speaks with divine
authority where is your basis for morality
Without the religious feeling, the organ
of vital union with God, religion itself IS
impossible in any form.
Unless Gods authority is discerned in
the forms of reason there is no ground
upon which any of the heather could ever
have been saved, for they know nothing
OF Bible or church.
Unless God speaks with AUTHORITY in
the forms Of the reason. no other mode of
revelation was ever possible than that of
an external and mechanical kind.
Unless Gods authority is N the forms
of the reason, how can We give any reason
able explanation of the Calvanistic doctrine
Of effectual calling?
Unless Gods authority works in the
forms OF the reason We cannot explain "the
inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing
witness by and with the word in our
hearts," confession OF faith or the testi-
mony of the spirit Of adoption, Witnessing
with our spirits that We are the children
Of God" confession of faith)
1t is q neglect of the doctrines of the
work of the Holy Spirit. of the present.
reigning Christ and of the imminence of
God by many of the Presbyterian ministry
that binds them to the higher doctrines of
their own confession of faith. and prevents
them from rising TO the grand ideals of our
religion.
have mentioned six barriers of the d.
vine authority in Holy Scripture erected by
some dogmatic theologians for the defence
of the Bible. which, instead of warding off
the enemy really kept the multitudes away
from the word of God.
These six things are NOT taught in the
Scr1ptures-they are not found In the
Westminster confession OF faith-thev are
simply the speculative definition of some
dogmaticians.
To claim them as tests of orthodoxy is
to insult the intelligence of historical and
Biblical scholars SO far as these barriers
are concerned, / take no other position in
the address than that over and over again
| In my writing. | simply sum mp briefly
what have said fully elsewhere.
The first barrier named is superstition.
/ cannot understand how any intelligent
person should object to my carefully bal
anced statements on this subject. / refer
| to well-known facts.
yield to no one in reverence for the
| Bible. Ny life is devoted TO the study of
/ the Bible. Every word, every syllable, every
/ letter receives reverent and careful hand
ling. But reverence is the stoutest foe TO
superstition. Bibliolatry is well-known
| vice of Professionalism.
As to authenticity. the modern dogmatic
| speculation that one must accept certain
| persons as the authors of the biblical
| books or be destitute of evidence of their
Inspiration mas no support III scripture or
creed. What | stated in the address was
uttered doubtless in dogmatic way in the
| presence of those who knew my writings,
where have presented ample proof of the
| facts. The professors in the Old Tesla
rnent department Of the universities of
Europe, without exception, so far as 1
know. are on one side of a question that
only specialists can decide, and these are
sustained by large numbers of American
| Old Testament scholars