Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-08
THE BIBLES TRUTHFULNEss.
Rev. DIR. Briggs Describes what fs
Known as the Higher Criticism.


Rev. DIR. Charles A. Briggs whose trial
and conviction of heresy by the Presbyte-
rlan Church have brought him into prom
lnence occupied the pulpit at Grace NJ. L.
Church In Baltimore Sunday morning and
evening.
me sermon in the morning was upon
Ihe Truthfulness of the Bible" DR.
Brlggs spoke Of the present as a time Of
great Importance in the history of the
Christian Church. The eagerness for Bib
neal study and investigation, and the pro-
iundity thereof. exceeded. he thought, these
conditions at the time of the Protestant
reformation. The present was the time OF
reformation and revival
The reasons for this state Of things"
continued DR.. Briggs. "are three: In the
flrst place, human thought and activity are
advancing with tremendous strides, and
there is a strong tendency to change This
change is often FOR new and better things.
Next. there is profound dissatisfaction in
the Christian Church of today with the ex-
lsung doSrnas and doctrines that have been
taught for so long. There is a natural ten
dency to look again toward the Bible there
TO hnd a method of reforming our theology
to conform with the life OF Jesus Christ.
In the third place, the study of the holy
scriptures has changed in accordance with
the different methods OF learning. The Bi-
bic is being examined coolly, calmly, scien-
uncaily. 1t has become a new book. New
wonders have been revealed. Its words.
forms, sentences have all been studied. Ii
has given rise to cOnnparativ history OF an
clent times. historical and higher criticism.
biblical theology and kindred Biblical sci
ences- The prime result Of all this is a ten
dency to DO away with dogmatical beliefs
and doctrines.
But the great question is whether. after
all this Investigation. the Bible can be relied
upon; Is it truthful? That question depends
on whether by truthful is meant-and some
uphold this view-that 1t is altogether infal-
law. philosophy and what not. because *
is the Word of God and God can only be
the truth. Then, if we find one tiny. unini.
pOTtant error. the Bible cannot be relied
upon. But the Bible contains many errors.
and. therefore. this theory does not hold.
The Bible comes to US from manuscript
written by men. II is. therefore. liable TO
human errors. being written by human be-
ings. But we do not even possess the orisi-
nal manuscripts-far from IT. That is one
way errors have crept in.
Then. I'm the next place Just as We might
use literal untruths 10 teach real and moral
truths to the child or to the untutorea saw
age, is ii not probable that God. so infinitely
high above man. has used the literal In in
structing him-which literal may not be the
exact truthZ 1t makes no difference, really,
who wrote the Psalms. or the Pentateuch,
or the Book of Matthew, or the second
half of Isaiah; we have tfne MAGNIFICENT
wonderful writings. and We cannot know
VINO really did compose them
God reveals His truths by means Of hui
man concepts: therefore. they are pecesSar-
lly only partial or relative, and many have
errors. We cannot assume that God speai,s
to men by absolute tTuth-they' might not
be able to understand IL.
Now, admitting these errors of the Fl.
bic. we can undoubtedly believe in the doe
trine taught in the Holy Scriptures. becaas.
they reveal themselves as the work Of Cod
in revealing everything pertaining to Chris
tian life. Higher criticism does not inter.
fere with these. Questions or, and errors
in regard TO authorship. chronology and
meter do not interfere with the divine mora
truths and precepts that the bible teaches
nor disturb its great ethical PRINCIPLES. tn,
Bihle is the method OF communion Of mar
with God, and every Christian knows IT,
and no one can take away that conscious
ness. He who IS disturbed Is weak in piets
and IN his vftel reia tions 70 God.
The Bible is not being attacked by IN,
scientist and investigators. on the con
| tTary, The Word Of God is Ike q sword
which must be drawn from its sheath Of &C
| cretious Of human folly and deceit. DO no
/ fear the exposure OF the errors of the Rihis
IL viii only result in the spreading Of IN.
! truth and The Word Of God over all Jh.
world and to all men,"