New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-10
DIR. BRIGGs'S DEFENCE.
HIS FAMOUS ADDRESS TO BE REPUBLIsHED
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS by
THE LEARNED PROFESSOR.

nubIic in revised and enlarged form. with preface
and appendix, containing additional notes anu ca
nIanatons. on or about Wednesday next. The pub
fishers are Charles Scrlbncrs Sons. In his preiacs
TO this new edition, DR.. Briggs says:
The inaugural address on the Authority OF Holy
scr4nture delivered January 20, 1901, in the Adams
Chanel Of the Union Theological Seminary. New-fork,
was printed by authority Of the directors OF tle
seminary in accordance with their custom, for INC
use OF the directors faculty. students, and friends
of the institution Tho address has attracted the at
tenton of the public far beyond anything that could
~ hcon anticipaed The discussions about it have
not only developed the usual hostility OF the reac-
uoDary antirevlSOn party in the Presbyterian church,
and of the ultraconservave factions In other denOm-
nations but have also made it evident that some OF
nv friends do not altogether understand my position
with regard to certain difficult and delicate questions
Of our times. l have nothing in the hostile
criticism TO lead me to make any changes whatever,
either in the matter the form of the address But
n seems to me wise to respond TO the wishes of some
of nv friends and repubsh the address under my own
responsibility, with some additional notes and ex-
plantations"
The appendix to DR.. Briggs's address IS practically
a supplementary address, In which he has more elab-
crate explanations of the position he has taken The
following extracts from 1t will give good idea of It's
form and purport
THE SOURCES OF THE DIVINE AUTHORITY.
When it was said There are historically three great
fountains of divine authOrty-the Bible, the Church.
and the Reason"(p 24)AI did not say, and did not
give any one the right TO infer from anything what
ever in the inaugural address, in any of my writings
that l coordlnated the Bible, the Church and the
Reason.
II was not within the plan of my discourse either to
coordinate the sources Or 70 place te b ' arg thra
of subordnatiOn. 1t Is well known that there az %
great parties in the Church on this question, Inc
Lan Church makes the Church the highest aa'noS
and subOrdnates the Bible and the kgSison' nv nv
Rat!onalsts eXalt the Reason above the bDie ana Wv
Church Protestants eXalt the Bible above te StnI.
and the Reason. was not called uPVn 10 na
this question OF coordination or su6oihat,on, ma tS
much l Protestant and haa S tt bc
moments before my address to the ~
lieye the Scriptures of the Old ana New ics'nul "a
be the Word Of God, the only nfalbs rue Ol n p St
aSfapt chrpiianity builds faith and life on the
divine authority contained IN the ocrp.ie;s 1 an os
The who 0ueston the fact that the Church and the
Reason are sources OF divine authority go IN the lace Vi
The whole intent of my discourse was to exat inc
authority OF Holy scripture by showing tnat S 81
RlbIcal Theology evnce divine authority ou,,v L
That the Church Is source OF uVo ~ istendom
If Is known 10 all men that the Medieval ChhrHm NIL wv
bn little Of the Bible or the Reason ana tnat b .e
nv ~ the Christian world The Latin Church mons
At present that the Church is the chief source Oh III
t h19 hut do repeat what l said in my lnangnral
The neglect OF the Church as means VI ~ ,,rare
ond dnIs orr senSltiveness TO the presence OF you
3D. G5 1t Is one Of the greatest faults coU O so mn
American Presbyeransn that 1t has become S 30 m,
chnrchIv and fakes such low view oil CnuIch 1lI
sacrsmrnts Why do we usc the sacraments II Goa
does not make them by His divine presence anu '"
thority real means Of groce TO our souls +rt the
There are many who hesitate TO sHin'' ' mSe the
Reason is source of divine authority, notanbvs
Reason in the broad sense 10 embrace te me sPng
cal categorcs the conscience and the rsgIo"s cd nre
sentS Himself TO those who seek Him p 3S t ~
no deny this without Gm cen ar in conic
with the Westminster Confess ion OF Faith .,or,+r
(a) Unless conscience speaks win dNihe auo'i'''
| where is your basis for morality -. I.o,
M without the religions feeling the organ OF vital
union with God religion t tse 1e HRai Union with
man at this point there can be no union between "ou
anu Unless Gods authority is dlscerned in the forms
Of The Reason there is ground upon when any ~ Oh
the heather could eyer Wbr nSye Oeen
m Unless God speaks with authority in the forms OF
Reason no Other moe al aHd Mechanical kind
The inspiration Of sacred penmen the sublime G
Of holy prophets; would be nPG.sa,oe' ''' p'O'
! the Church could never have eNsteu' A., ,. - +be
(cJ Unless Gods authority is in the forms . 81 ' o
Reason how we give any reason@ con eSpaao
oI Unless Gods authority works in the forms s + o.
the Reason cannot explain the n6 1wa b W t5c WoG
Spirit Of Adoption witnessing with our spirits Tia
| we are the children Of Cod t.. +" 49, -J'
| THE BARRIERS.
have mentioned six barriers Of the divine auhortS
in Holy Scripture erected by some dogmatc tleoosIa
for the defence OF the Bible, which, instead OF ward
| ing off the enemy, really keep muttudes away ron
| the Word of God. These six things are Simply u"
speculative definitions OF some dogmatclans' 10 ca
tbem as tests OF orthodoxy Is TO insult the lteSeo
of historical and biblical scholars. ,i.,ior can
a. The first barrier named IS upersutuuOh. odh an
| not understand how any intelligent person shond 90
| cct 10 my carefully balanced statements on 1ls u
a.. contrast Protestant superstitious use Ol th
| Hrio with Roman Catholic superstitiou> use OF IN
cross mass book, and holy water refer 10 well
9s, Verbal inspiration not taught me by any o
my theological teachers in nlon Iheologlcal seminary
men away from the Bible -,
~ Authenticlty.-The modern dOgmatlc speculation
that one must accept certain persons as the authors
the Biblical books, be destitute Of evidence Of he
inspiration, has support in Scripture or Creed
az Inerrancy-What have said about incr1ancy II
nv address is only summary Of what has been SAID
more fully in biblical Study and In WHITTIER" l
best MSS Of the Bible. II is the theory of modern
dogmaticans that they were not in the original Mss
them and II is idle to speculate to their contents.
The chief purpose Of the address was 70 prove IN
doCtrna and ethical contents of the Bible embrace
In the department Of Biblical Theology ! selected
those topics that seemed most suited to my purpose.
sANCTIFICATIoN AFTER DEATH.
Redemption comprehends Justification, sanctincator
and gorlhcation. The redemption of is not com
pIcted until the second Advent the resurrection Of IN
body and the day OF judgment. The time intervening
between the act of justification and the eorihcation
the resurrection and Mcssianic judgment is the TIM
| for the progressive sanctihcatlOn of men.
| The Westminster Confession definitely states: "Thi
sancncaton is throughout yet imperfect in this life.
II imperfect in this life for all believers. there is
other state I'm which il be perfected in Ill
Intermediate state The intermediate state Is there
fore for all believers without exception. state for thc
sanchcatiOn They there trained In the school q
Christ. and prepared for the Christian pcricctiO
| which they must attain the judgment day.
Il | am well that il has been a common Opnio
that believers are. at their deathat is, in the yer
| moment Of death-cOmplctely sanctiicd This OpiniO
seems To be favored by the statement Of the ShOre
Cateclsm" The souls of believers are at their deaf
| made perfect in holiness" Quest 80 This is one q
a number OF Instances in which the shorter Catcchi,I
Lv in, brief ungarded statements Ims Oucl
The Iaraer Catcch>m Is fuller and clearer when
saws The communion in glory with Christ, which tn
members Of the invisible church enjoy Immediately altc
death is in that their souls are then made perfect
; Holiness and received into the highest heavens. wlcr
they behold the face Of God IN light and glory.
Quest. go
y There are s0me thenlngIans who nersuldc thcm