The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15

THE EARLY REFORMERS IN THE FlkST PHASE VI
THE REFORMATION,
Though they rejected the external authority
of the church as the Interpreter OF Scripture,
were Convinced. however, of the necessity of
some infailible medium through which man
might attain to the knowledge OF the Christian
system. They had no more intention OF leav-
| ing the decision of doctrinal points to the un-
aided light of mans intellect than the Catnonc
church had.
They did not admit as large or as free field
for the exercise of the powers of the mind as is
| enjoyed under the SO much abused but so I'M
| perfectly understood doctrine OF the church's
lnfallibiiity.
This is their doctrine: AS in the work of
mans salvation all human cooperation is to
be rejected, so also in the Interpretation OF the
Scriptures the whole work OF Interpretation is
TO be attributed to God.
| Luther discarded all human alloy from his
religious system. According to him the Holy
Spirit reveals TO each man the true meaning
and import of the words which he reads. "The
Holy Spirit readeth the Scriptures, not thou"
And in another place, "The believer comes to
the knowledge of the truth instructed by God
alone. The sense of the sacred Scriptures was
engende red in the mind" without the aid, as
Zuinglius said, "of human reflection or mental
activity
This is the first phase of their doctrine re-
specting the place the Scriptures hold its Chris
tian theology. But before many years had
elapsed the principle OF immediate inspiration
was rejected and the Interpretation of the
holy Scriptures made to depend onthe private
Judgmento OF the reader uneided by any super
natural light.
This is the real state of the controversy, if
we except few sects who still hold that their
adherents are favored with the immediate in
spiration OF the Holy Ghost.
IN CATHOLIC SYSTEM
We come to the knowledge of our Lords teach
ing not directly through the Bible, but directly
through the church which lnterprets the
Bible
The Catholic church holds the Bible to be
the word of God and that it contains the reve-
lQt1OnS m 10 hv tn &c
1t are TO be found those eternal truths, those
never failing principles of virtue and true
morality which underlie the Christian sys-
TEN; that through 1t God communes with the
sons OF men, the majesty of whose inspired
language is only equaled by the sublimity of
the thought which 1t conveys. The Catholic
church holds that the Bible is the Magma
.Charta" of true liberty and civilizations; that
when its principles cease to be the basis of the
code OF laws OF any people, that people must
sink into q barbarism as deplorable as that
which existed in the world before our Lord
came into II.
But the principles of the Bible are not to be
admired only, they are to be applied to the re-
quirements of m an in the various necessities of
his nature. They are TO be brought home to
the heart of each individual TO shape his
course of life, to govern and control all his
actions.
In the Catholic system the power which in
terprets those principles and supplies them is
the authority OF the church. residing in her
appointed ministers, and not each individual
OF the Christian society.
We viii study the question more in detail
Christ during his lie on earth formed a. visible
self instructed in the truths OF the religion
which he established.
After his ascension the Holy Spirit de.
scended on them, as we read in the Acts OF the
Apostles, filllAg them with the spirit OF truth,
after which they commenced the work of con-
verting the nations according to their Masters
Injunction, go forth into the whole world,
teach all nations, teaching them TO observe all
things whatsoever | have commanded you:
and behold. am with you all days, even to the
consummation of the world" They COM
menced their mission in Jerusalem.
At st. Peters first sermon three thousand
of his hearers are moved by grace and receive
the faith.
on HIM HAS CHRIST BUILT HIS CHURCH
And calls him rock around which the storms
OF persecution might rise. 1t was never to be
shaken Crowds press around him through
Palestine, listening in breathless silence as ne
explains the doctrines OF Christs new king
dom. potent spell goes over the land, m inds
opened to the truth, hearts were moved, as the
work OF conversion goes on. In the beginning
slowly, one by one, each in his turn, as grace
inspired him, till whole nations are gathered
to the fold OF the true church and bow down
before the sweet mysterious influence OF the
cross OF Christ.
The apostles did not remain long together
ST. Thomas goes to India, st. Matthew to
Egypt, ST. James to Spain. st. Paul visits all
the countries from Palestine TO Spain. The
islands OF the sea did not escape his apostolic
vigilance. He preached to the philosophers of
Greece and reprOached them with their idola-
tries.
THE VOICE OF ST. PAUL
Amid the conflicting opinions OF pagan Rome
his voice is heard and in spite OF imperial
edicts ne gathers around him band of chosen
believers. Before hall of the first century the
faith of Christ is carried to all the people Oft
civilized world.
This work was accomplished without the aid
of Scriptures. The first book OF the New Testa-
ment was not written until about ten years
after the Sayior's death, and the last not un-
til about the sixty-tifth year of the. first cen
books at the same time nor were many of them
written for the universal church.
ST. Matthew wrote for the Jews converted to
Christianity, St. Mark at the request of the
faithful at Rome, ST. Luke for the geDtiles, st.
John to comply with the wishes OF his friends
St. PauPs letters were addressed to particular
churches. We have his Epistles to the Ro-
mans, to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, and
even to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. instance, to Titus, TO
Timothy and to Philemon. They were written
TO decide local questions, to advise in particu-
lar circumstances, sometimes very briefly,
withholding more ample instruction till he
would visit them in person. From the charac-
ter of the growth OF the primitive church it is
beyond doubt that though the Scriptures were
held TO be diyinely inspired they were not in
tended by the inspired writers to bear the
character OF q universal law, por were they in
tended to be the only source from which the
world was to derive its knowledge of the re-
ngion OF Christ.
What conclusion is to be drawn from these
Christianity? The conclusion illustrates and
confirms the doctrine OF the Catholic church.
1t is this:
LARGE VISIBLE COMMUNITY EXISTS.
It's hierarchy is complete; its discipline is
every day being more fully developed and per-
fected; the voice of is minister is heard every
where; rich and poor belong to it: men the
most learned and men the most illiterate; bar
barous nations that never heard of human
science were won over TO its faith. And as St.
Irenaus tells Us, the work of their conversion
was accomplished ''sine charta ct sine atra-
ment" (without paper and without ink), that
is, without learned controversy, without the
reading or profound study OF the Scriptures
Every part of this vast organism is working
in most admirable harmony. The same faith
is preached everywhere. 1t is announced in
Rome; the same is heard in Athens and Alex
andria; st. Paul teaches it in strong and burn
ing language; St John teaches the same doc
trine in words OF gentleness and charity. If
difficulties and disputes respecting doctrinal
matters arise in any of the churches, the de-
cision is referred to those whom Christ has ap-
pointed to act in such matters.
SUCH IS THE PICTURE
Which history gives us of the primitive church
before the Scriptures were written. Then ST.
Matthew wrote his gospel. Years after the
other gospels followed. The art of printing
was unknown. One or two copies OF them
were to be found in the principal cities
Passages from them were read on SUNDAYS and
explained to the faithful. They were edifying
and instructive. Obscure and difficult passages