Marshall County independent., 1898-09-16

array the forces of darkness and error
against light and TRUTH 1t is the prov
ince of apologet.cs to strengthen and
confirm the believer in the faith rather
than to meet the arguments of the
faithless and unbelieving
Apologetics are also very valuable for
removing honest doubt, such as exists
in the mind of the follower of Christ
and for which he cannot get riden with
out help.
The present foe of faith is a new one
and consequently the line of battle is a
new one. The present foe is biblical
criticism. The dean was very discrim-
mating between legitimate and an il
legitimate phase of this criticism.
In defending the faith against this
new foe four things are necessary.
l. COURAGE.-Pauls picture of q
true and aggressive christian is one
fully clad in armor and soldier ready
for the fight. There is something in
makeup to which an appeal can be
made for courage and meet response.
This is manifest in the sober, courage
Gus faces of the American citizen since
the blowing up of the Maine.
Man is magnificent when thoroughly
aroused The photographer gets him
to sit quietly and look off into space.
The proper time to see man as he is. is
when he is intensely in earnest. Man
is beautiful when defending something
he loves.
2. KNOWLEDGE OF THE FOE-The
field of biblical criticism The foe is
the higher critics. 1t is the preachers
business 20 understand fully the posi-
tiOn of the enemy. 1t is not sufficient
merely to denounce higher criticism but
its arguments must be met. The op-
pOnents side must be mastered as Dan
iel Webster mastered all the arguments
of his great opponent, Hayne, long be-
fore and in anticipation of the conflict,
and as Lincoln who had mastered the
position of Douglas so we'll that when
ne stated Douglass position Douglas
could find no fault and add nothing.
Higher criticism is only mode of
studying the bible. John Wesley and
Adam Clark were higher critics in the
truest and highest sense. The word
conveys the wrong meaning to the pop
ulsr mind.
3. DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN ES-
SENTIAL AND NON ESSENTIAL THINGS
OF THE BIBLE-The Bibles purpose
must be understood. The fifth article
of religion in the NJ. E. Discipline is
the wise position to take in viewing the
word of God. There is human as we'll
as a divine element in the Bible. The
preacher of the Gospel must be able to
distinguish between this, as person is
able to distinguish between the bark of
tree and the fruit that grows upon it.
4. STRATEGIC CONCESSION.--The
"Charge of the Light Brigade" was to
take a position which no flesh could
hold. Thus the church has been COM
PEELED to retreat from some positions
she maintained IN the past. The in.
spiration of the Hebrew vowel points
once stOutly maintained had to be given
up. The New Testiment Greek ldiom
was defended as being the best but this
position had to be deserted. Verbal in.
spiration, and the unerrency of the
Scriptures on matters not necessary to
salvation, have suffered like faith,
but when you touch the fundamentals
of Christianity it is like touching a live
nerve. We may as church differ in
some of the speculative points but to a
sinner seeking the Lord there 10 q
chorus, "Believe ON the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved" Plant
your guns on the doctrines of Salvation
and maintain your position. The M
+. church has never taken q position
on these controverted positions that it
has been compelled to desert.