The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-08-26
For the Central Presbyterian.
Doctrinal Reading by the
People.


1t is a surprising fact that so
many Presbyterians know nothing
and care nothing about the distinc-
tive beliefs of their Church. If love
were not inspired by the history of
the Church itself such as to stimu-
late a desire to read about her foun-
dation principles, yet how can we
love our Saviour without burning
to understand his doctrines? Our
enemy has an ingenious method of
lettering Christians from the study
Of truth. A Presbyterian reads in
the first chapter of Ephesians that
God hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world" That
sets him thinking; he searches out
similar passages of Scripture; he
begins to read the opinions of unin-
spired men on the subject of cleo
tion, but just here a thought occurs
80 him THAT is sectarian. If I
study that subject l will not love
my Methodist brethren. 1t is an
offence against the spirit of unity
sprlnglng up among Christians. /
must know nothing but Christ and
him crucifed.'" His Unborn sloth
approves the thought, and he con-
tents himself with ignorance. lest
10y study he should find his breth-
rem had made a mistake. Block
AIDED thus at every turn. the search
for knowledge, inspired as it is by
love, is circumscribed by the mar
rOwest limits and shrinks into IN
significance. Our religious educa-
ton goes no further than the spell
1ng-boOk and first reader. for a fur
Their development of knowledge
might unfit us for practical dealing
with men. And that same apostle
who came at first to the uncon-
verted Corinthians. knowing no
rhlng save Jesus Christ and him
crucitied," in writing to the He
Drews advised them to "leave the
principles of the doctrine of Christ
and 90 on unto perfection not Law
ing again the foundation of repent
ance from dead works. and of faith
toward God, of the doctrine of bap-
Gisms, and of laying on of hands.
and of resurrection of the dead. and
of eternal judgment"
But our interest in these doctrines
rs heightened when we realize that
che safety of the Church depends
upon their maintenance and de-
Tense. In the minds of some Bible
readers, Bible-teachers, and the like.
the thought that the "Bible must be
It's own commentary" has been per
Verted TO mean that we must read
nothing but the Bible. And the
shining bits dropped by the living
workman are caught up with eager
mess, while the stores of precious
Thought bequeathed to us by faith
1ul, dlIigent laborers of the past lie
hidden i'm the preachers library or
the dusty volumes of the anti
quarry Inflated by the bombastic
talk of the nineteenth century adj
Focate, the Bible-student of to-day
Ilngs away his commentary as be-
meath bis notice The independent
reader tells YOU that the theolopian
give you arguments while he gives
you the Bible, and then turning TO
elected passages, with a note here
and an explanation there. he lets
you read the Bible through his ewes
eaviug upon an unguarded mind
the Impression that the Book was
never understood before, and that
he indistinct impressions absorbed
rom orthodox believers were with
out foundation SO long as we are
under the glamor of his supposed
knowledge the theories proposed
seem perInct and clnarlv fannhi in