New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12

ronsc hc is still under tie influence OF the old inc
olooy which he has sci out to reconstruct al"
rortIy because he wishes o. 60 far as he can W
conciIate popular orthodox Christianity. "ssu'heF
nrinciples which are really destructive oil eaeu
other Essentially his theory OF the Church anu '"o
Hiblc ia the old historic Catholic theory-asa'h VIC
remind the render that VIC arc not here coh'ro'e't
inc that thcory-and though popularity accused OF
h.tcrodoyv he represents in orr opinion, the only
or,bodoxy that can make any stand in TINS age
But from the purely rational point OF view' 'nc.'
are araye Inconsistencies in that thcory -"
reason and the conscience OF Chrlstcndom mus
| ultimately decide what Christianity ls III i'
ALWAYS done 40. though it has concealed the process
under ecclesiastical forms and cnactncnts. ihe
question. Is that true is the final tombstone oy
which in the long run the dog,nas OF the 'huic"
and the teachings Of the Bible must bc tr ed l'a'
question alone is the great categorical Imperative
in human life And when a doctrine or STATE
mcnt is found to be untrue, whether by 'he
(hu,ch assembled in council, by the CONSCIOUS
rcss OF the aoc, or by individual seekers for the
truth. either in the Church or out OF II, no 10
sumption Of any supposed divine authority VIII
secure to il the resrect and credence Of mankind
| Thus much for the general scope of Professor
Driggss argument few words may De eau III
conclusion rs to his views Of the Bible, concern
ing which he has the right to speak with authority,
sihce he is confessedly one Of the great Bioncai
scoars Of the age.
The position that have ever held, lie says
| land which now maintain, Is that te'e a..
errors in Holy Scripture hut these errors are MI
in the circumstontials, and not Ill the essc''i'"
they are in the human setting, not in the precious
| level itself IL we should limit divine inspire
tion and authority 10 the essential contents OF
c1;oin fatf
would still have ample room to seek divine
authority where alone it is essential, or even I'M
| nortant in the teaching that guides our dcNo-
| lions our thinking and our conduct. AM
orain: III the Presbyterian Church should ever
decide that the Bible is the only infalllble rue
OF history, chronology and geography, no true
historian could ever be Presbyterian. ii inc
Presbyterian Church should decide that the bioie
is the only nfalibe rule OF literature ana art' oi
taste and OF culture, the whole class OF literary
| mon and artists must leave the Presby terrain
| Church Those who would urge the Church II
sucl position are blind suides-they would lcad
| the PRESBYTERIAN Chdrch into ditch. 30 ias
as IL gees this is well said, ana It's force
must I've acknowledged by all candid men, now
ever orthodox they may be. Indeed, the only
way in which the more Intelligent conservatives
| ottennt 70 answer il is IN admit that there
our present copies Of the Bible but that the orig
| inal autographs. as they came from the hanh OF
God. we've absolutely nrrrant. But this is barren
contention 40 one living to-day has ever seen
,hr original autographs. They pcrishcd ages ago,
| and while' no one runs any risk in ascriblng 10
them any character IL Is hard TO see how such
proceeding affects the questions about the actual
Bible now in the hands Of the people. The
world cnnnot bc made 10 care much for posti-
lated Bible which, In spite OF it's infallibility ana
incfrancy, has persisted out OF all use and recoi-
lection. But il docs care very much about the
concrete Bible now in existence, and IL cannot be
prevented by the bclowings Of any ecclesiastical
bulls Of whatever sort, from examining into tho
claims that have been made in it's behalf Whether
| the Bible is incrrant or not can only be decided
by an appeal to the Bible itself. What does
the Bible sly for itself? ought TO he the qnes-
ton alike Of the theoogian and the critic
Certainly it is the only question which
serious men today will take the trouble to
| nnswer What some Church synod some
great religious leader sail about IL may he in
tcrcsting as o historical fact. But it can have
little weight In an age which in its thinking
looks upon truth as authority, rather than au-
| thorty truth
In conclusion we would cay that the value Of
the work done by Professor Briggs, does not lie
| in his somewhat forced attempt to harmonic old
| Catholic views Of the Church and revelation with
the modern methods Of criticism. II lies rather in
what he. laboring with the other great Biblical
scholars of the age. has done 10 bring the real
questions relating 10 the Bible before the Chris
tan world The time is ripe for thorough re-
| construction Of many Of the vague and loosely
conceived beliefs concerning the Bible. The true
interests Of Christianity require that such n re-
construction should speedily take place. That it
will speedily take place in spite of the conserva-
tive opposition-nay. that il is already taking
place-is evident - all competent observers. And
though the conservatives cannot see il in that
light il is a fortunate thing for Christianity that
the greatest leaders in the reconstruction movement
are not outside but inside thc Church Though
denounced the enemies OF religion, they are
really its truest ard best friends. While its enc
mics are thoSe who, however sincerely and honestly
violently oppose the men who are striving 10
learn just what the Bible is and just what claims
il makes Cor itself. What saith the Scripture
is the only question which the honest student Of
the Bible is concerned 10 answer IL is qucs
ton that is being answered to-day, and in its
answer lies the whole future of Christianity.
|