The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-20

| ell. the Church and reason in the In
forests of the authority OF Scripture
nut the average opinion OF the Chris
tan world would not assign him
higher place in the Kingdom OF Goa
than Martineau or Newman.
| pr BRIGGS asserts that the temporal
nnents and environments of men deter
mine which Of the three ways OF access
| 20 God they may pursue. He also makes
| statements I'm regard 10 the Holy scrip
| tures which cannot be reconciled win
che doctrine OF the true and full in
sniration of those Scriptures, as the
! Word of Cod He insists that the In
errancv of the original Scriptures Is
sheer assumption, "a ghost or moueri,
evangelism to brighten children" and
| that the English Bible Is full or mis-
takes. With respect to It's authenticity
| no announces as the certain result OF
the science Of the higher criticism, that
Moses did not write the PentateEch'
David did not write the Psaltery. but
only a few of the Psalms; Solomon CID
not write the Song Of Songs or Eccle-
siastes, and only a portion OF the Pro-
verbs; Isaiah did not write half OF the
book that bears his name, and that
the great mass of the Old Testament
was written by authors whose names
or connection with their writings are
lost I'm oblivion and then adds, IF this
&c DESTROYING the Bible, the Bible Is
DESTROYED already" Respecting mira
cles he teaches that the theories con-
corning them that have been taught
I'm the Christian Church are human IN
ventiOns, for which the Scriptures ana
the Church have no responsibility what
ever. AS TO protective prophecy he holds
with Kuenen that many predictions have
been reversed by history. and that the
great body Of the Messianic prediction
has not only never been fulfilled, but
cannot now be fulfilled, for the reason that
it's own time is past forever.
He teaches that the sancuilcation az
believers is not completed at death, but
is continued and is perfected In the
middle state and that all the processes
of redemption extend to the future In
the case Of many who die in sin, which
extension of redemption is also implied
i'm what he defines as a race redemp-
ton.
Let Il be said that DR.. Briggs does not
deny divine element I'm the Scriptures
but seems to make a distinction between
revelation and inspiration. Revelation Is
direct communication from God
concerning that Of which man
has no previous knowledge This
is infallibe But he regards inspira-
ton. which has TO do with circumstan-
mistakes I'm the Bible. The stories OF the
Patriarchal age, Of the Exodus and or
Israel i'm Canaan are not therefore, abso-
lutely reliable. The human element may
and does mar the Bible. Much OF what
has been regarded as history is alleSory
or fiction
These views held by Dr. Briggs origi-
mated chiefly In Holland and Germany,
and extended their influence throughout
fy,otr no
they have broken the authority of the
Bible: have eaten out the spirituality of
the Church: have cut the nerves Of pull
pit power: discouraged evangelical
preaching and holy living, and have made
persons Indifferent TO their
spiritual interests. In the amended IN
dictment against DR.. Briggs he is charged
with teaching, first, the following errors;
Reason is a foundation for divine au-
thority, which may and does saVingly
enlighten men, even such men as reject
the Scriptures as the authoritative procla-
nation of the will Of Cod and reject
also the way of salvation through the
mediation and sacrifice Of the Son Of
God as revealed therein.
2 The Church is a foundation OF divine |
authority which, apart from the Holy
Scripture, may and does savingly en-
tighten men.
g. Errors may have existed in the oriS1- /
nal text Of the Holy Scripture.
T. Many Of the Old Testament predic- /
lions have been reversed by history. and |
the g#at body of Messianic prediction /
has not end cannot be fulfilled.
3. Moses did not write the Pentateuch. !
G. Isaiah is not the author Of half OF /
the book that bears his name.
Z. The processes of redemption extend /
TO the world 10 come in the case Of many |
who die i'm sin.
s. Sanctifcation is not completed at |
death.