The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-01
MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
Discourse of Rev. 3. Alonzo Bright on
Theological Differences.

Discourse OF Rev. y. Aionzo Bright on
Theological Differences.
During the present shaking up of many old
theological schools, the sermon yesterday morn
ing of Rev. s. Alonzo Bright, at the Trinity
NJ. f. tabernacle, was one OF special interest.
His subject was: Recent Disturbances in the
Field OF Theological Thought" Touching upon
the natural curiosity, which is & Characteristic
of humanity, and explaining the almost in
evitablc misunderstanding that occurs when
ever the theologian that probes for the causes
and reasons of things comes into contact with
him who plods onward, taking everything as a
matter OF fact, without inquiry, the speaker
summed up UNCONVENTIONAL differences as fol-
lows:
"Theology is largely built upon mans precon.
ceptions--his idea of what ought TO be. To use
n technical phraze, it has an a priert basis Man
has not gone to the Word of God and found out
what truth is; he has conceived of Il before
hand, then gone 20 the divine word to find con-
frmation. This has largely been the method of
investigation from Origen and Augustine until
now IL may be said that all temples OF the
ology have been sacred in this way, some more
imposing and some less, and all containing
more or less truth, but perhaps much hay, and
stubble and clay. We naturally inquire how any
of them have stood II they be such human
fabrics.
.some systems have stood longer than others
because they more largely generalized and
summed up the truth, and thus responded TO
the present wants OF man. We opine regarding
theological systems of acknowledged influence
and long standing that they most clearly inter
preted the Divine word in the age of and sue
ceedng their formulation, the secret of their
power being not so much in the Interpretation
as the thing interpreted. These systems being
up % the level of the times they controlled, If
this age is loosening from their control, what
we want is not q new religion, but better inter
probation OF the same religion which has lifted
the world 10 the successive levels of progress.
The Ptolemaic system OF astronomy stood for
thousand years when under new generallEs-
ton 1t gave way iorever-not a new astronomy,
for the same stars and heavenly phenomena
still existed, but more truthful exploration Of
the system over our heads
''You must remember that truth has seem
ingly been retarded by the power OF great names.
Great minds attract great admirers, who POS
sess with all their genius, none of the pioneer
ing spirit OF their masters, but whose genius
expends itself in the field OF psrtiEanship 1t is
a sad fact, but nevertheless true, that in theol-
osy men stand nightly for Augustine, and
Luther and Calvin, and Wesley. instead of imi-
tsting those worthless in going directly 10 the
Word for its teachings. 1t should be borne in
mind, so tardy is the progress of the human
mind that truth st no time nor under any sys-
TEN OF theology, hiss been fully attained. The
conquest has been by the achievement OF frag-
ments Arminius teaches US the catholic
features Of grace: Augustine and Calvin the
sovereignty idea OF God: Luther grasped
Justification by faith, while Wesley
got the holiness and love idea. Psrti-
Fans Of these great men have ranged
these dominant truths OF which they were the