The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-07
WoRDAND LETTER. INSPIRED.
DIR. BIRCH AsSAILS THE HIGHER
CRITICISM OF THE BTBLE

re Charges Prof Briggs with Trying to
Destroy the Foundations OF Presbyterian
Standn rds, md Declares that He Has been
Following In the Wake OF Uuitnrinsisnl
Before Chairman @. W. T. Birch Of the Com
mitteo Of Prosecution resumed his argument
at the trial Of Prof. Briggs for heresy yoster-
dny an hour and half was wasted over the
vexed question OF admitting to the roll the
names Of members Of tho Presbytcry who Ind
not been present on Monday or on the earlier
days OF the trial. The Rev. Antonio Arreehi
explained that he had been kept away by his
ministerial duties. but some one raised an OBJ
lection to his voting. and he was ruled out.
He got up several times to explain. but the
objections were not withdrawn. Considera-
bio feeling was aroused between the partisans
and opponents OF Prof. Briggs. and DIR.
Robinson remarked that the objections all
seemed to come from the west side. where
most Of Dr. Briggs's advocates sit
The Rev. George L. Spinning objected strong
ly to the turn affairs had taken. II we can
not BIO excused" he said. from attendance
here. we must forego our duties as pastors:
we cannot attend the deathbeds OF our people
or bury our dead"
Elder Ketchum moved that members who
might have to attend funerals and weddings
he excused for these events. but 1t was finally
decided to refer all excuses to . committee
consisting OF three ministers and two elders.
who were to report to the Presbytery. In the
present mood Of the Tresbytery It seems Ger;
tain that known parti.ans on either side Will
At 81 O'clock. DR.. Birch. resumed his arGu-
ments against the accused professor, He took
and IL which s,rasT pr .briEgs
are fountains OF divine AUTHORITY; ~ nj.
:. II these charges be true" said Or, Birch,
very domination OF our standards. The Bible
presents the only true religion Of God. and
others. for tho Ribe is the solo basis Of faith
with US; Westand IN the historic confession.
nna It oas Ghasch S t'
believes Tho seritp ,5 OF the 1d liz nna New
Seminary = professors. from Edward Robinson;
Dr. Henry il. Smith. one OF Unions. profess
ments sna brought out pOihtedly their relation
b bd 10 s t5 ssm ,nS sGdpe:s
Shnreh %n eS II. reason With tho Bibe and t
is simply an evasion for DR.. Briggs to say that
ia. DR.. Briggs assaiis the very iniaiiiSilIty Of
+: snys t .hst Ss mi tie
DO give 9 oG
Divine authority are not infailibie. and at tho
same time to say that they give sure knowl.
edge to salvation is q glRring contradiction"
the Bible which, had heen made under the
charges. and explained their application. One
LAS As W. said sefere SO. say now again. II
any man preach any other gospel unto you
than that 80 have received. let him be ac'
"In this text. continued DR.. Birch. tho
finger OF God touches the inaugural doctrine
OF tho three fountains Of Divine authority. and
s.. it Of fs's sss
Bible alone. ind Peter did not die before he
discovered the baleful influence Of false teach
ings." DR.. Birch characterized Prof Briggs as
following In the wake Of unst ta and as
Charge III. attacks Prot. Briggs for his
text Of the Bible: al contrary to the doctrine
taught in the Bible and by the standards that
the Bible is the Word OF God. and Immediately
Your Bible Is what 1t Ia because God made
It So When the author OF the inaugural ad-
dress ventures tho statement that there are
j. ID e M BrSs. .sys
that the errors OF the Bible are not those OF
essentials. Did the Lord ever draw the line
between what was circumstantial and what
"That the bible is Gods book is manifest.
He is the chooser Of the terms and OF the
words. The text In it's letters and its clauses
is lust rs divine as the thought. Inspiration
cannot he confined to the conceptns Prof.
Bible In lts clauses andits own words together.
and It springs to its own defence. To toach
that its concepts and not it's words are in
spired Is equivalent to giving US q lamp with
Dr.. Birch will give his arguments on tho
other charges to- day,