The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-12
STANDS By DR.. BRIGGS.
Rev. Charles H. Strong on His EE-
CluSiOl From the Ministry.

/ The Christian Faith UnshREen by the
/ Scholars Researches and conolu-
sions-He Does Not Think 1t Makes
l Material Difference with the Chris
tians' Belief whether Moses Wrote
/ the First Five Books of the Bible or
! not-The Bible an Inspired Work,
but Written By Men Liable to Human
Failings-The Episcopalian Belief in
the word-Dr. Dripps on the Briggs
Case.
The action Of the Presbyterian conven-
ton in expeiiing Dr. Briggs from the mir.
istry was discussed yesterday by Rev
Charles II. Strong IN one Of his character
istic forcible and instructive sermons. He
presented such a clear view of the case
that even those who had given no atten-
ton to its progress could not have failed
to understand it.
Mr.. Strong's argument strongly sus-
tanned DR. Briggs from the Episcopaliau
standpoint, showing clearly that the re
searches and conclusions of modern schol-
ars with regard to the Bible, could be in
no way detrimental to the book upon
which all Christians must base their
hopes.
Mr.. Strong began by comparing the re
searches and results reached by modern
scientists with those OF the modern
scholar For example he said, very few
people know how the machinery of the
electric car is made, and by what exact
process the work is accomplished; still
they can see the result of the work and
can enjoy the benefits of that result.
SO 1t was with modern research in
other branches. The scholar who had
access to all the old manuscripts of
the Bible, written in many different
tongues, and who was cOnversant with
those languages which were q key to
their contents, so to speak, could reach
true conclusions with regard to portions
of the scriptures of very little of which
the layman could have absolute knowl-
edge, as he had no means of reasoning out
or investigating these questions for him
self The laYman must therefore accept
the opinion of the scholars who have
made the Investigations, or, clinging to
the common belief in regard to them
based upon no inves tigation or fact, deny
that they are true.
NOT UNoRTHoDox.
With regard to these conclusions which
DR.. Briggs taught Mr.. Strong said they
could in no wise destroy the foundation of
the Christians belief in the book as the
word of God. For instance, it made no
difference, so far as the principles of true
Christianity were concerned, whether
Moses wrote the whole of the first five
books of the Bible or not Modern inves-
tigation had shown that such could not
have been the case, as portions of the
Pentateuch contain references to places
and events which are known
not to have been in existence until after
Moses death; and again, it would have
been strange, indeed, If Moses had writ
ten the account of his own death and
burial. These Investigations had also
shown, DR.. Strong said, that Isaiah did
not write the latter portion Of the book
which bears his name. These facts, he
hold could in nOwise shake the Chris
tian belief in the word itself, simply be-
cause that word had not all been recorded
by the authors to whom the works are
commonly attributed.
Mr.. Strong then took up the subject of
the inspiration of the holy word. The
Bible was written, he said, by different
men, each of whom had his own peculiar
style, which was readily recognizable by
those who made study of the books
Into their writings these men had thrown
their own peculiar style, which was the
result of their own Individuality and the
circumstances which surrounded them.
INSPIRED THROUGHOUT.
These men were human and were liable
to the failing to which the whole human
race is subject. The work was one done by
human hands, still there was the divine
light of inspiration shining through 1t all.
1t was the work of God, but done by hui
man hands. 1t combined both the human
and the divine. If the human had in
slight particulars been IN error, it need
not and did affect the faith of the Chris
tian in the divinity contained in the
work. In regard to this point, Mr..
Strong referred to the biblical account of
the creation, which, he said, now was not
believed literally by those who had made
a scientific investigation of the subject.
MIR. Strong referred to the Episco-
palian belief in regard to the Bible. 1t
was contained in the answer to
be mCde by clergyman
upon his ordination He was
required simply to believe that the Bible
contained all that was necessary to
eternal salvation. So longas the divinity
in the work was not affected by the
human, the faith of the Christian should
not and could not be shaken.
His sermon took up in general the
points upon which the trial of DIR. Briggs
by the Presbyterian assembly had been
based, and his argument was strong
Vindication of the advanced ideas and
conclusions of modern scholars, reached
through thorough investigation, such as
were fanpnt nv that divine