West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-04-06
Reply to New York Methodist Min-
listers.


Special Contribution from a Baptist Minister.
have read in 1HE ARGUS OF the at
tack upou the Bib,e 10y the Methodist
MiSisters OF New NsrlS. to which heg
leave To reply, in behalf OF truth and
righteousness. am not "A u. II. but
claim due consideration OF the follow.
ing presentation, because II is not
trammelsd by any creed or IN iustifi.
cation OF any false practice
understand Mr.. Cadman's view. as
endorsed 10y the 400 Methodist minis.
ters present, To be (: that the Bible is
not the ultimate standard and infal-
ltblo rule of faith and practice. but
that the living Christ through tRonan.
ism would say through the Popel In,
human reason and conscience reveals
the truth continually, that is. to each
person aRd each age.
He virtually denies the inspiration
OF the Scripture. He is either n nan.
thsist or an anti-christian. or perhaps
nc would rather be called New
Theologian." His theory simply trans
tsrs the standard of faith aud prnctice
Tor the christian from che Bible, Gods
word To the human reason and con-
science, which are creatures of ed.
ucation. II is true that man is made
in the image Of God, but this image is
defaced and reason and conscience nrc
no longer normal SO then. the pro.
test in any case, against the Scrip
lures, is not dus to the fact that the
Scriptures can be proven false. but
protest is due to abnormality of mind
or apprehension of what the bible
teaches, or to our unwillingness to
assent TO that which biased MIND
will not approve.
Mr.. Cadman's assertion need not
startle us lie is simply reviewing the
old exploded theory Of Schleiesinacher
in modified form, and so falls i'm line
with The New Theology" 30 called.
Jesus said, John 7:17. III anvone
wishes to know his will. ne shall know
concerning the teaching, whether IL is
OF God, or whether / speak from nv
self Here is IA great Spiritual lay
tho moral attitude OF person will
sHecI ms view OF the truth. An oOedi-
ent spirit is indi spcnsiJle, 10 come TO
the knowledge OF the truth. A right
VIII. tends 10 just judgement and
knowledge OF the truth; but perverse
Will darLcns the understanding and
leads TO error. II is not difficult to see
how these 400 Methodist ministers can
declare against the Bible, since they
nave always practiced that which i
contrary TO Gods word and will
faith cometh by herring, and hear.
ing by the word of God" They bavs
not faith in Gods word because thev
nave failed to hear and obey Gods
voice in his word The conclusions NJ
these New York ministers are the
logical and natural result Of their
false system and practice. The won.
uer 49, that it did not come sooner.
Every plant which my heavenly
Father planted not. shall be rooted nm ,,
Mr. Cddman holds that the author
bhip OF the greater part Of the Old
Testament is unknown. True. We
do not, as yet, know the author of
some Of the books OF the Old Testa-
nsnt But to ny mind this is evidence
that IL is Gods word and not nero
historical records as he afirna IL is
agreed by all that these books are
superior literature. Men generally
attach their names 20 their productions.
but how unassuming are the Scrip
lures
He also questions the truthfulRess Of
such stories as Jonah and the whale:
Elijah's ascension; Daniel in the lions
den, etc. II a man can't believe the
miracles Of Christ Bnd the Apostles
including the resurrection and ascen.
sion OF Jesus, and so, the whole foun-
dation OF christianity goes and we
are, OF all men, most miserable"
He also aflirms that the New Testa-
ment contains many contradictions
There are, it is true, some APPARgNr
discrcpa ncies, but we must remember
That we have not. as yet got all the
facts. Many such apparent siscrep.
ancies have been harnOuized 10y learn
ing and discovery
] make bold to challenge hin or any.
ether Methodist minister 90 show a
single contradiction in the New Testa.
meat that cannot be harmonized,
either by learning and discovery. or
BY the various constructions allowable
IN language and thought or that mate
rally AFFECTS a single doctrine OF prac-
tice OF the christian church.
In conclusion, affirm that the Bible
is the lHsDirod word Of @ oil. That IL
must be tho ultimate standard and
rule Of faith and practice for all chris.
tian8.
(REv) J y. WILLIAMS
GladesYille, viva. March -. 500.
The spring Months