The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26

becoming for the REDEEM ption Of one speck In
the Universe an embryo in the womb OF
Jewish maiden: and yet for this stupendous
doctrine. our principal evidence is the anony-
nous work OF q mystic writer"
1t seems to me. moreover. that those who
write these letters in THE Sun from an ortho-
dox point OF view beg the whole question
when they assume In their arguments the In
errancy OF Scripture and the existence OF q
Col. For these two hypothesis are tho very
ones to be first proved: and until they are
proved all arguments based on them must fall
to the ground.
In closing. let mo say that think the par
Elephants in this rcmarkable discussion might
read with profit Prof. Goldwin's essay. rs
There Another Life." in his book. THE Riddles
OF Existence" In that essay the writer treats
It's subject In q thoroughly reverent manner.
WILLIAM l.. STONE.
MOUNT VERNON. Nov n.
The Biblical Account OF the Creation.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir. shall
try to solve some OF the principal difficulties
proposed by two correspondents In Sundays
Sun on subjects connected with religion.
One OF these correspondents says he was
taught to believe every word OF the Bible
came from God" think this is not tenable.
The Bible. "a 1t came from tho hands Of tho
inspired penmen. was certainly inspired. in
my view. and we may truly say that God was
It's author. but we cannot say the same Of the
copies from the original. The authors OF tho
Scripture" says Augustine. ''werescom pletely
free from error IL you admit one false state
ment in tho Bible there would not be n single
sentence that may not be explained
away by him who thinks a certain
doctrine Ia hard to practise or believe" Inspira-
a 4
certain men by God which illumined their In
tellect. moved them to write. and so guided
them while writing that they could not err. and
they wrote precisely the truths which God
wished them to write 1t is no. essential to in
SEPARATION that the author should have known
he was inspired, neither Is II necessary that
the author understand the divine sense OF his
words. II IL not necessary that he be free from
sin. The Apostles. although confirmed in
grace. were not improbable. according to the
more probable opinions Of experts. and there 10
good reason to believe that they sinncd. at
least venially.
When. however. we say the sacred text Is free
from error and inspired we refer to the origi-
mi. II Is admitted by every one that the He
brew, Greek or Yulgate Ia not free from error.
Most theoloeians aflrm that In the original
every important statement. even those state
mcnts pertaining to natural sciences. is in-
splrsd. IT meet with anything in the Scrip
lures" says Augustine. which seems contrary
10 truth. have no doubt that either the text
before me Is corrupted. ur the interpreter did
not catch the meaning OF the original. or my
self do not understand it." Mvart and New
man held there were obiter dictd. or phrases and
clauses In the original that are not inspired.
Patrizzi would not condemn such an opinion,
but few theologians OF the Church OF Newman
Iafa hiu pHy,tp 10 AnaI fh.., vr,.a
may be conscious OF his inspiration. and yet
apologize for his style, for there is wide dis
tincton between sense and style.
But what Is the value OF the Bible-say the Vul-
gate The Council OF Trent Il has not preferred
the Nulgate either to any authorized trans
lation. or to the original text. ~ the NulGato
has not been declared free from every fault in
points not concerning faith and morals 81 and
IL has been declared by the learned theoloGians
OF that council a genuine source OF revelation.
They approved the Nulgate in general not any
specific edition ia approved. Not every read
ing OF the Clcmentne edition has the genuine
text OF the Nulgate. A theologian may safely
employ the vulgats as q source OF revelation.
and may draw an argument from the
dogmatc texts that have been constantly
used To prove q dogma. He may employ tho
original text. or an ancient translation used in
the Church. The argument founded thereon
has the same weight as one based on ths Nu-
gate. II the text OF the NulEate IL ambiguous
We must explain It by the original text: hut II
the original IL ambiguous. and the Nulghts
clear. the latter ia commentary on the former.
A text OF tho Vulgate found neither In the orig
inal nor In an ancient version can only he en-
ploycd az scrlptura proof II 1t has been con-
startv adiuccd as proof. Hence we are bound
TO answer every objection brought against
text found in some editions Of the Bible. I
may say here. however. that all the objections
put forward by your correspondents are easily
answered. as we shall see.
Mr.. Laughln writcs: we are told that when
the teachings OF Christ were given they were
new to the world" Orlgen. replying ages ago
TO CELSIUS. says: The sanctuarcs Of the Mosaic
law and writings OF the Prophets are indeed
tho basis Of the Christian religion. Mark
teaches Christianity began with tho Jewish
Scriptures. Jesus AMI His disciples recoGnz ed
that there was an internal connection OF doc
trine and morals between Judaism and Chris
tianity. Christ came 10 fulfil the law and the
prophets Like the prophets. Christ will have
mercy. not sacrifice, and He. like them. de-
mands chiefly the worshi y THE true God. The
law Is n pedagogue to Christ. but with faith
we nre no longer under tutors. Christ
gave His disciples q new commandment in
sense and spirit, viz love OF God and our
neiRhbor. This spirit was first revealed by
Christ. Hence tho Old Testament Is not an old
prophecy. nor the New mere fulnlment.
Hence Christianity Ia not absolutely new. for IL
grew up on Jewish soil. and envelops and COM
pletes the religious truths contained In the Old
Testament. Augustine and tho Christian
Fathers versed Ia Greek philosophy teach that
the fundamental doctrines OF Christianity were
found in all the religions before Christ. They
taught that the truths about God. creation and
moral claims OF conscience were the prop
erty Of human reason. and originated
in the invisible operations OF the eter-
nal logos OrGen contends that all doc
trines that are sound and profitable
should not be rejected by the Jews nor by
Christians. whether Moses or Plato. or any
philosopher taught them. Bunsen and Bur-
nouf try to show that the Hindu ana Iranian
religions have had an influence on Christianity.
We must not look" snys Mailer, 'on the
original belief OF mankind for Christian ideas.
but for the fundamental religious ideas on
which Christianity is built; without which as
its natural and historical support Christianity