The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-25
Nm yAx DYKES EXPLANATION.
Ne 1sys that The ssH ,Ass Mlsnsesrssses
Hfs Position a. - ths Dlbls.

my theological views with considerable re-
ouency during the past few months. ] Am
bound to express my gratitude to you Tor your
invariable courtesy. your general accuracy'
and your dlsapproval OF my religious conyic-
TONS But In your editorial Of last Tuesday
you have misunderstood. and So unintention.
ally. mlsinterpreted my position upon very
important point. You have represented
mo as agreeing with you in your
opinion that tho Bible is not the
Word Of God. This supposed agreement with
one who hns hitherto been such delightful
candid. and profitable opponent is 80 startling.
confusing, and painful to my mind that i must
make haste to assure YOU that 1t is altogether
imaginary Would that 1t we're true, Butthat
can only come to pass. not by my adopting
your opinion. but by your adopting mine. and
accepting the Bible as your only infallible
rule Of faith and practice. Meanwhile. permit
me to make few remarks upon your editorial
1. It is an error to suppose that the Presby-
terrain clergymen OF New York are the fol-
lowers OF Prof Briggs simply because they
end the "Fallibility Of the Higher Criticism"
Hss Tsey sf try to
the Bible by, persuadpg men to believe its
tehcIhipss and obey its lsTs and Dr Charles
to name IAN me-: voted e dismiss ths charges ss
s sssa pr Ssfs IT hs to-
the city; But that does not mean that we are
that yew ms If
charges aud of his answer We did not think it
necessary. or desirable to have 9 trial for
shin. It was simply defence Of peace and
IN s %hsS ss
my habit to conceal. but also the spirit OF theo-
logical toleraton which has always character,
ecclesiastical conflicts. 1t has been strong
hold Of orthodoxy, pure and simple. i0st be-
eqss sfen besn eon
seryatiye Just because i has been really Pre-,
now threatens it., Tho church WIS rushing
through a series Of heresy trial. toward bittor
tho PASTOR q q the ' B f Church presontsd
to tho presbytery paper In which these words .Is
b
nee are nat tss II
sSn st and tS se, '
and powerful moral influence is more to be- re-
Ing s ini!uence Of ecciesi power In this
day OF darkness and rebuke God Is calling
on us to humble ourselves So, before Him and %
alton and final rupture"
and they are still held by the minister Of the
Brick Church. in harmony with the large
mn n reEsf I'd h e ths 81 Prof. Briggs
dustriols scholar lie great. and my affection
and noble Christian, man is sincere. am not
consciously the follower Of him. nor Of any
sesf 81 hn ns
Eether Paul NOR Aroos neithsT Luther The nor
nt tha of An ffrn nf
was not bsrtized This ranging Of parties
Church from the beginning. 1t is tho prime
treason; the spirit Of secession and dtsrup..
s When hs Sess Of Of w ssa ess
and neithor understands what the other means.
z. 1t is an error to suppose that every man
ton. and declines to believe that the, Holy
Scriptures were dictated to the inspired pen
aenS Sst t. II thc
Woad q God. The most orthodox, writer's freely
admit that the nature and mode Of nspra
To m national and Psrson%SI pssalqritiss
natural faculties: Intellectual and moral.
ths boo Wien hSs
is Il to
lieves its teachings will know the truth. The
wh0 N1T Is m Se v X get xd to
s. t is an error to suppose that the move.
Confession of Faith. or; failing that. for the
ton with he tIe@ry hat the Bible Is not the
supreme and final rule Of the Church in all
e sps so1 e m tSe s
have less Of the logic OF man and more Of the
word Of God in our standards Of doctrine.
this. mistake, But there have been some peo-
my sn eS it, It Se mtH be N sr S
thanking you for the great service which you
among thoughtful Christian people who be-
the doctrine Of the absolute and eternal pre-.
Of each nnman soul to its final fate
| this logic forces us into immense moral diff
eulties under the scheme Of evangelical Chris
eape from these dill oates by aiS Nay u 20 the
| Bible doctrines OF the freedom and RESPONSE
81 9eaS aEhs Yonr
PSsS ass IS and Ssss n1 I
% hsmsn conscossnes ss' wien
!
theless your standpoint is clearly defined aud
frankly defended. But what OF the Presby-
terians who accept your ALLIANCE and go with
| you but half wny2 What OF those who bap-
tie fate by the name Of preterition and still
| helieye that good God ,predest!nes men be-
| fore their birth to an endless hell? For them
suppose you desire to do q truly missionary
work by showing them what their creed In
wolves. You wish to prove that preterition is
| an essential part Of the Westminster Confess
| sion. not In order to induce all men to accept
It, but In order to Justify tho rejection Of 1t BY
o moral rPductiO dd dbsiird,in1.
| You understand. then. how grateful every one
| who wants to get preterition out Of the creed
Of the Church must be to you for your efforts
| to keep II in. You arc an ally worth having
| on the other side. Your position Eliminates
the situation. You make the issue clear.
| II We accept tho theology of THE Sun we
| must give up what the Bible teaches about tho
| future life. II We believe what the Bible
teaches about the future life we must give up
the theology OF THE SUN.
| Admirable alternative. ! am fortunate In
not being predestined to take the first horn Of
| the dilemma. hut free to turn to the second
| And so. with respect for your consistency and
| dissent from your creed. with regret that you
| do not accept all the doctrines OF the Word Of
| God and thankfulness TINT you are in favor OF
preterition. remain. yours sincerely.
THE BRICK CHURCH. 412 FIFTH Avenue. Jan.
%, 1892.
Speed OF an Atlantic Telegram.