Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-31
COL. McCOOK's ADDRESS.
The Close of the Final Argument at the Az
ternoon Session Yesterday.

SOL. MctOOhS ADDRESS,.
The Close of the Final Argument at the Az
ternoon Session Yesterday.
from yesterdays Assembly editionl
When the assembly convened after recess DIR.
Briggs resumed the stand. He first answered a
question that had been sent to him, asking
that he give his Interpretation Of the
word fountain He said that he thought
he had already given the meaning in which he
used this word. He did not mean 1t
as an original source, because he be-
lieved that God the original
source. But he used the word as Synonymous
with channel. The Bible, the reason and the
church he maintained were the channels
through which God comes to men.
He then resumed his argument, addressing
himself to the errors with which he Is charged
wit asserting in the Bible. He said that he
did not say absolutely that there were errors,
but that there NAV be errors in the
original autographs. He refused to accept the
dogma that the original autographs were
inerrant He characterized The dogma of
| inerrancy unhistoric and unstable.
He quoted a number OF the older divines as
well as those now living who recognized errors
in the Scriptures. But he maintained those
errors did not effect the Bible a rule Of faith
and practice. The best writer's admit the err
rors but claim that they are immaterial notes
in the sunbeam.
The Scriptures are Immediately inspired by
God. but tina. inspiration did not make them
inerrant in matters of science. They are suffi-
Gent to give that knowledge of God and His
will which Is necessary unto salvation,
but they are not sufficient to give
that knowledge Of astronomy and botany.
They are the only infallibIe rule of faith and
practice, but they are not the only infallible
rule Of agriculture and navigation, Of COM
merce and trade. Of war and finance. The
Scriptures are pure and errorless SO far as their
own purpose of grace is concerned. as the only
iufallible rule of the holy religion, the holy
doctrine and the holy life
He then turned to the subject Of the higher
criticism, and said that it had only to do with
the form of Scriptures. not the substance
He claimed that the fruits Of the higher criti-
cism was to give the Bible q greater hold upon
the human mind.
Prof. Brown read at Dr. Briggs request an
extract from the "Who Wrote the Pentateuch?''
giving discussion OF the scope OF higher wit
icism. Also an extract from his book, 1.-THE
Bible, the Church and Reason
BY these extracts from his writings Dr. Briggs
evidently desired to show that he held to the
opinion that the higher criticism is constructive
and not destructive OF the biblical teachings,
and that it has given vastly more than it has
taken away. 1t has showed a continuity in the
Scriptures and has brought to light many
beauties and truths that would otherwise not
nave peen ul5cOVereu.
QUESTION ANSWERED.
81 have been asked by a member Of the as
sembly, said DR.. Briggs, ''what 1 have to say
as to Christ's statement that Isaiah was the
author Of the book that bears his name. will
answer that by reading some extracts from the
Bible, the Church and the Reason"
He said that it was the common opinion that
David wrote the Psalter, but opinion was
divided as to who wrote the Pentateuch- But
why judge Jesus by the errors Of the time? II
We said that Jesus did not know that Moses
the time OF his own advent. He denied that
Jesus language misled anyone. 1t was
unfair to judge Jesus by the
errors OF his contemporaries. He did
rebuke slavery, but he was not for that reason
as TIE slave holders used to say. a supporter
of slavery. The book OF Esther is not used
because she wrote the book. The same may
be said of Ruth. Tho Epistles Of Hebrews
speaks Of David as writing the Psalms. There
was no more reason for supposing that Moses
bear his name.
Reverting to the subject Of redemption after
death DR.. Briggs said that he would ask Dr.
Brown to read some extracts from his evidence
so far as it related to his article Redemption
After Death in the Magazine Of Christian Lit
erature.
PROGRESSIVE sANrIFICArIoN.
He spoke of progressive santiication and
cOmbatted the idea that man who leaves the
world SO imperfect a. the best do should in
moment OF time leap to this perfection of prac-
tice. Some. he thought, who held the theory
of immediate santifcation at death are not
thinking OF the qualification set forth in the
Scripture, but a merely negative qualification,
such as consists in the absence Of sin
This doctrine Of progressive sanctifcation en-
ables US to understand the doctrine of the uni
versal salvation Of infants and incapables and
it also relieves the doctrine OF the salvation Of
some OF the heather and of the heather world.
He spoke OF the practical Importance Of this
doctrine as filling up the middle state with an
attractive industrious life. We see our babes
growing in divine life. Death loses its terrors
and becomes only q gateway into a better
country, into a brighter and purer life. 1t
incites to holy endeavors. There would have
been no martyrs il the church had been built
on the foundation of immediate sanctification.
At hnlf-past 8 DIR. Briggs inquired how much
Of his time remained He informed that
he had still twenty-seven minutes.
He then said that it would be necessary to re-
ply to some statements made by Dr. Duffeld.
As he was proceeding the moderator inter-
rupted and asked il the matters he proposed to
discuss were In the record.
DIR. Briggs said that they we're not
''Then. replied the moderator. '.if you remem-
Der, the quotations made by DR.. Duffield were
ordered to be stricken out and are not before
this court"
DIR. Briggs said that he would not discuss
them, and then proceeded to make his closing
remarks, which we're spoken extempore. He
asked the court to judge him fairly and Justly,
according to the evidence before them.
His peroration was brief, but was delivered
with a good deal of force.
A brief recess was then taken, in order that
the members of the court might rest from the
long session.
THE CLOSING ADDRESS FOB THE PROSECUTION
Col. McCook then made the closing address
for the prosecution.
The moderator stated that the time remain
ing of the present session represented tho re-
mainder of the allowance Of time granted to
the prosecution. If Col McCook was allowed
to speak without interruption. the arguments OF
the parties bin the case would be completed at
the close Of the present session.
Col. McCook then took the floor and explained
the form Of the charges and specifications He
said that in drawing them up an effort was
made to meet the criticisms made by Dr.
Briggs at the former trial. They had tried
to make them plain and as far rs pos
sible had used the words Of the appellee
in the charges and specifications. In this way
the question Of fact had largely been elimi-
mated. Yet the appellee had said that while he
IL xal ia no - al,