Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-20

1t is possible that majority OF this court
may agree with this modern dogma about
the Bible which I am opposing. But would
you make it an essential and necessary artf-
Gle Of aith in our church? Are you pre-
pared to array our church against the Bib
lical scholars of the world? Are you re-
solved at all hazards to stem the Onrush1ng
tide of Biblical criticism? If this is your
determination, then your legal course Is
plain. Prepare memorial to the General
Assembly, requiring them to send down
overtures to the Presbyteries for an amend
ment of the con tession so as to state TINS
dogma as an essential and necessary article.
Let us, as honorable men, meet the issue
and decide it as we decide other questions
of revision. But do not try to decide sucn
momentous question by indirectton. DO
not read into the confession dogma when
the Westminster divines never dreamed or
As honorable Christian gentlemen, try me
by the confession. You cannot honoraDly
try me by new dogma, forged in modern
school of theology and used as a substitute
for the Westminster doctrine. II you should
do such thing, think you that the counter
felt will not be exposed to the Christian
worldP You would dash our church to
pieces against the roaring wave OF an OUT
ragged scholarship and an affronted Cnrls-
tianity.
The Results of Higher Criticism.
Of the results of higher criticism, Pro-
fessor Briggs said, in concluding his argu-
ment on the question of the authenticity OF
the Scriptures:
The work of the higher criticism of the
PenUateuch has reached such substantial
results as to appeal TO every honest mlnd TO
accept them. It is not negative in its re-
suits, it is positive. 1t is not destructive, it
is constructive 1t gives vastly more pre-
cious doctrine and vastly better history
than it takes away. 1t no longer occupies a
defensive attitude. 1t is aggressive, and is
sure of ere long convincing evangelical
America, as it has already convinced the
rest of the world. You cannot vote me
rrr1fIN INN- Nf nj Trhn /
Moses did not write the Pentateuch, unless
you are convinced that it is an error.
Furthermore, if IN your opinion 1t be an
error, is it an essential error? Does 1t con-
travene any essential and necessary article
of the Westminster Confession? Is 1t an er-
ror that impairs the Westminster system OF
doctrine2 Ii it does not, you cannot con-
denim me even if you think the error sert-
ous one from your point of view. You must
Judge me by the Westminster confession,
not by your private opinion not Dy the
opinion of any other person In whose Juog-
ment you may have more confidence than
you have in me.
Answer to a Direct Heresy Charge.
Prof Briggs argument upon charge Y,
which pronounces his doctrine that Isaiah
did not write the book bearing his name to be
heretical, was submitted in pamphlet form.
Prof. Briggs took up his famous doctrine of
progressive sanetifcation, which is cited in
charge VI, as follows:
The Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America charges Rev. Charles A.
Briggs, D. D., with teaching that sanctif1ca-
tion is not complete at death, which is con-
trary TO the essential doctrine of Holy
Scripture and the standards OF the SAID
church. that the souls of believers at death
enter the middle state, in which state they
are made perfect in holiness by progressive
sanctihcatlon.
The statements of the confession, Prof
Briggs said, were frequently indefinite and
obscure, but they did not conflict with the
doctrine of progressive sauctifcation. He
added:
When, in accord with many modern
Protestant theologians, advanced into this
unexpIored territory of the middle state,
and go beyond the Westminster Confession
in my statements and definitions, follow
lines drawn by the ancient church and
Scripture, and so more carefully dis
tinguish between the middle state and
statements of the confessions; 1 go
into the regions of liberty and extra con-
fessional dogma, and in those regions pur-
sue the scientific, historical and Biblical
methods of investigation and statement.
Pat Questions for the Presbytery.
Is the Presbytery ready to take the DO
sition that the dogma of immediate satisfac-
tion at death is an essential doctrine of the
Presbyterian Church, so that no man can
become a Presbyterian minister who does
not hold it? If SO, you stretch this strained
line of cardinal essential doctrines to an ex-
tent that will be destructive of the peace
and prosperity of the Church. doubt
whether the superior courts will sustain you
in such position, and if they should do this
wrong to the Church OF God, the Christian
world will regard them as breaking the
bonds of Catholicity.
There is not passage in the Bible that
teaches, either directly or indirectly, imme-
diate sanctifcGtion at death, or that the
completion once and for all of the holy ad-
vancement of mankind is accomplished in
a moment of time by q magical transforma-
tion in the dying hour. The Christian
church has always taught the doctrine OF
the middle state between death and the
resurrection; and OF progress in the holy
life after death, in that state. There have
been those who taught the sleep of pious
souls. DR.. Birch seems to hold that opinion,
for he said in his argument: "All dead Chris
tians are asleep" Others have held that de-
parted spirits pass dreamlike existence,
with powers OF memory of the life in this
world and OF anticipation of the resurrec-
ton of the body and the Judgment seat of
God, but without real activity or change of
condition throughout the entire period.
Opinions Rejected by the Orthodox.
But these opinions have always been re-
jected by the orthodox. The doctrine of
purgatorial fires and sacrifices for the dead
1 reject, in common with the reformers and
all Protestants. 1 am not surprised that
the theologian who speaks in Mr.. McCook
prefers this doctrine of purgatory to my
doctrine Of progressive sanctification after
death, for he will have magic of some kind.
He cannot understand growth in holiness,
or the ethical progress of holy souls, or the
transformation which takes place by the
constant influence of the Spirit OF Christ
upon the spirit of man. How can we think
of such q mechanical act such as a magical
change, as the transformation OF q new born
heather babe into the perfect likeness of
Jesus Christ at the very moment of death7
No passage of Holy Scripture teaches such
doctrine. This doctrine of progressive
sanctifloation after death also relieves the
doctrine of the salvation of the heather.
We can now see that those who have been
enlightened by the Logos and born again of
the Holy Spirit, among any of the religions
of the world, having the root of the matter
in them, the vital tie OF union with the
Deity, enter the middle state, where they
enjoy all the training they need for their
progressive sancti6eation.
A Matter of Great Importance.
believe this doctrine of progressive sane
tification after death is of great practical
Importance. 1t fills up the middle state for
us with an attra ctive, Industrious, holy life
progress in grace, in knowledge in hoIi-
ness, in all perfections. We realize that our
departed friends are not asleep but awake
in the most active of lives. Death loses its
terrors and becomes only gateway into a
better country, into brighter and purer
life. It'll cites to holy endeavor. The doc
trine of immediate sanctification at death
cuts the nerves OF Chris Lian endeavor and
dries the sap of holy activity.
What is the use, says the sluggish soul, in
my striving so hard for holiness when l
shall receive it all in all in an instant what
ever my lie has been. All need is pardon
hour. If 1 can only crawl through at the
moment the gate OF death creaks on its