The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-15
DIR. ERDMAN
GIVES BIBLE
Conference Attendants
Many Reasons for Their
Faith in the Word

under tho auspi,e s OF the Wilmington
Bible Union opened in West Church yes
ierday afternoon and will be continued
thi, afternoon evening and to- morrow AZ
ternoon and evening. Much interest was
manifested in tho able Interpretations If
tho Scripture by the speakers yesterday af-
ternoon and evening, and II the remaining
papers prove rs instructive to the students
Of Bible history they will indeed have GU
joyod the treat OF their lives.
William l.. Pettingill, Gen eral Secretary
Of the Pennsylvania Bible Institution
opened the conference at o'clock yester-
day afternoon with paper on Jesus Only.
He began with an analysis OF verses to 8
Of Matthew II and explained the trans
fguratiOns Gene OfChrist on the mountain,
taking as his text Matthew H. s, and Ephe-
slams Ito.
In his explanation of the TRANSPORTATION
scene he said the coming glory of Christ
was revealed in II figure. Moses was there
representing the law and Eliza represent
ing the prophets, for tho purpose of wit
Messing under Christ. Mr.. Pettingill said
tho purpose Of tho convention was not to
put forth any new doctrines nor views
not to attract to the attention of men, not
to boom the Wilmington Bible nion, nor
the Y M. C. A nor to raise money for
anything or anybody. But the purpose
WAS W So1 acquainted Wltn UOU. he OK.
pressed the desire that tho man of God
might be perfect and thoroughly furnish
ed unto every good word. Also that We
may see no man, save Jesus Only"
MIR. Pettihgill snid the purpose OF the
convention might be summed up In SEN
tencs which he quoted from another, MAY
your last thought at night and your first
In the morning lie Of dying Savior's love,
arisen Sayior's power an ascending Sa-
vior's grace and returning Snviour's
glory" To this emu in this conference We
jesus If now really present with His poo
pie by His Spirit, as Ee promised. Second
Thar lie will return bodily and visibly to
the earth, as Ho also promised. Third,
that His return Is now imminent.
AUTHORITY CT SACRED SCRIPTURE.
Tho audience which heard Rev. VIII
liam J. Erdman, d. D., secretary of tho
Niagara Bible Conference last nighs WINS
q larger one than that which heard Mr..
Pettin2ill in the afternoon bit a no greater
benoiltted one. The congregation sang
nrden.ly from Dr. Chapmans new book
after which Thomas McCorkle, presl-
dent OF the local bible union introduced
Dr. Erdman, whose subject was 1.-The
Authority of the Sacred Scripture" DR..
Erdman introduced his talk by saying
that the definition of authority is the right
to demand belief and obedience. When
we speak of tho authority If tho sacred
Scripture we therefore are speaking Of Il
bonk which demands our faith and has n
right to demand 1t. In that respect it Is
written in the imperative Mood.
The Bible comes before us as tho Book
OF Books. 1t comes to us in tho attitude of
decision from which there is no appeal,
and mini to 3 have fti Ell because we have
not considered its teaching imperative.
This has become an apologetical and a
critical age" Dr.. Erdman continued. ''for
this word of God People who are weak in
faith have begun to apologize for the Bible
Many Others have begun to question its
statements and both the apologies and the
criticisms are allowed to pass as matters of
Indifference. ibis condition of the ages is
perhaps due to tho different ways of study
1ng the Bible.
Some people say tho Book must be stu
died like any othor book, but this idea is
TOO much like the one that because man Is
like the monkey he must b, studied as
such There Is as great n difference be-
tween tha Blblo and other books us there
is between man and monkey, and they
must consequently BIO studied differently.
Then Dr. Erdman gave q few reasons
why 1t has the right to demand our faith.
His first reason was because of the Bible
exclusive inspiration; second, because it
differs from all other so-called sacred
books third, because of what might DO
called the organic unity of the scriptures;
fouth, because the religion of the Lord
Jesus Christ as found in.the old and new
sstament came into the world and was
preached and accepted after all other Ie-
iigiOns had utterly failed to answer the
great question of soul salvation; fifth,
that the entire old testament bound up
was on one hand u preparation for Christ
ianity, and on the other hand q rudimen-
tary and ELEMENTARY study.
TAX ing up the subject of tho Bibles in
epiration Dr. Erdman said Paul gave the
world the authority for claiming insp,ra-
tiou. TO claim it we must first dispose OF
oil othur so called sacred books by VIII CHI
man is trying to work out self righteous.
ness that will make him acceptable in the
sight Of God
Concerning the second reason why tho
Bible has Il right to demand our faith DR..
Erdman asked, what is The great thought
In the Bible aud other SO called sacred
books; He answered that the Bibles
thought was redemption by grace in order
to have the kingdom of God on earth and
all to the glory of Jesus Christ, while that
of other books was that BY aims giving
luan could WORK out salvation which
would stand in the day of Judgment. Tho
difference is clear; then why should not
thu hi bile have "a claim TN your filth and
miue?" ho asked
hCorcrrnir,g criticisms Of the Bille Dr
Erdman said God wnnld give n r,oat and
fInni answer To them unnn his seconJ COM.
ING. HI, second advent viii co,nn,o, aly
unset the Teachings of nil the critics ma
40 called relIrIoIi. hooks and shay tho
tyne philosophy of the Lumnn histnrv. liz
oxhprtel tho ministers of ihe land tn
nranch In their rnngcnontions 40 the D,hla
cnnos IN man in the imnrr.tivn nnnL and
predicted that If every rrn,rI,cr did a.
Sunday morning thrrn wnulj hc n rnvivni
of reliDion
nIf we stood like Poulr h, anil tbe
naws wpl,jd Le trlearnnLed thromrbom.
the world.
hsIiay, tha vary w,,,ols NJ hu,;,o,,
would sion lo benr H.. nrws WIN shoNiI
a. u, r,L ar,vi.asp '' ''
I'f f.rumah ~ concluding said tho pre-
1'H ,l, ,nouBht " tilo pio'e was mat tAr
~ a. ".nue 'r'vi'ea VI liIh'So'l ~ hlu
' .ne st,an ~. CONSCIOUSNESS thn1 Wheh ne
1891 ti.o I'llh nI'u "a" INC raven 10
NV. INV II" ", nat mag II ana n'"i ne nuthor''y
" !oa" VI IL Hnr'pie IRON II, u hoIu inc
rh'eh e't, ~ was hhTWis conscious
VIA nv saw V"c ny NAV II" h'u hauo IL
sh,. re" r, ~ w.. ~ 'o'Gn ,ho parable
'h ~ """ ", mouia ,ihI"iso 'h'e lor 'nah'
~ WI. no lCICItt lllt l'lliljib lib ihtl