The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-04
THE FALL OF NAN.
Dectrine of Evolution Not in
Harmony With the Bible.
oAswn AND MOSES IN CONFLICT


rrsvered before the Presbyterfan Minis
ses5Al Association at Seattle, February
Il. 1856
For the purpose OF Che present dis-
eu@ion the divine origin OF the Holy
Gczfptures must be assumed, but the
question Of their plenary or verbal In
spiraticn and Of their absolute ineryan-
~ must be left untouched. We are TO
consider the fab Of man from a philo-
Dspnical point ~ view. We accept the
Bible as a reliable revelation, as an
sdequate and complete source Of reIg-
9fous knowledge. as able TO make us
wise unto salvation through faith
shlch Ia In Jesus Christ, and as given
b. inspiration OF God and profitable for
doctrine. Whether or not the Scrip
TIRES contain mistakes respecstug mas
fers not necessarily connected with re-
1sious faith does not concern us now:
It Is enough IL the Bible be Trustworthy
respecting our relations to God and to
eternal things.
Moreover. we think that II II not
wise TO conjecture beforehand what the
contents OF divine revelation should
be or how they should be interpreted.
A priori principles should no more be
applied to the explanation OF Gods
word than to the explanation OF His
works. The better plan is to examine
me scriptures 80 as to perceive what
Eand OF instructions they convey. and
hen to govern our cxpec tations accnrd-
fnely. Before reading q book known TO
be written by divinely directed teach
ers one might suppose IL TO contain a
hsnly developed philosophy, like that
OF Plato. or TO be composed OF moral
9recepts and admon1tions, Hike the
works OF Confucius. or TO be filled with
HYMNS and prayers. like some OF the
iiifisioo Vedas. or 20 have these ele-
ments combined Tn suitable propor
lions. But probably any preconcepflon
would be erroneous. We cannot deter
mine the Character OF the Word OF God
save by study OF that word itself.
= Judging OF the Bible I'm this way the
fact becomes evident that Il is an in
enseiy human work. designed for the
instruction OF mankind generally.
Though It's authors were divfnefy guild
ed. they wrote under the Limitations
OF human faculties. and accordingly 10
the exigencies OF their times. The
SCRIPTURES are partly simple histories
or supernatural events and of Gods
dealings with his people aud with the
woTids partly the experiences OF holy
men and the expressions OF their faith
ana devotion; partly laws ard institu-
lions delivered from time 70 time by
oiVine authority; partly predictions. ex-
hortstions and warnings OF accredited
prophets; partly the testimony of apos-
teic men To the wonderful character
md mission, doings and sayings. life
and death of Jesus Christ: parflv
thmghtfui statements OF doctrine adj
dressed to Christian people and accom-
PANIED with exhortatious to right con-
east and godly living. All these So
esea records taken together form
h-smonious whole: they ex-
nlat the unity OF wisdom
saa Truth. and OF a high purpose.
ba' they do not present any formal
kaeme OF theology. much less any sys-
nm OF philosophy. The Bible does not
eeA in abstract principles: like ma
uaFT aud providence, II presents the
hcts and laws OF the divine govern
msht IN the concrete. The doctrinal
statements Of the Scriptures are the
eesl for practical purposes that can be
made, and they must be accepted as
absolutely true. But they ara not Civ
en- 10 US as ultimate principles which
90 not admit OF rational analysis On
the contrary, a determination OF the
fundamental laws of truth and eight
eousness and a coordination of the
teaehisgs OF revelation In accordance
with Them Is one Of the noalest tasks
20 which the human intellect can be
applied
Such being the case. two modes OF
PROCEDURE are open TO those who would
rofnluate IRE truths OF the Bible FOR
.''si''seifes or for Others. They may de-
seiop a Biblical theology. which does
s''" more than 10 collect and.
20 mite with each other the
tsa0hings OF the Scriptures first
on this topic and then on that.
aeeV'dihg to this method no ex-
Hahauon Is attempted further than
)" use what light ore part OF the sa-
Isa record may throw upon another:
ga uaeoF'Sing, whereby Scripiurai facts
"na laws are referred 10 causes or rea-
suns y excluded. The othe- mode OF
1sNSesure Is that OF philosophical the
..sy' aud IL endeavors 20 supplement-
oned theology with rational explana-
s@Ss as science undertakes 10
account Tor the phenomena of nature
- ule discovery and definition OF un-
as'ising laws. 81 philosophy enaeavors
:" account for mans present spiritual
sohd'tion ana for Gods methods Of
A'nS with our race hy an effort 10
ss1es them 10 ultimate principles. Some
N@Fe dect1esi this attempt ST theor-
s'e thinking as Savoring Of irrever-
enes; Il has also been condemned as
=" employment OF reason on matters
"es"au her sphere and FIN a way likely
- % productive only of error To snch
V.9ee,oss We reply that Z is impossible
v Ssaae the earnest Inquiries OF the
.'iha' that even where phi.oSonhixing
may not add - oar knowledge, lt Vet
may Clear away difficulties and show
'e Fe3~1aa hleNes@ az truth, and that
.' vhufTh - Tod in all ages has rsas,sNg-
h1Sed The Importance or rat.onailze,s
saeo'0sy The systems Of doctrine thai
"A1e ocen taught by eminent doctors
"'.1 ~ eeelessastical counciss, ard
s'''cA are upheld by different religious
'N'in3 Tens ~ she present time.
s"'F u" been fashioned more or less
~ philosophical thought Nh one can
.''af theron 'solnx views on any sab
re- without philoSophizlnx. The enlv
s@@''pfl Which should be required OF the
0Sffe and pEous student is ,has all
st'''aR spyc0latt0as should be held ia
s4o'EaicStSon - the Holy Scrinsures
: ga ia.