The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-06-10
1.-THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY

l 1.-THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY
} This was the theme of the discourse by
Rev. w. q. Curtis, of the Congregational
church last Sunday morning in this city,
and he handled the subject in very able
and comprehensive manner. Taking his
text from II Peter zig his sermon was
clear, ,incisive and logical diicussion OF the
G. eat issues now agltating the Christian
world, and which has eliminated in the
Presbyterian church In DR.. Briggs being
deposed from the ministry. 1t will be
impossible 10 give anything more than
very brief synopsis of the address, and
perhaps not sufficient for readers to enter
into the spirit OF the mastery sermon.
The reformation, Mr.. Curtis said, was an
uprising of individual conscience and the
right of private Interpretation of the BI-
BILE as against the claim of the Romlsh
church that it alone was infallihly guided
in its Interpretation. An appeal was taken
to the word of God, as the only infallible
guide, and the greatest latitude given to
individual Interpretation. Thrown back
upon the Bible the protestants were COM
PEELED to defend it, study it and give 1t to
the people as never before in Christian |
history. Under this pressure there grew |
up for the book claim, as to the method |
of its inspiration and authority, very dit |
ferent from that with which it started. |
The history, the speaker said, was long |
one, and he would not undertake to fol-
low it. Pro,estantism, IN its claims, is
well phrased in the words of the West
minister confession of faith: "The scrip
lures of the Old and New Testament are
given by inspiration of God and are the
only infallible rule of faith and practice"
Under this banner every man went to the
Bible for his infallible rule of faith and
practice, and accordingly protestanism
began to split according to natural lines
of cleavage into sects, each one claiming
that his ideas of "fa1th and practice" had
the sanction of "Thus saith the Lord"
The process of division and subdivision
went on, and Baptists and Presbyterlans
formulated their creeds, and placing them
|
them as infallible as the source from
which they were drawn. DoctrInalism,
denominated the twin curse of protestant
ism, sprung from this same root, and is
hardly less tolerable than the traditional
ism of Rome All creeds were certain
that they were right in their doctrines,
and from this arose the chickering's, ha-
treds and strife on dogmas drawn from
fhe 1Lfalllbllity of the book. Each
dogma had its proof texts, and when this
was founded upon "Thus saith the Lord,''
the followers could not believe other
wise though the heavens fall. One would
think that the student of the different
churches would see at glance the alb
surdity of the claim of infalllbility. But
of what avail Is the Infalllbility IN the
book If there is no infalllble method of
Interpretation, and if the autographs of
those who were inspired have been almost :
wholly lost All we IAN claim are rem
nants of what we hope survive in the
present corrupt text. The resolution of ..
Rev. DR.. Young, passed at the late general
assembly of the Presbyterian church,
that the Bible, as we now have it, in its
various transl .tions and versions, when
freed from all errors and mistakes of
copyists and printers. is the word of God,
and consequently without error" is as
chimericaI as the pot of gold at the end I,
of the rainbow No one has ever been ,, ,
there to prove or dispute it, and therefore
it is a question that does not come under >
the rules OF discussion. The speaker, in
summing up the causes of the controver-
sizes that have lasted through all ages and {
even from the time of the Jewish church,
said that it was because men have been I
trying to work truth outside of its own 7
proper sphere. Mechanics, physics aud
have intallible rules, but N
the higher realm of faith and love-the
spiritual existence-there are no unbend-
ing rules. Two and two makes four, alb
solute, certain; but loye to God and the
higher spiritual life of love to man and
for heaven, as given by
Christ, cannot be measured by the iufalli-
BILE laws Of mechanical forces. A child o.
may sound the correct notes on an organ, n
but it took the genius of HAYDEN to create
The masterpiece of music "The Messiah"
.fter rules engendered in his own master tt
mind The writers of doggeral roems W
may follow infallible rules, but Homer,
Milton and Shakespeare displayed their oil
genius bv ranging above mathematics or tt
mechanics. With the most beautiful SIM
les and illustrations, Mr.. Curtis con- a,
1nued to discuss this part of the subject, ev
carrying conviction to the minds of all
hat in the higher region of love to God Il
md man, faith IN heaven and immortality, @
zach true follower of Jesus was a rule
into himself. The Bible is a textbook of 1t
spirituality as Gray was of botany. 1t is la
trustworthy, and any one can draw from Ell
t the living waters of love and life. nj
When we are sitting under the authority
md holy spell of the truth, this questI il
If InfallIbilIty is profane intrusion and ST
mperllnence. To such errors of texts, of "
construction, or even of Interpretation, is
lave little significance. In its great pur- nj
pose of pressing upon the world sense m
If life and immortality, brought to light
through Jesus Christ,lt is direct and clear su
IS ray OF light. The great truths of tn
owe and life, heaYen and righteousness, &C
rise and shine upon US with the etful- &C
,ence of the morning sun. He closed sc
With an eloquent tribute to the power of st
he Bible in instllling in all hopes and ql
SEPARATIONS after better, higher lite, and or
quotation from Jesus himself blessing Iii
hose who have not seen and yet have be-
ieved. The gentlemen preached with W
orce and spirit, and every sentence that FL
anne from his lips seemed laden with ao
eep and earnest thought 1t was one of h'
lr Curtis ablest efforts, ard, like many
his sermons, would not decrease Ill u
Drce bV reDetitiOn. pr