New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-06
DIR. BRIGGS AND THE BIBLE
A TALK WITH DIR. LYMAN ABBOTT.
HE EXPLAINS HIS CONCEPTION OF " THE WORD
OF Gop--THE QUESTION OF IN.
FAIIInIrJTY


The Rev. Or. Lyman Albeit asked Yesterday
concerning the statement OF the Rev. DR.. James H.
Ecob. of Albany who has been pastor OF the Second
byterian Church in that city for twelve years
Dr. Ecob Is represented a. having said Il leave the
Presbyterian denomination because It has taken on
garment that has lain buried in the grave for more
than two centuries. II smells Of the earth and
DEATH
"Dc you consider that this portends a general
withdrawal OF Dr. Briggs and his synpathizcrs from
the Church ~ he asked.
Il don't think So Or. Abbott replied. Here and
there individual ministers and some laymen may
initiate the which DR.. Ecob is reported TO
have pursued. but anything like general withdrawal
Of DR.. Briggs and his supporters and their foundin.
Of new sect Is In my judgment unlikely. There
| sects enough already"
"You are represented having said in youT
sermon in Plymouth Church on sunday that the
Bible IS not the word Of God =
Some OF these reports said DR.. Abbott. d" are
often done In n perluncOry way. The word OF COO
occurs don't know how many times In the Bible.
hut IT is never used designate the Bible Itself.
The Bible is the record which have made Tile
Bible Is called the scrlp,ures' the law or the
law and the prophets but IT is called the
word OF God The word OF God means God Himself,
manifesting Himself TO soul. For instance. tn;
word OF God came to samuel, but IL doesn't mean
the Bible to samuel; tine Word Of God
and multiplied doesn't mean that Bibles grew
and multplied.'
" Does II TO you that DR.. Briggs has not
the Of his convictions. u his Determination
| remains mistaken still 10 cling to the Church,
Decidedly not" said Dr. Abbott. 81 believe Dr.
Briggs has shown that he has the courage OF his con
victions. There are two questions which appear at
first sight complicated. one is, What is the reii-
gious truth and the other Is What agrees with the
Westminster Confession Of Faith
| Buf isn't IL proper SUPPOSE that religious truth
| and the Westminster Confession convertible
| ermsl"
| -" Will say.o replied Dr. Abbott 81 that the
fundamental question, as Dr.. Briggs has asserted,
that a man may come 20 knowledge of God without
having any knowledge Of the Bible, and the General
Assembly OF the Presbyterian Church says that that
is false and dangerous doctrine. In that matter
| have not the slightest question that DR.. Bilggs
| is right and that The General Assembly is wrong
The idea that "a man cannot come 10 a knowledge 81
God without knowledge CT the Bible would not
only shut out from knowledge Of God all devOut ana
ee" ana ' Merc" p Ancn e P b Would Shut
out likewise from God all the old Testament patriarch.
Isaiah. for they all lived before there Bible
How could they get knowledee Of God 4 we ,ay'
not any knowledge OF God without the Bible Mei
came TO a knowledge OF tod through their personal
Consciousness OF Him. and wrote that down. and wlIa
they wrote Is the Bible and 10 LAY mat mh M
cannot to any knowledge OF God without 'h'
Eibe Is like saving that a man cannot com" le
| af,re or any knOwIcdge Of flowers without coming
! over the works OF recognized authorities on botany
II Is agreed That there are errors In the Hble bn
they say these errors are all III translation a,'
that In the original there wee no error No'" aS
now living saw the original Documents a''
10 MAKE y question OF ialth depend upon ne ch'r
| octer of documents which have 10 existence
| and which nobody IS absurd.
The Piblc is the history OF Inc growth OF Wv
consciousness OF God IN the hearts and lives OF men
! II is clearer in the later prophets than II l., u
the earlier. and clearer In the New Testament tia,
is in the on but dearest u all In the revelation
that + made IN Jesus Christ"
i But do you deny that ~ is infalibieT -
"'rhe infailibiN,y Of the Bible is impossible con
| ception,r said Or. Abbott. The Riblc IS hot an
dogs not claim TO be an iniabie BOOK IL claims n, iS