Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-20

The important question Of the au-
thority of the sacred Scriptures in
matters OF faith and practice again
claims the attention Of students Of
theology. 1t has been found necessary
TO reconsider IT, The position of the
| Protestant world has generally been
that the Scriptures are the ultimate
authority, the last court Of appeal,
superior to the opinions Of fathers
or the dicta Of councils, however an
Client, This view was a natural conse-
| quencc Of the Reformation In the dis
cussion with opponents the Reformers
put the authority Of the Bible against
the authority Of the church fathers
claiming infalliblity only for the ire
vealed" word. But 1t has long been ap-
parent that this position has not been
conducive to the unity Of faith which
should be characteristic Of the Church
Of God, Lately a great deal of doubt
has also heen thrown upon the in
fallibility Of the Bible, In fact. hi~hcr
| criticism in this century has assalled
the position of Professionalism in the
| same way az the Reformers in the six
teenth century attacked the Catholic
church. 1t has endcavored to prove the
futillty OF an appeal to the Bible as
ultimate authority. And SO persistent
have the attacks been. that theologians
are commencing to go over the ground
anew making new statements, new
definitions.
In 81. .
theological discussion, conservative
scholars now declare that the orthodox
idea of the Scriptures nscribcs to God
an agency in the production Of the
sacred writings which 1t has not
pleased Him to resume. They point
out that the writer's merely represent
the divine truth In manner consistent
with their own knowledge; or record
the dealings Of the Almighty with the
children Of men, as It appeared to them,
This view sees in the Scriptures divine
truth conveyed. as 1t were, in an en-
vclop of human expression. beautiful
but frail. The former is authority, but
the latter is a proper subject Of oriti-
cism.
1t cannot be denied that this position
Is an advance on the orthodox View.
But it leaves out Of consideration the
important and well attested fact that
our Savior Himself recognized In the
Scriptures, even in its minor features
Of expression, the decisive utterauoe Of
God. He did not apply to the sacred
writings the modern process OF cru-
cism.
When the whole question shall have
been cNhaustively discussed, it will he
admitted that the ultimate authority
In all matters pertaining to doctrine
and practice rests with God alone. In
a controversy, it is not always suf-
ncient TO appeal from the decisions of
men ana councils of men TO the 500
called revealed word. 1t must be car
rled higher, to the Giver and Inspircr
Of the word-from the law to the
Author of the law. In so far as He has
revealed His mind and will on any
given subject in past ages. and to the
extent that this revelation has been re-
corded, that record should end the con-
troyersy. It is given FOR that very
purpose the inspired writer's being COM
mlssioncd to interpret the divine will
10 mankind, But the Church is adj
vunclng IN Intelligence and under
standing aItd needs the divine guild
ance AT every step, Only II that
guidance is available can error be
avoided.
The question with the church IN an
ages has not been, Whnt Is written
but, What does the Lord say? HI.
voice, whether through the writer
word or through the mouths of Hi.
inspired servants, has always been IN,
end Of controversy with the follower,
OF Jesus, 1t Is impossible to recogniz,
the true authority Of the written wor,
without believing in continued dIvinl
presence and influence in the church.