Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-31

~
packed the cIlfice were not much inter
estei in that, and waited impatiently for
the Briggs case to ne renewed At the ap-
pointed hour the moderator convened the
assembly a. a court and Dr.. Briggs re-
surlcd this argument and continued until
and after the I2:}1 p. m. recess.
Errors in tlse Holy Scriptures.
Amended charge four, that DIR. Briggs
taught that errors may have existed in the
original text Of the Holy Scriptures as it
came from its aut hnrs, was considered at
enc-h by the appellee, who went into de-
tail on all the shades of meaning in which
his doctrine could he viewed. He admit
ted that the allegation that he taught that
errors may have existed in the original text
of Holy Scripture as it came from the au-
thors was fairly accurate, going on to say
that the only errors he ever found or ever
recognized in Holy Scriptures had been
beyond the range Of faith or practice, and
therefore they did not impair the infallibil-
ty of Holy Scripture rule of faith and
practice.
Coutroverts Another Claim.
Dr. Briggs said it was claimed that if he
recognized errors in matters beyond the
range of faith and practice he excited sus-
picion as to the infallibility of Holy Scrip
tur,. within the range of faith and practice
His accusers were entitled to that opinion
fo- themselves. but they had no right to
force their opinion on him. The confess
sion did not say 'rule OF all things" but
1.-THE rule of faith and practice" The
sacred writings We're not composed in
heaven by the Holy Spirit: they were not
sent down from heaven by angels hands;
they were not committed to the care of
perfect men: they were not kept by sue
cesSion of perfect priests from that mo-
ment until the present time.
Error Had First Kate Chance.
"God gave His holy word to men in an
entirely different wac. He used human
reason and all the difficulties of imperfect
human natures He used the voice and the
hands of imperfect men. He allowed the
sacred writings to be edited and re-edited.
arranged ard re-arranCed and re-arranged
again by imperfect scribeS. II Is evident
that | and others can hold that Holy Scrip
ture is the only infallibe rule of faith and
practice and yet hold that there are errors
in Holy Scriptures in matters that do not
in any way impair its iufallibility in mat
tiers of faith and practice"
Sanctifcation After Death.
Passing to the charge that he taught
that sanctification is not complete at
death, DIR. Briggs said that his doctrine
was clearly stated in the following words
of his inaugural: "There is no authority
tendon for the doctrine of immediate
sanctificHtion at death. The only sanctifi-
cation known to experience, to Christian
orthodoxy and TO the Bible is progressive
sanctifcation. Progressive san ctifcation
after death is the doctrine OF the Bible and
the church" DIR. Briggs claimed the au-
thority of the larger catechism as show
ing that there are three states in which
communion with Christ is enjoyed, name
ly: This life, Immediately after death,
and the resurrection and day of judg-
ment"
Not a Doctrine of Scripture.
Dr. Briggs said he would endeavor to
show that the doctrine of immediate sanc-
LITIGATION at death was against the Holy
Scriptures. Nowhere in Scripture was
death the crisis for which men were to
prepare themselves. 1t was always the
day Of Judgment, the advent day, the re-
Burrection day, which was the goal of hope
or of fear. of aspiration of dread, of
harvest or of doom. The invariable state
ment of the New Testament was that the
second advent OF Jesus Christ was the
goal of sanctification. There was not a
passage in the Bible that taught either
directly or indirectly immediate sanctifica-
ton at death.
The Predecessors Impressive Close.
Turning to the assembly, and raising
his hands solemnly, DIR. Briggs concluded
his defense as follows: II have endeavored
to explain myaviews. hold them sincere
ly and with all my heart hope they
are are set forth in Holy Scripture. l know
MANY of them are set forth in the West
minister confession. / challenge YOU before