The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-07-27
A LAY SERMON.
ANCIENT AND MODERN
1AN1TY CON-
TRASTED.
The Orthodox Teachings Of the
Bible Good Enough for the Old
Time Religionists Whether
They are in Perfect Harmony
With the Advanced Ideas of
DR.. Briggs or Not.
TAtlanta Constitution |

TAtlanta constitutional
The old time Puritans had a queer
fancy in the matter of names for their
sons and daughters. One, Praise God
Barebones, was conspicuous figure in
tie ing parliament. Some of their
later descendants rejoiced in such pre-
fixes as Mephibosheth and like appella-
tiyes.
The daughters had the softer names
of Prudence, Piety, Patience, etc.
This brings US face to face with DIR.
Henry Preserved Smith, one of the
votaries of the higher criticism. This
learned pundit has done, at last, a
graceful act in rendering his resigna
ton as professor in the Lane Theolog
ical seminary at Cincinnati, O., which
has been as gracefully accepted.
DR.. Briggs would profit in public es-
TEEN by following this example.
As we have previously suggested, it
is quite time that these monopolists of
advanced Biblical scholarship should
relax their grip on the salaries that
properly pertain to those who are in
thorough harmony with orthodox
teachings.
DR.. Briggs does not as yet see it in
this light, and for some months, at
least, the theologues of the Union
seminary must endure his hypocritical
filings at the Bible and his stale jokes
at the expense of the old time religion.
There was period in the history Of
the German universities when there
was scarcely representative of the old
Lutheran creed, except Neander, who
stood firm in the faith of the fathers.
There is an utter lack of genuine
manliness, to say nothing of common
honesty, when pastor degenerates
into a hireling shepherd who cares
naught for the flock, but only for its
fleece.
Listening to DR.. Dewitt Talmage,
at the chautauqua last Sunday night,
we were not more impressed by his
multifarious learning and his admir-
able word painting than by his iron
cald orthodoxy. He evidently be-
lieves in an unmutilated Bible. He
neither bubbles about the {" mistakes
of Moses" nor bewilders his audience
by crude speculations about the
eternity of hell fire or the mysteries of
the Trinity.
When an Atlanta postor, who needs
to tarry at Jericho, was exaltlng poor,
erring. human reason above Revela-
tions DR.. Talmage was telling of his
interview, with grand old Gladstone
at Hawarden. The member from
Midlothian is as steadfast in the Chris
tian faith as was Lord Eldon, Eng
lands best chancellor, or Lord
Palmerston, who walked to church
every Sunday morning with his wife on
his arm and his prayer book in his
hand. Mr.. Gladstone assured DR..
Talmage that out of sixty of the most
learned Englishmen of his acquaint-
ance, fifty-hve of them were firm
believers in the plenary inspiration of
the holy scriptures, and of the re-
mainder only two or three were
strongly inclined to religious skepti-
cism.
An accurate census of Christendom
would reveal similar condition Of
things, especially amongst the more
cultured classes. The apprehension
sometimes expressed that the grogress
of science will destroy Christianity is
an inhdel scarecrow. The faith that
withstood the ten prosecutions OF
pagan Rome and survived the corrup-
ton of the middle ages has in it an
imperishable vitality. Its adherents
now rule three -fifths of the habitable
globe, and at the same ratio OF ad-
yancement which has marked the LIST
two centuries it will dominate the
whole earth before the close of the
twentieth century.
Walk about Zion, tell her towers
mark we'll her impregnable bulwarks
better still, consider her boundless re
sources in material wealth, in learning
in all that makes up the glory and
grandeur of the race, and it will bf
seen that the time will come when the
visit of the magi to the manger O
Bethlehem, bearing their tribute O
gold, frankincense and myrrh to la,
at the feet of Him who was at onc'
the holy Child Jesus and yet the
ancient of days, shall find a grande
fulhllment amidst the rejoicings ane
iallelujahs OF an earth fully redeemed
by the power of the gospel.
For this reason we have no sympath.
with the inpulsiveness which, in a sor
of stage fright, repeats the folly o
Uzzah, the Levite, who sought t
steady the ark of God when the oxen
who stumbled as they drew thei
sacred charge, threatened to pre-
cipitate it into the dust of the high
way. For this irreverence he wa
smitten with instant death. Let hi
fate be warning to all who woult
resort to mere human expedients t
save the church from destruction.
Far better the self-poise of Moses
who, shut in between the sea and tn
mountains, said to his dismaye'
countfymen, ssStand still and see tb
salvation of God"
1t is never wise to limit the Hol
One of Israel, but rather to heed tn
spiritual exhortation of Isaiah: " Trus
in the Lord, for in the Lord Jehova
there is everlasting strength"