The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08
HIsHoP roTrER.S 4GNosTICIsM
The Very Basis of the Christian Faith De-
stroyed by His Argument.

From the Atlanta Consultation.
Tho sermon delivered at the ordination OF DR..
Briggs has been published and Iistop Potter in a
predatory note declares that the time has come
when the Church and ITS teachings must vindicatc
themselves by something more than speech hard
en"d into dogmatc terms" aud Che adds, in our
age and in world that reads and pnrrs and in.
quir"s because it thinks. authority vinlicato
itself by its appeal to those julr Of all truth which
are the image of the Divine in man. the spiritual
buttons and the reason"
This means. OF comsc-i: can have other mean
ing whatever that the time has for such rx-
poiers as DR. Briggs and bishop Potter To announce
once for all that faith is played NJ. and that Chris
tianiy. a. It has been understood since the New Dis.
pensation was instituted, depends not its iuhcr-
ent truth. hut on the views ard opinions of people
who because they read and compare and Inquire
have ntut,on+ and know how t. reason
Now, Christnntg rests on dogma Pure and simple,
and dogma does not appeal 10 reason, which de-
mands proof lint to tho faith that gives birth lie
lief The Incarnation il tho central tho vital fact of
Chrisanity. When W. say that Christ the son OF
God came into TIL world To ave stnn'rs We do but
communicate Il dogma that Is common to all Chris
all Churches, Here il the great claim If Chris.
uauity "hardoucd into dogmluc terms" What
part an "ntuit.uns" Or tn" "conSrirNrr" the
reason" play in "iulgiug" thu truth of this
dogma? Tho human reason cannot compass IT, and
in mHnynptahlo cases shrmEs from Contcmpla ting I.
ven miracles are no PROOF nl IN" man dogma OF
CHRISTIANITY for tho fact behind that dogma is the
miracle of nracl and the human understanding
simply reels before ~ and So in truth with all the
Christian dogmas. They haze nothing TO do with
pure reason, or rgic such, with scientific de.
moustIatiU IN. Tho whole basis of Christianity is
authority. and that authority to he taken on faith
not faith III mon "a men hut faith in q I'd and be.
lief in the dognas which set forth the facts of
Christi nifty.
In the predatory note TO the serrnun-frum which
note We have already tIuotud-Bshop Potter thus
dispuscs of tho Bible THE book is a literature
priceless. Incompatible and most precious but
st literature. and It must A"ccUt, and those who
love and reverence II must accept for it, the condi.
tons of its existence"
what are these conditions? Why, they are pre-
cisely such ms are filed 5 the works Of shake
speare. Homer. Virgil Dante, Milton and other max,
of tn" worlds literature. They are the condi-
tons which apply T. mans works. If the Bible is
literature it is from the hand of man II has its lit.
aspect Of course, for Il is Transcribed 10y the
hand and translated by the learning Of man, but To
say that II is literature Potter says to deny is
supernatural aspect. and To- deny. and destroy. and
obterate BY one word all the promises and prophc.
cies which we're fulhllcd by the coming Of tho son
of Man.
More than that, fit TO be deprived Of its super
natural authority. and stripped OF the divine s,gnih.
cameo which Christians have always and every whcro
att ibuted toI-~if IT is simply from tho hand and
brain % man it ceases at once 10 have any 60.
hcrrnce. and becomes Incredible The greater pant
of IT, indeed TO he literature. hut iswlthout
form and void 1t falls ~ pieces and becomes mean
tngesss