Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-13
DIR. BRIGGs's CRITICISM.

Rev. Charles A. Briggs, the famous
higher critic" has recently startled
his brethren by denying the pre-exls-
tence OF the Son Of God. Our LORDS
testimony to the people Of His time
that He existed before Abraham
should settle any controversy on that
point but q certain class OF critics do
not frame their theology in accordance
with the Scriptures, but trim the sacred
records until they conform with their
own views and desires. They act as the
savage prince, who, having cut out all
the passages he did not like pro-
nounced the Bible most excellent vol
ume.
Or. Briggs says the most natural ex-
PLANTATION Of the Scripture text referred
TO is this, that Jesus existed before
Abraham, because God Immediately az
ter the sin and fall Of our first parents
determined to redeem mankind by send
ing Him into the world. and promised
to our first parents 1.-THE womans
seed;o to Abraham, "the seed OF inheri-
tance;" to Moses a Prophet greater than
Himself, and so on. This, II is sug-
gcsted. may also be the meaning in
tended to be conveyed by John, when
he opens his gospel with this declara-
ton: "In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God"
Fortunately, this question. which
may yet prove stumbling block TO
some Of the followers Of the church
creeds. can cause no confusion among
the Latter-day Saints. Like so many
other similar points OF controversy. II
Is settled by the revelations and teach
lngs given In this age, The Church has
by revelation been placed In a position,
In which her strength need not be ex-
hausted In speculative inquiries and
disputes, but can be used entirely for
the accomplishment Of her mission-the
salvation OF the living and the dead.
That the Son Of God existed before
His entrance into the earthly tabernacle
is clear from many Scripture passages,
among which the following should put
an end to further argument. Our Sa-
vior himself prays: And now, o
Father glorify thou me with thine own
self with the glory which ! had with
thee before the world wae." II the
Scriptures are true, this ends the con-
troversy The testimony Of the Doc
trine and Covenants Is this; "Hearken
and listen TO the voice of Him who is
from all eternity to all eternity, the
great Am, even Jesus Christ" (See.
80: u This corroborates and explains
the ancient Scriptures and rendere
doubt on this important point impossi-
bic. TO the believer In the written word
OF God IS
On one point Rev, Briggs will be sus-
tained by both revelation and reason.
He says;
Those people are mistaken who think
we are TO find the last and highest
revelation In the teachings o. Jesus as
recorded In the Gospels. Jesus Him,
self tells US we are rather 60 find Il
In the teachings Of the disciples. as they
were guided by the Divine Spirit TO
understand the great facts Of the life Of
Jesus"
Revelation was never Intended to
cease with the writing OF the gospels,
nor the epistles. II was Intended 10
shine continually as a light In a dark
place, until the appearance Of the MORN
ing. II the reverend gentleman could
see this point clearly himself and make
Il clear to others who look 90 him for
guidance, he would lead theology In the
channel where Il alone ought TO flow;
he would supply the one thing needed
In our age. Mr.. Briggs seems 10 be
cropping around among the dark mys-
teries OF higher criticism" Now and
then a CLEAN Of light comes to him, as
II to indicate the direction In which to
go. And Il points toward the
happy condition, IN which cemmunlca-
ton between God and the Church Is
restored, by the operation Of the Holy
Spirit through men inspired and en-
dowed with divine authority. The world
can Dc saved by nothing less.