The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-11-22
BRIGGS BOOK.
A Minute Discussion by the Doctor Of
the Second Advent.
Doctrines That Will Doubtless Call for
Sweeping Discussion in His Church and
Out of It-His Treatment of the
Immmacuiate Conception.

cial Advertiser Saturday afternoon
published a synopsis of the latest work
of Prof. Charles A. Briggs, of Union
Theological seminary. The book, 1.-The
Messiah of the Gospels" is intended to
follow "Messianic Prophecy" which
caused SO much comment when pub
lished in 1885, 1t was the intention of
DR.. Briggs to publish The Messiah
of the Gospels" in 1887. but the charges
of heresy were brought about that
time, and he has been compelled to
defer publication until now. The dedi-
cation reads US follows:
ITO Henry Preserved Smith, true
scholar, faithful friend and brave com.
panion in holy warfare, this book is
dedicated in sympathy and love"
In his latest book DR.. Briggs has en-
tered infinitely into discussion of the
second advent. He is convinced that
the faith of the church of the day
is defective in its lack of apprehension
of the reigning Christ and its neglect
of the second advent of our Lord.
The chapters upon immaculate con-
ception will perhaps call for the most
criticism. He says: The blessed virgin
was residing in Nazareth of Galilee,
betrothed to Joseph of the royal line
of David, the heir of the Messianic
promises of the Old Testament. The
time for marriage has not yet come.
God had a higher appointment for her
to fulfill as the Virgin Mother of the
Messiah. The Virgin Conception of
Jesus as announced by the Archangel
&c ~ 10 ha .v,fn cd a
miracle, in violation of the laws of ma
ture; but rather as brought about by
God himself present in theophany.
The words of the angel imply a
theophanic presence, though it might
be urged that the coming of the
spirit upon her was an in
visible coming after the analogy
of many passages of the Old Testa-
ment, yet the parallel statement that
the Divine power overshadowed her
can not be SO interpreted. This an
nunciation represents the conception
of Jesus as due to a theophany. 1t
does not rotate the doctrine of his pre-
existence; although that doctrine is a
legitimate inference. 1t represents an
early stage of New Testament Christ
ology. 1t does not go step beyond
the Paulism of the Epistle to the Cor
inthians. 1t implies nothing more
than the sending in birth taught by
the Epistle to the Galatians and to
the Romans. 1t is really more prim-
tive and more simple Christological
conception"
Reference is made to the light of the
logia, the discussion of which played
SO prominent part at the trial of DR..
Briggs for heresy. He says: 1.-THE gcs-
pei gives glimpses of the life and
teachings of Jesus, from four differ
ent points of view. Mark in the
simplest and earliest in composition.
Almost all that is given in Mark re-
appears in Matthew and Luke, both
of these gospels using the caller
Mark. Matthew is distinguished
by long discourses of Jesus upon
several great themes. We find
very much the same matter in
other connections in Luke; but only q
| linn tied portion of it in Mark. 1t is evi
dent that the gospel of Matthew has
| grouped the words of Jesus about sew
eral themes. AS it depended chiefly
|
it also depended upon the logia o.
Matthew for these discourses. The
logia of Matthew is the collection chief
ly of the sayings of Jesus made by the
| Apostle Matthew in the Aramaic Ian
guage, according to the testimony O.
Papias. This logia was lost at an ear
ly date, but the most, if not all, of it
contents are in the gospels of Matthew
and Luke. Luke gives them more il
the circumstances of their utterance
The gospel of Matthew arranged then
in a topical order without regard t
these circumstances. These discoverie
of Jesus from the logia of Matthew ar
rich and pregnant with Messianic ma
terial. The gospel of Matthew give
other sayings of Jesus, and reports 9th
er acts of Jesus which were takel
probably from other sources, writer
or oral. The Gospel of Luke uses tn
historical material of Mark, gives tn
sayings from the logia of Matthe,
their original setting, but it also give
original matter not found in the othe
evangelists. 1t is probable that tn
material was chiefly derived from
third written source. The Gospel O
John is different from the other thre
in that the material is chiefly new. !
gives us more the esoteric teachings @
Jesus and events of a more private an
personal character, all bearing tn
marks of deep and thorough reflection
upon the personal life of Jesus"
DR.. Briggs makes special study O
the second advent of Christ He make
the discussion of the second advent O
greater Importance than most theolog
ians have deemed necessary, and ha
brought many truths to light tina
heretofore have remained hidden, O
have at least been disregarded
Many Japs Sick.
LONDON, Nov. ia dispatch iron
Yokohama to the Pail Mall Gazett