Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-29

person is to be tried in our judicatories Sec
lions and tell us ian offense is anything in
the doctrine. principles or practice Of n church
member. officer or jadicatory which is contrary
70 the Word OF God. or which, IL il be not in
Its own nature sinful. NAV tempt others to sin
OF mar their spiritual edifcation.
Fountains of Divine Authority.
The first and second charges refer TO the sub-
ject OF divine authority and may be considered
together In them he is charged with teach
ing: First. that the reason is a fountain of
divine authority which may and docs ssvingly
enllghten men, even such men as reject the
Scriptures as the authoritative proclamation of
the will of God and reject also the wav of saliva
tlon through the mediation and sacrifice OF the
Son OF God as revealed therein.' second
That the church lisa fountain of divine authority
which, apart from the Holy Scripture, may
ana does savingly enlighten men, We ask
You TO notice the statements contained in the
| citations made from the inaugural address in
the specification under these charges as amnly
justifying these charges
On page "A of the inaugural, after having re-
lerred TO the lmperfection and errancy Of all
the forms OF human authority. he states in def
milton of divine authority: The earnest shirt
presses back of all these human authorities in
| quest OF an infallible guide and of an eternal
ana lmmutable certainty. Probability might
be the guide of lite in the superficial eighteenth
century, and for those who have inherited it,
traditions, but the men of the present times are
IN quest OF certainty. Divine authority is the
| only authority to which man can yield implicit
ooecience. on which he can rest in loving GER
tainty and build with Joyous confidence" .
There are historically three great fountains Of
divine authoIty-the Bible, the Church and
/ the reason.
The Bible, the church and the reason. then.
are equal IN being great fountains Of divine
authority. The quality of divinity, and the
right OF divine authority belong alike to all
three; ana, as such. each can be TO man an in
ialilble guide of life. and speak to him with
eternal and immutable certainty. SO that be can
yield TO each implicit obedience, rest on each
with loving certainty and build with Joyous
! confidence.
1t does not in the least relieve the manner to
say tLat the Bible differs from the other two
! fountains of divine authority in being in addi-
ton also an infallible rule Of faith and practice
Tor according to DIR. Briggs own definition, the
church and the reason. as infallible guides, can
90 Tor men precisely the same things which the
Bible does Tor them az an infallible rule.
We have TO do with the church and the
reason. In respect to them DIR. Briggs affirms
hrst, that they can conduct men to a saving &C
qGslntance with God, and second, that they
can give TO men immutable certainty or assur-
ance IN matter of religion. Martineau and the
ratonallsts are examples for the reason. New
man and the churchman for the church
Newman could not reach certainty throurh
the Bible, STRIVING never so hard He and The
majority of Christians from the apostolic age
have found God through the church. To them
and TO martyrs and saints. fathers and school,
| men. the profoundest intellects the saintliest
lives, have had this experience. institutional
/ Christianity has been 20 them the presence
chamber of God" Dr. Briggs affirms this 10 be
true categorically, although. as be remarks: cit
is difficult for many Protestants to regard this
experience as any other than pious Illusion and
delusion." Gnaug u. 25l.
"Martineau could not find divine authority
in the church or the Bible. but no Ala find CA
enthroned in his own SOUL Qnaucunl- n. % \
| To him and the ratioua,ists> the reason a. The
| Holy of Holes of human nature m vb,ch God
| presents imself 10 those who seek Him IN oe
And. therefore although il is we'll lnown fiat
they reject the Scriptures as .be eutbor;tafive
proclamation OF the will of God and the wav Of
salvation through the mediation and sacrifice Of
the Son OF God as revealed therein Dir Pripgs
nevertheless would not .refuse these rationalists
a place in the company of the faithful" IN 27
That Dr. Briggs conceiyes of each one OF the
three fountains Of divine authority AZ canable
of imparting a saving knowledge of God is
| evident from hlsovn statements on the subject
o sa.s niess oods authority Is discerned