New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-23
THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH
PROFESSOR BRIGGS DISCUSSES THEM
THEY ARE ROTH FOUNTAINS OF DIVINE A.
TuoRITY, HE sAYs-A GREAT Ihho""
LISTENS TO HIM.


Professor Charles A. Briggs delivered last evening n
the Church OF the Covenant, Thiry-hffh'st. ana r
ave the second IN the course OF thirteen o"""s,
o,,.n,no Isctures on .The Bible and Modem Thoughe
which opened on sunday evening. November ID aou
which will be closed BY Professor Briggs on FEBRUARY
a. His subject last evening was Inc Iioie e"a ~"
Church as Fountains OF Divine Authonty' va.
Sunday evening he will speak ON Tho i'o'o anu u'o
Reason. and on December o his theme VIII be "Iho
Bibe and Inerrancy" The subject Of his discourse on
February IA will be "The Bible and the hgher
Criticism ,...
The Church OF the Covenant is one OF tho largest
Protestant houses of worship In the city, but ts capacity
was far too limited for the accommodation OF al mno
desired TO hear the Union Seminary proisssor' ae
body OF the church and the three galleries were he
early; camp chairs were placed In the aisies' anu
every available space standing room was oceupeo
IL was a gathering OF intelligent men and women rep'e
senting many Christian denominations. rroieoS''
Briggs spoke for one hour and ten minutes anu '0
ceved the unbroken attention Of all from beginning 10
end He Is not an orator. his voice Is not strong UT
resonant but rather soft and futeke, but bis manner
is pleasing dgnned and characterized by an air OF
complete simplicity and sincerity, which soon draws
his hearers Into sympathy with him, AT umes TIC
emphasized the eloquent passages OF his DISCOURSE
by rising infection, which produces an Impressive
and thrilling effect. His noble tribute to Cardinal
Newman stirred the audience deeply and 1t seemed al
it would sweep over the assembage like whiriwind.
Here is an abstract of what Professor Briggs said:
1t ought TO be . commonplace that there are three
great fountains Of authority the Bibe the Church and
When 1t is said that the reason is source
Divine authority It is God enters the reason ."
speak through the conscience 10 man. The words source
Of authority" do arm that the Church is an original
Divine authority open from and independent o.
God The meaning Of the word Is In the sources
Of river history and the like tusties one
In speaking Of the Church source out OF which, as out
OF fountain head out OF original document arises
the Divine authority that need The source docs not
authority but the authority establishes tho
as mould which 1t fills with Divine contents.
The Fountain Of Divine authority ought not to DO
open to objection for one can reasonably CONFUSE the
fountain with the living water which heN' through H. OF
the power Of the fountain that pushes the water forth
When we there historically three great fountains
of Divine authority state fundamental fact upon which
Christianity whole is agreed. The Christian Church
Is divided into great parties the question OF the
relation these The churchmen have exalted
the Church above the Bible and the the ration
ais have exalted the reason above the Bible and the
Church; the Evangelical party has exalted the Bible
above the Church aud the but party, far
as know, made the Bible, Church and reason co.
ordinate. The Bible, the Church and the Ieason are
great fountains OF Divine authority and yet the Bible
alone is the nfalibe rule OF faith and practice The
alone speaks the categorical imperative whin
the man. The Church alone administers saeramentaI
grace God Is the only Divine authority The Bible.
Church and have Divine authority only as instru
ment5 OF His sovereign VIII ana gracious pleasure
The relative authority OF Bible and Church one OF
the great grounds Reformation The Roman
Catholic party claimed that the Church had divine author
ity determine the the Holy Scriptures. to give
the Official probation thereof and to define ali questions
OF doctrlnal practice not defined by scripture. lho
Proestants denied the authority OF the Church az these
points They asserted the Independent Divine authority
OF the Holy Scriptures. and the Independent right Of the
reason, the conscience and private Judgment Luther
said 1.-THE Church cannot give any moro authority or
nov han has of
be Of Scripture which Is by nature of Scripture"
Professor Briggs here quoted from Calvin and several
Of the Confessions of tho Reformation we'll as fom
the Westminster Confession, In support Of this view.
Continuing, he said:
This dotne OF the Independent sovereign authority Of
Holy Scripture, sufficient OF itself convince and
give infalble certainty regards its authority, is
Of the precious of the Reformation. The
Divine authority u he Bible rests upon tho and
power of God in it and with It, God Himself speaks "
through the Bible. The Scriptures OF themselves
win the confidence Of by the authority Of the
Divine truth that Is m them, by the Divine grace that
TO stop the leaks OF Protestantlsm is to
reform the position OF the Reformation The Roman
Catholic party claimed that the Church is Divine author
ity in the Interpretation OF Holy Scriptures; the Went
minister Confession teaches that the niallibe rule of
Interpretation Is Scripture itself. The Reform party
did seek destroy the Church, but to reform it,
thought OF denying the Divine authority
of Church, they deprived the Church of its usurpsd
authority the Holy Scriptures, and the conscences
Of men, but they did not from the Church any
authority that it nghtfuy possessed by Divine or his
toric rights.
Here the speaker quoted from the Westminster Con-
fession to show that 1t was held that there is divine
authority In the Church; 1t IS Chnsts kingdom; lie
reigns It, inhabts it by HIS spirit and makes It's
institutions efilcadous lie grants access to Himself
through His Church. Continuing, the speaker said
Those deny the authority OF the Church take away
Presbyterian Church the only ground for its
lstence Those who deny that there is Divine authority
In the Church deny the Sacramento Divine institutions
rob them the presence OF Christ and His Holy Spirit
and make them OF effect means OF gaee They
take away from the Church its energy Of grace its Divine
| Saviour, and leave 1t empty she'll.
The late Cardinal Newman a representative Church
Of days. man of the highest culture, OF deep
insight government OF God, sanity II there
such. II 1t be herssy to take such at his
say that he found Divine certainty through the
Church, glory In such heresy. would rather follow
Newman presence Of my Master than risk the
partnership OF those unchartable who would exclude
| him from the Kingdom Of God.
1t Is we'll known that prior to the great Reformation
| the ptle not in the hands OF Christian people.
the doctrine OF Chsteldon that seek
God and through the Church Those who deny that The
Church has been great fountain OF divine authority would
blot out existence the Church before the Reformation
Jesps Christ commissioned Ills Apostles and the Holy
Spirit planted the Church decades before single
tho writings OF the New Testament written. l do
not say that the Church is superior autho.
|
| Is coordinate with the Scriptures, but l do
say that the order of time God spoke through
before he spoke through the Bible Those
fore who deny that the Church 10 great fountain
Divine authority strike at the yitas OF the Bible ITSELF
inper the authority OF these Scriptures, which they
design exat and To honor. 1 held the middle ground
the Protestant reformers that the Christian ministry
the Holy Sacranents and all the other sacred historic
forms OF the life and experience OF the Church Of
Divine Institution and authority. and bear them and
with them the authority OF God. the presence OF Jesus
| Christ and the power Of the Divine Spirit.
| In conclusion Professor Briggs said:
1t is that the Church far from attaining its
ideal and yet Gods spirit guided It in the develop
ment OF It's institutions, its doctrines and IT, fe lie
| has