New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
VIEWS OF THE BIBLE.
PROFESSOR BRIGGS'S NEW VOLUME.

TIE THREE GREAT Foi MAINS of D ~ n
.j-TIIORITY By Charles Augustus Brlggs IL. ~.
Fdward Robinson Professor Of BIolcsl Theology IN
the Union Theooelca SEMINAR New loFs Ions
svo. PIP Kill, 20s. Charles ecfiDhers SOUS
This volume contains seven lectures, OF WHICH
five were especially prepared in response 10 IT,
quests for a further calculation OF ting author -
views in his now famous magazine ADDRESS
Following these is a volumnous appendix III
which n large number Of questions relating 10
biblical scholarship and criticism are touched
on. The book is, therefore fairly compete.
,bouoh NJ course not elaborate presentation oil
tho authors views OF the Bible, for hoidInI
which he is now being called TO an account DS
bis Church. Into the ecclesiastical phahe OF tac
| question, however, we do not care to enter here'
but would rather confnc Ourselves TO inc literary
and historical aspect of it. Professor brises
maintains that there are three great fountains
Of divine authority, the Church, the Reason ana
the Bible God Himself is. of course, the original
source Of or scat Of Divine authority. But for
good and wise reasons lie has chosen 10 re'en'
His will through fountains One OF these Is
history, or as il may he theologicoly eXpress'u'
the Church. Another is the mind Of man m""e
after His own image, or gcnerically' inc rea'o"'
And still another is the sum of the revelations
which hc has v0uchsafcd to special men, wnich
revelations ore found in the Bible. But in
authority Professor Briggs does not intend 10
define the relation between them, or to Imply tla'
thee a,n coordinate Those are questions nc
vond the scopc Of his argument What he docs
sov in regard TO these three fountains Is that
tho Pirlc alone il the nfaibe rule OF faith ana
rractjcc: the conscience alone speaks the ca'e-
gorcal imperative within the man; the ,hurch
alone administers sarramental grace Nv INNS
recognizing the supremacy OF each wl'hih l'o
own sphere he believes TINT a remedy VIII re
found for the partial and onc-sided views OF re-
ligion, which have resulted from undhly eNaltihg
any Of them at the expense OF 'he o'ncie'
Churchnen, for instance using the word III is
widest sense have exalted the Church above the
Bible and reason Rationalists have exalted inc
reason above the Bible and the Church "hiie
evangelical Chrisions have exalted the Dioie
above the Church and the reason Ana as a re-
suit the religious systems which these three
PARTIES have established are partial. untrue 10
the facts, and hacking OF perspective
Much may lie said for this theory Of Professor
Briggs II squares with many OF the facts whlcl
the impartial critic and student OF history m"s'
recognize II seems 10 offer way OF escape out
Of the cul de sac into which the CONSERVATIVE
thcologans have been forced. as well ny the
tendency and movement of the time as by INC
logic OF their principles. The men IN INC
Churches. and they are neither few nor ignorant
who feel that they cannot much longer accept inc
old theology unless with generous mental rc5erva-
tons, and who yet and desire 10 remain
loyal believers In essential Christianity. will hail
with delight this attempt on the part OF Pro-
lessor Briggs TO enlarge the platform on which
they nav lawfully stand. Ills recognition OF
three great fountoius OF divine authority, i'm
plying as il does that there may be other foun-
tans. coupled with his denial of the inerrarcy
OF tie Bible will ennble M increasingly large
number Of sincere and Gcvort mon ~ continue
in formal fellowship with the Church who would
soon be obliged. under any strict literal enforce
mont Of the traditional view OF religion. 10 cut
loose from IT,
But while acknowledging valne OF Pro-
fce.or Briggs theory OF revelation grounds Of
cxpcdiency md while admitting also that he has
done much n bring religion in touch with
the facts Of history and tho experience Of human
life il must I've said that his theory will not en-
dure the cold touch Of reason He tells us that
the Church is n fountain OF Divine authority.
Very good Bat what Church AMI az whit
time or under what circumstance; does il
cserctce such a divine au'horiiv' Catholic and
Anglican Churchmcn are fond OF applying. as
the crucial frst Of true doctrine. the famous
m,,ium Of vinccn, OF Ierins. "quoi scmrer. quod
Unique. quod al omnibus crclifum est that
which has been believed always, everywhere, anil
by NIL" But is there such n doctrine in existence
Is II not a FAC, rather, than every fundamental
doctrine now held by every body OF Christians
has been at s1mc time denied by large numbers
n Chr9iirns? Nay more, are not the prrscnf
lircs of cleavage and division in Chrftendom
duo altogether to Differences o. belief and practice
And 10 come 10 particular instance. would
Professor Briggs maintain th1t rho Prcshvt rim
Church was n fountain Of divine AUTHORITY when
il compiled the confession Of fai'h which it Is
now rcpudn'ing, or that il is now such fount in
In opposing wha' hc deems 10 he the true view
Of tho Bible To uSli these questions. it seems Z,
MS is 10 answer them We do not deny that God
hes made Ills will and pu-p,s" Gear IN the history
Of tho Church. o. that IL ma" NO i means Of craze
Fat until tie Church has become infallib,c mad
incrrant it, decisions must, in Tic Let analvsis
re tested by II is not distinct entity,
apart from men. II hns bcca and is, Influenced
by the divine spirit. il YOU please: but it has not
lcen, and is not now, preserved from ignorance
and mistakes and errors; and the only way in
which these can bc corrected and eliminated. is
By the enlightened and the divincly
llumncd conscience of man.
And then as 10 the Ebc Professor Briggs.
least OF oll men. can maintain that It is separate
and distinct fountain of divine authority apnr,
from the reason. Tor lie holds not only that its
contents may 10 and ought 10 he questioned by
the trained reason Of man, but actually main
tans that il contains numerous errors OF fact and
inference. Nor is IL OF avail for him to set up the
distinction that it is lnfniliblc rule only as TO
faith and practice. How does he know thai
by revelation? Surely not by his reason
Well then, what objection can he make if srlo ars
as learned. loyal and rcvercnt az himself shall
ono of these days arise and declare that after an
cxhnn'tve study of thu who'c question, and I'D, a.
they believe, ny the Divine spirit. they have come
TO Dire conclusion that the Bible not only con-
iains numerous errors, but that il j. not an in
falliblr rule Of fnith ard practice? The old tra-