The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-31
A QUESTION LEAENEDLH DISCUSSED.
Is II Ever Lawful to Conceal the Truth
from the People?

Is II Ever Lawful to Conceh 'no Ar"'
from the People?
To THE EDITOR or THE SuS-Sr: I have
read the Rev NJ X. Scherm erhorn's denunoia-
tion Of esotsricsm with astonishment. Inc
word means" said he, Opinions privately
held and openly revealed only so far as may De
safe for the public" The question arises: ls
It ever lawful to conceal the truth from the
people," Yes Are we Obliged at all times
to tell the whole truth? Most decidedly no.
God prepared mon for the gradual reception OF
the Gospel and. In the early ages OF the Church.
the Christians concealed from the paRans aer-
tain doctrines. and this discipline was based on
the admonition OF Christ. OriEen Against
CELSIUS tT. ~. and Tertullian tApol. G. a
speak OF it as a weII-known fact. See also
Binghams Antiquities Book y. c. -.
In fact. because OF esotericisni the pagans
accused the Christians Of stunning the light.
The 1.accdemonian youth were forbidden to
inquire into the laws. Plato approved Of the
law. Euscbius praises the great philosopher
and adds that the Scriptures forestaiied this
law by requiring faith. II you believe not. We
shall not understand Isaiah. viii. 81. To James.
Peter and John. Christ after His resurrection
communicated what is known as tradition.
Aterward they gave it to the other Apostles.
and finally 10 the seventy element Aex.L
Christ commanded His Apostles first to teach.
and then baptize. and after that 10 teach them
all things lie had commanded them to teach
Christ laid down tho principle in these words
Give not that Matthew. vii. 81 which IL holy
unto the dogs. neither cast We your pearls be-
fore swine" and he e1emplined 1t by parallels
Paul in two Epistles II. Corinthians. ill.,. 2
Hebrews. v. 12-14 makes a distinction be-
tween the milk suitable for some mon and
meat for others. The Apostles observed the
principle in their discourses as recorded in the
Acts by Luke. Hence the Christian Fathers
assign 1t ms the reason for the silence
OF the early Christian writers on the
divine nature OF Christ. Basil. Thcodoret
Cyril and Chrysostom defend the principle
livery army every navy. every parliament.
every country. every household is governed by
the principle. In reading ecclesiastical history.
says recent writer. we are surprised to learn
that the initial error OF what aftsrward be-
came heresy was the urging forward some
truth against the prohibition Of authority at
an unreasonable time. The man who thinks
the Church or State. or country 10 going to the
place whore eternal horror dwells 10 the most
dangerous Of all men. for he is a fool. Zeal
divorced from knowledge and common sense
leads to greater disasters than the doctrine Of
an anti exransionist.
God says Newman. gradually impaired ~
the ledge OF His divine will to the world
in general. and the Jews in particular. t2l He
winked Acts. xvii. 800 at the times OF ignor-
ance among the heather. (3) He suffered In
tho Jews divorce Matthew. xix. 81. because OF
the hardness OF their hearts. ~ He spoke
harshly to the Syro- PhGnician woman. whose
child He was about to heal. l5) He made as il
He would not go further. when the two disci-
pies had come to their journeys end. t0l Jo-
seph made himself strange to his brethren
"a Elisha kept silence on request OF Naaman
to bow in the house OF Rmmon. tSl Paul cir
cumcised Timothy. while he cried out circum-
cison availeth not. 1t ia true the principle
may be abused In tho hands OF the unscrupu-
lous. But 40 may everything.
The Rev. Mr.. Schemerhorn quotes Milton
The reference to Milton Ia unfortunate. for
Milton defends mental reservation or lying So
do Taylor. Paley. d.. johnson. Butler. Thomas
Scott and nearly all Socialists. under certain
conditions.
Tho Church herself 10 an excellont exponent
OF the principle. The explicit declarations
says a learned preacher. made by the Church
in successive centuries are no change OF the
essence OF faith. but the gradual and steady
unfolding OF tho tree. with its branchss and
leaves. and flowers. and fruit. from it's seed,
revelation with it's rich store OF dogma given
by Christ to his Church. the pillar and ground
OF truth.
1 peH"Ve HE NUN Is correct in stating
that DR.. Briggs Is an intellectual cowa rd
He ought to give up Christianity altogether.
His vaGaries call to my MIND these words OF
Cypran: Lot no one imagine that good m On
can leave the Church. The wind carries not
away the wheat nor does the storm overthrow
the tree that has solid root to rest on 1t is
the empty straw that the tempest tossss, the
unhealthy trees that the blow Of the whlrlwind
casts down" PoIMES LAoS.
TRENTON. Oct. %.