Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-12
DIR. BRIGGS, DEFENSE.

DIR. BRIGGS DEFENSE.
1t is Ritter Personal Arrangement of His
Critics and the Bible.
DR.. Charles A. Briggs, the accused
Presbyterian theologian and cOntrover-
sialst, publishes a long attack over his
own signature upon his accuserS. 1t is
bitter personal arraignment of the
critics, and it attacks their weakness OF
argument and ignorance OF the West
minister Confession and the Bible.
In his letter DR.. Briggs beats his crit
les over the head of Dr.. Shedd, claim
ing the attack on him To be personal In
its character, and timed so as to infu-
ence the PreSbytery of New York at its
meeting to hear the report of the COM
mittee appointed to consider his inaugu-
raj address.
''If" he says, ANY one can attain to
the meaning OF document by historl-
cal research, have faithfully pursued
that method. l have studied the West
minister documents repeatedly in all the
great libraries of Great Britain. | have
gathered in the library of the Union
Theological Seminary, the best library
of the Westminster divineS outside the
British Museum. | have studied these
dfvineS with enthusiastic devotion for
many years.
Il have repeated ly endeavored to in
terest DIR. Shedd In these studies, but
in vain. He has not studied the West
minister Confession in its sources and 1t
is we'll known TO him that | have done
this work laboriously and faithfully. 1t
is matter Of Interpretation which is
within my province as Biblical and
historical student.
sit is my charge against DR.. Shedd
and the American dogmaticians that
they have perverted and miSrepresent-
ed the Westminster Confession because
of the neglect of the history Of the men
and the times that produced it, AID be-
cause they deduce from it the more re-
cent dogmatic speculation. | have
shown by table of com pariSon between
DR.. Shedd'S dOgmatic theology and the
Westminster Confession that in his sys-
tenn 'the proportions of the faith in the
Westminster Confession have entirely
changed" Or. Briggs continues:
CDR Shedd says that | have rep
resented the Bible, the reason as CO.
ordinate and coequal authorities for
mankind in obtainining the knowledge
of God" But DR.. Morris, another
venerable dOgmatieian, says: while
the auChor nowhere represents these as
coordinate sources, and distinctly
recognizes the Bible as the superior
source, yet his language seems to sepa-
rate the three sources too widely, as If
they could be independent of each
other, and also to place them prac-
tics lily too nearly on the same level as
to authoritativeneSS.
DOUBTLESS | take higher view OF
the Church and the reason than DR..
Morris, and he agrees with me in taking
a higher view Of them than DIR. Shedd,
but do not coordinate them or make
them coeQual. If it be hereSy to say
that rationaliStS like Martineau have
found God in the reason, and Roman
Catholics have found God in the church,
| rejoice in such heresy, and | do not
hesitate to say that have less doubt of
the salvation of Martineau or Newman
than have of the modern Pharisees
pure, so good, the ornaments of Great
Britain and the prophets of the age.
from the kingdom of God.
"Dr. Shedd says: According to this
the Calvanistic creed of the Reforma-
ton, the Papal creed of the Council of
Trent and the Unitarian creed Of Socin
us have the same divine authority, and
human salvation may be founded upon
each and all of them alike. Whoever
contends that this is the doctrine of the
Westminster standard is past SURGERY
Does DR.. Shedd believe that the Cal
vanStic creed of the Reformation has
divine authority, or that human saliva
tiOn is founded upon it? IL he does, he
exalts the Calvanistic reason and the
Calvanisuc church above the Bible and
come in conflict with the Westminster
Confession, which makes the Bible the
only infalible rule of faith and which
affirms that the Supreme Judge, by
which all controversies of religion are TO
be determined and all DEGREES of cOun-
ellis, opinions of ancient writers, doc
trnes of men and private spirits are to
be examined, and in whose sentence we
are to rest. can be no other than the
Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture"
do not attach divine authority to
any creed, and | refuse to found human
salvation upon any council"
DR.. Briggs then charges "Dr. Shedd
and other dogmatcianS that they have
substituted new doctrine of the Scrip
lures for that taught in the Scriptures
and the confession. | claim to main
tain the doctrine of the Bible andgcon-
feSSion against the dogmaticians. He
accuses DR.. Shedd of "baSeleSS mis-
representation, and concludes: "If
John Calvin were alive DR.. Shedd
would charge him with heresy, for
John Calvin recognizes errors in the
Scriptures, lays great stress upon the
doctrine of saving faith. repentance and
progressive qualification, and teaches
the advancement in divine grace Of be-
levers in the middle state.
West Virginia Pensions.
Spec1ai Correspondence OF tee Register.
VNSuTNcToN Nav IN WAIST Vir-