The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-20
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Che Hufboify Of the Church
TO Interpret fbe Scriptures

From Readings by T. B. Reed.

Truth does not fear discussion, but
truth can only be manifest by the grace
OF God which is not granted except to
the humble of heart, to those who ask
1t sincerely, who do not depend on their
own hght and knowledge to find it, who
| pray to obtain it, and who do not seek
1t for vain curiosity. Herod was GU
rious to see some miracles wrought by
Jesus Christ, but his curiosity was not
gratified. ASK and it shall be given
unto you says our Lord. Woe unto
them that are wise in their own eyes
and prudent in their own sight" says
Isaiah. BE not wise in your own con-
celt," says the Apostle to the Romans.
with this short exhortation respect
ing the means we must adopt to be
made worthy to know the truth, and
the dangers we are to avoid in the
Search Of it, We come to the point in
question.
Protestants agree with Catholics in
asserting it is the duty of a Christian
to believe everything that is contained
in the Old and New Testaments, be-
cause it is the Word of God. They
both acknowledge that faith is neces-
sary to salvation He that believeth
not is condemned already. says ST.
john If L am obliged to believe, L
must know what deserves my Gre
dence. Who will teach me this? The
Bible must be your teacher, I am an
swered; you will find therein every
truth and nothing but the truth. Such
an answer is just in general sense;
but L find it is not enough to read the
Bible, it is necessary to understand it
We'll L observe that all the several de
nominations of (ReformedD Christians
ground their faith on the Bible, and
Withal they differ in the most essential
points. Protestants say that Baptism
ls necessary for salvation, but Quakers
deny it. The Professionals reject several
books of the Old Testement which
other Christians venerate, as equally
sacred with the rest. There is no here
sy which is not supported by it's author
as truth grounded on the Holy Scrip
lures; there is scarcely a sentence in
the Gospel which has not been under
stood and interpreted by many in di-
rect opposition to the sense given it by
Others How can it be expected that
whilst [ consider how the most learned
men of all ages and nations differ so
widely among themselves, [ should
trust my talents and my judgment, and
place reliance on my opinion?
l acknowledge that 1 am unequal to
the task, and that the Bible is INSULT
Gent for me if am not shown the
way to understand it rightly. | think
that every one must be equally per-
picked, and that no one can be firm in
his faith without a guide, because no
man can be sure of not being mis-
taken. Where then shall 1 find that
guide? Our Savior has provided it for
US. He knew too we'll that man left to
himself would be liable to error, and
would remain in darkness. He was,
therefore, not satisfied to tell us that
we must believe, but He established a
Church from whom we might safely,
without danger, that is of erring, learn
all that there is to be believed
We may say in a certain sense that
all the laws of the Prophets are there
in contained, Il say unto thee" said
Jesus Christ to st. Peter that thou
art Peter, and upon this rock 1 will
build My Church, and the gates shall
not prevail against it, Nobody can
the latter words in any
other sense than that this Church
shall stand forever free from error, be
cause tie moment it should fall into
error he'll should prevail against it. In
another place He says to His Apostles:
Go We, therefore, and teach all nations
teaching them to observe all things
L have commanded you, and
10! am with YOU all days, even unto
the end of the world" IT is clear that
as the Apostles were to die, the prom
Use to be with them always, even to |
the end of the world. that they might
teach whatever He had commanded. !
must be referred to their successors as
we'll as to themselves. Jesus Christ says
again, speaking of the Apostles: Sane |
tify them in the truth. Thy word is
truth. And for them do L sanCtify My |
self, that they also may be sanctifed |
in truth: And not for them only do I