The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-26
BRioss THE HERETO.


not always heresy in another. Luz
ther to the Catholics was hereto.
Hus, the devOut Christian scholar
was burned at the stake ny the
Catholics for heresy.
Extravagant statements, errone-
Gus views, false teachings, false in.
terpretations of the Bible, injudi-
cious declarations, dogmatic ut
terances, exasperating manner and
words may all exist in the same
person and yet heresy could not be
proved against him. Heresy re-
lates to religious views expressed in
language. tits not the unfortunate,
rasping, provoking Incorporate
manner of speaking or writing that
makes hereto, these are faults,
and to some extent censurable in
most every one, but belief is not
mannerisms. To be religious
hereto he must in some way avow
his disbelief in what is regarded by
his church to be essential to sound
Christian and Biblical doctrine.
Does DR.. Briggs discard divine
revelation ? Our Church holds "That
Holy Scripture is most necessary
and the rule of faith and practice"
"Here are" says DIR. Briggs. 1.-TWO
propositions, First THAT the Holy
Scripture is most necessary Sec
ond THAT Holy Scripture is the
rule of faith and practice ~
subscribe to both of these doctrines,
entirely, sincerely, and without any
reservation whatever"
The question between him and
his accusers is this. Do these prop
ositiOns contradict his affirmation
"That the Reason and the Church
are fountains of Divine Authority"
He says they do not. DR.. Briggs
never said Reason and the Church
are infallible guides, but he does
most positively maintain that Holy
Scripture is Gods infallible word
given to inspired men by the Holy
Spirit.
Though Reason and the Church
are not infallible guides to Saliva
ton DR.. Briggs maintains that
through these as fountains, God
does lead some into the way of life.
He says, "Jesus is the way to God,
andindeed the only way, because
He is the only Mediator between
God and man." "Now," says the
Dr., scripture is way TO Jesus"
Reason including Conscience and
Religious Feeling, is way to
Jesus. The Church is a way to
Jesus, but the Holy Spirit does not
lead anyone Jesus through the
Reason or the Church who "rejects
the Scriptures and the salvation
through Jesus Christ."-As | said
in my last article. If some adults
both capables and incapables as
we'll as infants, are saved as is gen.
orally believed, though they never
heard of a bible or Savior,-by the
Holy Spirit working when, and
where and how he choosath, it is
plain enough that Holy Scrip
ture was not to them rule of faith
and practice, nor necessary to their
salvation. 1t may be added that
a man of sense ought to see that
God cannot save anyone through
Scripture only as He wOkks in and
through Reason. What is saving a
man but enlightening him, and
quickening his conscience and be-
getting in him deep penitent feel
ings? So thoroughly correct is DR.
Briggs in his explanation about the
the sources of Divine influence il
saving man, that it is amazing thai
anyone at all familiar with his
writings would ,censure-- him fol
maintaining that "The Reason anC
The Church are fountains through
which eternal life flows into human
souls.
And this is all he means wher
he takes exception to the eXac
language of our Confession of Faitf
"That Holy Scripture is most neces
sary and is the rule of faith an(
practice" 1t cannot be a rule t.
those who never had access to it
nor necessary to their salvation.
Prof. Briggs maintains correctl,
that the Bible is not rule of faiti
and practice only in religious mat
tiers. We do not consult it for 6
knowledge of the sciences, or o
general history, or for Chunology
or for correct citation, or for exact
ness in names If persons ant
things. The DR.. however says
such matters as these are necessary
to salvation then the Bible must b,
to the same extent our rule of faitl
and practice. If it be possible for {