The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09

and Anglican thinksrs have not yet had
time 10 realize Il. They imagine that they
can start afresh from the point at which
the Reformsrs started, armed. however.
With fuller knowledge. But, as Mr.. NAL
lock points out, the Reformers did not
consciously seek FOR a new rule Of faith.
of the Bible a. automatic. The whois
philosophy OF the Reformation rested on
this basis. This belief IN the Bible, though
intellectually ~discredited among Anglicans,
stIl continues TO dominate their imagina-
ton; and. the authority Of the Bible still
seeming axomatio to them, they fail 70
realize the fundamental Importance OF
the question Of how the Bible is 70 be In
terpreted. They fail TO 500 that the whole
problem must be dealt with under new
conditions.
In exhibiting to Anglicans what the new
conditions are Mr.. Mallock refers them TO
their own admissions. These references
are made In the chapter allotted to q de-
scription Of the absolutely now position in
which English C~hurchmen are placed in
tellectually by the admitted results OF
modern criticism Of the Bible. The pres
emit position Of Anglicans has been defined
By Prof. Harnaok. when he announced
that 'the most de cisive step OF all in
modern religious history was taken when
II was agreed that the understanding and
tho exposition Of the Old and New Testa-
ments we're neither to DO regulated by any
creed nor be allowed. out OF regard 70
the sacredness OF the text, to make use
Of other methods thar those universally
recognized In the spheres OF philoiogy
and history Prof. Harnack's words are
echoed by Anglicans OF all schools, as Tor
example. by the Bishop of Hereford the
Dean OF Canterbury. Canon Gore, himself
20 made a Bishop, and by the Bishop OF
Oxford. AL parties In the English Church
admit that the new methods OF studying
the Bible nave placed us with regard 10
it's Interpretation In a wholly new position.
The Dean Of Canterbury has explained
this @ position at great length. He has
shown that modern criticism proves the
Bible to be full OF human error, both his
torical and moral; even the New iesta-
ment being fun OF inaccuracies que 70
human fsilings OF the writers' We can
only now maintain the Dean agrees, Una
any parts OF the Bible are inspired Dy
admitting hat It is not inspired In a" is
parts This view relieves the apoioglst
from many old difficulties, but raises q
wholly new one and 1t Is this new diniculty
that Anglicans fan to realize Ihey nave
first to answer the question now IL can o
maintained that the Bible is inspired d'd"'
and, secondly, TO explain now the IN
spiration OF parts OF 1t being granted, these
parts are to DO picked out from
the rest and Interpreted. Inc tact that
these questions must now be primarily
constitutes a fundamental change
In the position OF the Church OF England
so long, says Mr.. Mallock, as the bloie
was supposed to be inspired In every sem
so long as no doubt was raised as
to It's claim to being inspired at all, the
OF an outside authority which
first vouch for the fact that inspired
were containedin 1t, which should.
secondly. how us which the inspired ele-
ments were, n should, thirdly, show
Us what the inspired elements meant, was,
let me say once more, II not OF no import
ance, Of an importance that was only sec
ondary; and a body Of Christians might
still claim some corporate unity who APP
piled to the Interpretation Of the Bible
several diff erent methods. But times
have changed. Changes. as Canon Gore
said, have been brought about In our whole
position. not less than those
involved in the adoption of the heliocentric
and the practical result Of these
changes. as forced on US In these latter
days, is that the question which was @
secondary has now become the primary
one-the question Of questions on which
all else depends
Mr.. Mallock makes clear to us how very
new the existing conditions are by appeal
ing to the conservative opinions expressed
by the d~ivines-even the Broad Church
divines-of the last generation. For in
stance, Keble, author Of The Christian
Year. set sternly aside as 'men too wicked
70 be reasoned with any critics who VEN
tured to apply 10 the Bible the disturbing
processes OF modern scientific criticism.
Frederick Maurice, formerly regarded as
one Of the most heterodox and dangerous
of Broad Church men, severed his friend
ship with Colenso when the latter ventured
20 question the traditional authorship Of
the Pentateuch, which is now accepted
nobody. Having thus illustrated the
newness Of the existing situation, Mr..
proceeds to elucidate the facts