The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-13
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.
The Religious Thought Of the Day
AZ Expressed In the Sec
tartan Press.

The church can afford to maintaiH
serene composure in the face of the
critical contentious of scholars in the
field of Holy Scripture" says the "Iiv~
ing Church" (P. Ed of Chicago I'm
so Tar as the theories of these scholars
are based upon disbelief of the sup.
ernatural and of it's miraculous mani
festations, they have no meaning for
the Church of Christ. The same is true
when the critics reject that view of in
spiration which is a part of the Chris.
tan tradition. and refusing to admit
its special character. identify it with
the inspiration of genius, as seen in
the sages and poets of the nations. The
church also declines to allow the IN
dividual. however learned, to exercise
the right of rectifying the sacred canon,
and OF pointing out to her what books
she should receive and what exclude
Her methods of Interpretation, in like
manner-her application, for instance,
OF spiritual manner of exegesis, and
her apprehension of the symbolicai
significance of Old Testament events
and institutions-are hardly open to the
pstrusion of the critical spirit ShA
learned from Christ and the holy Evan
gelists to search in the Scriptures for
Christ, beginning with Moses and all
the Prophets, and she saw this method
applied by ST. Paul and by the first
Apostles. However useful she may
now find what is now called the his
torical method for certain purposes
she will never substitute that or any
other purely secular exegesis for that
to which the Holy Spirit guided her
from the first"
1.-THE apologist for Sunday is not
bound up to the critical question of the
account of creation in Genesis" says
the New York "Churchman" (P. E)
1T is not necessary to his purpose to
discuss the transitory and unessentiai
methods of the days observance Eek
elusive of the EucharisO in Christian
history. He is not called upon to prove
that the ceremonial requirement of the
fourth commandment is satisfied in the
Christian Sunday. But he is vitality con-
cefned with the primary and universal
meaning of the day as the weekly MEM
orial of the supreme fact of history.
Sunday is beyond all else the most i'm
pregnab1e witness to our Lords resur,
rection. It's evidential value is unique
and conclusive The introduction of the
decalogue into our communion Office
an abolutely novel departure in Chris,
tan Hturgics-waS to furnish a norm
of determination after the decay OF
auricurlar confession. 1t has occa-
stoned much searching of heart. Yet
the difficulty may be solved by applying
a mystical meaning to certain of the
Words whose plain letter is dead. We
must believe this is legitimate. Sun
day, like the Sabbath, is Gods sacred
representative in time. and Christian
people are called on to accept this sub.
stance of the fourth commandment,
which, as Bishop Sanderson said, means
simply that some certain time should
be set apart from secular employment
to be sanctified to an holy rest FOR the
better attending upon Gods public and
solemn worship"
1--WE do not know" says the Watch
man. (Bapt.) of Boston, that if the re-
construction of theological conceptions
were necessary just such period OF
uncertainty and drifting was not in,
evitable. Nothing established can bs
destroyed without serious losses. The
uIlSotlleIIIent WHICH IOilOWeQ even LnS
Reformation was not all clear gain
Butour scholars and leaders of thought
our theological and college presidents
and professors, and the great body Of
evangelical ministers are now COM
PEELED to answer the practical question
whether the work of destruction has
no. gone far enough. and whether ths
urgent demand of our day is not for
constructive thinking and constructive
preaching. Take it in such an instance
as the higher criticism. Has a profess
scr or minister who accepts these
theories anything left that is in the
Scriptures, that is so definite and au-
thoritative that it commands the SUBJ
mission of his reason and conscience?
upon to-day to teach and preach. Take
If so, that is the thing that he is called
upon to-day to teach and preach. Take
it in the case of the atonement The
substitutionary view of the atonement
is not generally held as formerly, but
are those who have abandoned thai
theory presenting another view of tile
work of Christ that because of it,
fidelity to the Scriptures and to the
facts of human nature becomes even
in a large measure the ground of con,
fidence and the source of holy motives?
1t isA poor thing to destroy and not
0-0-A-R-n-A- N a "a 4