New-York tribune., 1891-05-16

Henry B. Smith, written rot long before his death
What Reformed Theology has 60 to do is to Chris
sancthcaton. the doctrine of the Church aud the
iii. Alter wears OF familiar acquaintance with Dr.
emphatic protest against the spirit and language with
which, In so many cases, he has been assaiied- IT, in
any OF his writings DR.. Briggs, AS is charged, has
wahtonly offended the honest convictions Of gopd
ethical code of Christian scholarship laid down In the
New Testament II is not business to defend him
and to God. But in the public discussion Of matters
OF opinion, 1t is neither right nor decent that an
even though mistaken, should be ATTACKED with viru-
lence ooniemptuous fppancy and lmputations of un-
have been assumed that all the sacredness of personal
conviction is uSon one side; that higher ciiuc can
the uncrca censor Is bound to respect and that the
fact Of his differing with them justies his opponents
In laying aside In discussion the character OF Cm1sua
gentlemen.
We know DR.. Briggs to be an earnest Christian a
and worker, and who holds the Standards Of the
Church with an Intelligence based on an exhaustive
testimonies of his students during seventeen years
that he inspires them with deep reverence ana
In like manner p we p protest against the matter and
temper Of the assaults on Union seminary. by ls ms
snG G Services Si Ss S o rs o ns BY the
value of Its contributions TO Christian neratnIe ts
value to the Presbyte,an Church needs demonstra
ton From the days OF Edward Robinson the pioneer
Biblical lexicography, Union Seminary has steadily
pressed forward the lines OF advanced BIBLICAL study
It's professors subscribing the Westminster Stand
ards have alway been understood 70 90 SO with the
right OF every Christian scholar They honor the ven
erabe Confessions OF past ages, but they place the
Bible above the Confessions and hold themselves bound
by their loyalty to Christ and to His Church TO follow
the truth whithersoever 1t may lead them.
We assert and must insist upon the liberty exercised
by the reformer and by the early Church, to discuss
the Scriptures freely and reverently. and to avail our
selves of all the light which may be thrown upon them
from any 1t is In the interest OF Gods uuth
to set forth Scripture 1t Is and not TO expose lts
friends and teachers humiliation and defeat by claim
Ing for It what cannot be substantated In the words
of Ullmann g Not fXedness nor revolution but evolu
tton and reform, is the motto for our times We
maintain that human conceptions Of the Bible and OF It's
inspired teachings are subject to revision 10 grasp
the results of deeper research and % apply them WIN
caution reverence and boldness to the examination OF
Scripture is not only privilege, 1t Is our soemn
duty the discharge of the sacred trust coinlteu 70
break from Gods w0d. We would be found ever upon
the watch towers 10 catch and to transmit its rays
theological school can take any other attitude Wltnou.
necectng its duty to the present age and losing us nO
upon the rising generation OF Biblical studentS Imt
such a method may dssipate or modify certain Tan
tIonal views to the origin o. date OF the DOCKS
Scripture that 1t expose and correct certain % JS
established errors CT Interpretation that II may mouy
certain theological dogmas is OILY what is 70 DC en
pected from sim8r results in tie past. But we nave
no fear for the Bible. The Word OF God VIII cono
forth from the fire OF reverent criticism as me goln
with new accreton of testimony to It's dlvlne origin
and new power of appeal to the w0ld: r,s4
W THOMAS s. HASTINGS. President,
PHILIP SCHAFF,
GEORGE l.. PRENTISS,
MARVIN r. VINCENT. ,,
professor Francis Brown Is at Oxford superh'ehu-
ing the publication of his Hebrew leXcohJ