New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22

lIfe should believe in Him. That these )usti'
fed saved believers might have visible associated n'e
as earthly training school and home Tor them, the
Church organized and established
1t therefore into the being By. was the essential
product promise and pledge OF Almighty Goa 70 HIS
only bcgotten Son. Is possible conceive OF any
stronger guarantee Of ndestructbe exlstencef Compared
with it all other chartered institutional life Is yielding
air shifting sand breaking bubble. God spahe and the
Church born 1t stands upon the rock OF ages 1t
ITS lbs head the clouds above the stars Its days
are the years god II IL immortal and cannot be killed
1t will survive oil It's foes and stand erect when every
idol falls II fears what its enemies cap do than
oc rod Of feared when the slaves OF the magcans
Kissed around IT, Yes,
On the rock Of ages founded
Naught shake It's sure repose,
Pv salvation's walls surrounded,
It can smile at all its i0es.'
Bu, more far more th'n this. is tue. Not only has
the Church divncly inspired life, but the way IN
which life In all It's grand essential principles ana
features shall Itself is also prescribed by God In.
Gnitoly precious beloved by It's divine head con-
,drate jealous is lie Of IL honor purify and pros
pcrtv that created being will He intrust the en-
acnent OF laws for its government He Himself Will %
alone the legislator as lie u the supreme suocrau' MING
Zion.
The Presbyterian Church clearly recognizes this In
It's Confession Of Faith IL explicitly repudiates all risa'
and authority egsate make laws for the Church.
II, province and functions limited TO the far hum
bier and smaller sphere Of Interpreting and applying the
law a. en,ncated by God We know that sometimes or
standard, been called thc Constitution OF the Pre
hyrcrn Church." The phrascology regard as ineNact
and unfort, nate and vet candid person VINO c'reiuv
tesd tho, standards misuhder and the meaning OF
the arpclatlon. They are they claim TO be, the COM
sution Church. simply and only as expressing IN
tho most exact un.s pred language, the divney Haheo
enactment, contained In the bible.
OF Gods Kingdom like the modei OF tne
sanctuary shown to the mount. was the work.
manshp His wisdom and love. prepared from hrst 70
last bv Himself. Thus originated by God. it was not
In Nnf on
instalments each insalment perfect in Itself 1t was
by the Holy Spirit as the interests ana
progress Of the Church demanded Because so impaired
thai perfection aud infab.y which pertaIned to It as
tod adhees IL STILL The human channels OF
10, transmission were diyney directed and guided that
the product when freed from all changes ana errors
tansators transcrbei- and printers Is the very
enactment Of col. Now. constitution. prescribing
p,-t,,ly great laws condition and principles OF the
| Church's llfc. Is founded OH the Bible.
Indeed the Bible IL simply and only that constitution
plu, the history OF Gods people and OF the facts OF r..
dcmpton which acted and reacted upon cach otner au
are vitality interviewer together.
We u.s., words then a fair degree OF eNactness
call the Bible the constitutional history OF the
Church" element, found In II. the history ana
the laws earthly recorded and the heavenly
connected They vouched for by the same au-
,horty they stand fall together You cannot destIoy
confidence IN the rustworthincss OF one without at the
slmc time weakening the divine infloIlity Of the
other.
Views radically antagonstc 10 these are held and
widely promulgated. Extreme foreign representatives OF
a now school of criticism. which. when wisely and de-
youtlv conducted, Il most useful ard yaluablc-men
OF acknowledged learning and scholarshipare busly
Gagged Remembering and diSsccting the Bible and
rearrangng and rcarteulatng IL upon principles In
the apple alton OF which they widely dTer Some Of
these critics teachers utterly destructive both
I'm their methods and results. Other, profess a
spirit. They draw broad distinction between the
Re, claton when 1t be ascertoncd, and the history
! in the Book. The former s Acknowledged IN be Of
divine origin and authority, ana. thcIHorr great a.
owance being made aliblity In the human channels
OF It's tran -ion. confsscdy perfect and true while
the latter marked throughout by human ignorance and
muerfcctlon. We do that they consciously
have thI. intent. but with views 10 the effect OF
such treatment Bible the they express
Tor thu the respect which suceS full revolution
! lists show to Il dctbroned anL di,cownci king
The Presbyterian Church. the evangelical church Of
Jesus Christ throughout the world hos never In the
p,st doe, now. and will in thr future as We
think. indor-e these opinions. The great er"cd> OF
Christcndom. honestly and fairly interpreted. give no
,ountrnance to them. Our beloved church, while
honong scholarship, counting nNc'ti9ation and "elcom
nr criticism her standards. her deliver RANGES. IN" ut
crncc, her wcst and best ministers has again anu
acain expressed her firm and settled conviction that no
discrimination Is truthfulncss be made between
| different parts OF the Book that from beginning u
end from the opening sentence In Genesis 10 the last
verse In Revelation the Bible Is the VOID OF God
or the purport and this should BE- conclusive is
| he
ruthfuncs ut least OF all that part OF the Bible which
was in when lie earth. Ills word Is
plcdqed THE Old Testament. the whole OF IT,, says
one in its minutct details lie recognized as III"
urtcranccs Of God" lie treated whole. TO Him
IL was enough. 1T Is written" H. considered this
should b. enough for His hearers With Him scripture
could not be brokcn' 'IIe accepted the narrative
facts even where modern criticism only instructive
fable human cNaggcrations From end To end He has
placcd His seal OF royal assent upon the Book"
| non no theory belief IL 10
me- claim q divine inallblc, perfect constitution for
the Church. II the historical and pcrsonagcs the
facts redemption. which are. recorded. woven and
interviewer with the giving OF the constitution did not
,an,rre and exist possibly authenticate that
Institution divine. But upon the divine nfalibty
Of enactments confidently rest the salvation
Of our souls 1t will securely support them. God Infinite
| wisdom love and power are behind and In IT, Heaven
and earth pass away, but not one ot or little OF all
that is written Book shall fail To be ulncd No
apprehension should be felt the safety of the Bible
M possible harm can befall It, Here TO doubt Is dis
LOYALTY 10 God 10 fear Is TO SIM IL courts the most
searching investigation 1t welcomes the sharpest crti'
csm.
inc IL will come forth II has from all other merry c-ts'
in It's integrity without so much as the smell OF h'r
,hout II, And when very names Of those r,d al
orlen r,foralistic critics who IRE seeding - dc 'foS it'
historical ruthiuncss its perfect iIfaby, with their
,tcIy bc,adcG pocLct ons ral have beer buried III
common oblivion the Bible, the wolc Bible history,
loc raphy prophecy, and coctfihe SNAIL by increasing
millions OF believers continue to be received, read, and
nrixei above all earthly possession the Word Of
Almighty God How august low glorious, how blessed
and safe n kingdom governed and administered by
laws framed legislature OF heaven ana revealed 3y
tho Holy Ghost. While sAutlng and rejoicing Ia 10.