The Portland daily press., 1896-10-26
WHAT is THE HIGHER .oRITIcIsM.
Sermon Preached Yesterday by Rev. Mr..
Shepherd.

Shepherd.
A large and attentive congregation at
st. Pauls church was proof of the inter-
est of people in the discussion of theme
supposed to be the monopoly of scholars
The rector, Rev. Jos. Battell Sheppard,
gave the first sermon in course on the
Higher Criticism. The subject was
what is the Higher Criticism2''
The speaker began the discourse by
saying that controversy for its own sake
was an evil. but for the sake of truth il
was virtue. If we call Higher Criti-
cism German Rationalism 1t will not lose
any Of it's identity or purpose. 1t will
also help us to trace it to its source.
Higher Criticism at one time was con-
fined to Germany. But crossing the
Rhine it invaded France and the Neither
lands. Like William the Conqueror, 1t
invaded England and attempted to
weaken the foundations of Anglo Saxon
theology. 1t seems long distance from
q destructive criticism of scripture to
denial Of some of the great doctrines of
Christianity, but the road Is straight
one. Right here in Portland the defend
ers of this criticism are outside the pale
of orthodoxy.
The great mistake ia to ignore the
historic movement of Rationalism.
Storms move in o bedience to law and
the Prince Of Darkness is never without
a place. A history of this NOV ement is
ito
tree is known by it's fruit and princi-
Pile Is known by its results. We must
know of the insidious overthrow of faith
it has produced, it's influence on pulpit
and press, to know of its results. The
question is not what is the aim or creed
of these critics, but thar has it accom-
pllshed? 1t IL perfectly fair to let its
advocates define this criticism. In
Wegscheideir's InstituSiones Dogmaticm,
an authority among Rationalists in Ger
many, we read these words, whatsoever
therefore despising that supremacy of
human reason, maintains that the au-
thority of a revelation said to have been
communicated to certain men in sup
ernatural manner, Is such that 1T must
be obeyed by all means, without any
| turns from the foundation the true ma
ture and dignity of man."
| Standlin says treason has the b ighest
authority and right of decision In mat
uers of faith and morality" Leckey
says that human reason Ia the only fac
tor of history. Yhe agency of the Holy
| Spirit is ignored. Rationalism Is the
| only relief in these later times. / might
speak of men who are recognized author
| ity on this school of thought, though
opposed TO 1t. Rose of Cam bridge uni
versity Is one. He says, "If receive
system, be 1t of politics, of morals, or
of religion, only so far as it approves it.
\ self to my reason, whatever tho author
| ity that presents it to me, it is idle to
| respect for that authority. ! receive it
only because my reason approves 1t and
l should do 80. il An authority far
inferior In value were to present the sys-
tenn to me. This ia what that division
of Rationalists which processes to re,
ceive Christianity and at the same time
to make reason the supreme arbitrator
in matters of faith, has DONE"
| Consider the effect of this system on
religious truth and Holy scripture, (f0r
they stand or fall together) at Its high
water mark. "a Religion. 1t is mere
morality. Conversion is thing of tho
imagination. (2.) The existence Of God.
1t is conceded, but the proof is impossi-
BILE, The doctrine OF the Trinity is
denied. 49, Inspiration. This doctrine
Ia rejected because it ia not needed. 1t
opens food gate for a mass of stuff
which is no more granted to be historic
ally true than the legends of early
Rome. a. Credibility OF Scripture.
The Bible Is of no more authority and
entitled to no further respect than any
Other book: 90 Miracles. The posi-
bility Of miracles is denied. (6.l The
person of Christ. He is an impost0r, or
he is sincere but self deceived. The
chief service of Christ WAS His doctrine.
His death only proved his faith in His
| doctrine. Oh, but says the latest of the
critics here in Portland "that Is not a
fair statement of ourspresent belief"
Well, let us listen to MIR. Staokpole. He
certainly is good witness. Concern
ing inspiration he says of the New Testn-
ment writer's, :" there is no claim on the
part Of the writers to anything like
infallibility or inspiration. They simply
told the truth as best they could about
jesus
OF reason, he says the ultimate stand
ard is the opinion of wise and good
men. "Sanctified reason la the BEST" II
any body in Portland, or out of it, will
explain the difference of the doctrine of
che German Rationalists on inspiration
and reason, and that of DR.. StackpoIe,
I shall be much obliged. The teaching
of this latest of the Higher Critics is
about as curious mixture of truth an
| error as have seen In some time. He
says the scriptures are not infallibls as
history. How he knows that, ne does not
| tell us. Preceding the time of Alexan-
DER the Old Testament is the only native
authority. Mistakes in numbers do
not disproye the fact of the Exod us. The
wonder is that in the transcription BY
| uninspired men, many mistakes have
| not occurred since 1t is not easy always
to tell one Hebrew letter from another,
and these letters were the only numbers
the Hebrews knew. "Thesscriptures are
not infallible in science. N0b0dy ever
said they were, but few monks OF the
middle ages, and that is not the fault
of the Book. The scriptures are not
| infalli bile in morals and ethics. Truth
| is progressive" so our critics says; is it
not possible that God taught the Jews
morals one thing at a timer The Scrip
lures are not infailible in theology. That
statement for a man who believes ia
evolution in theology is very strange,
God gave three revolutions of His ma
ture. that of power, Justice and love.
Moses knew nothing of love. Job had
glimpse of it.. Because he had seen more