The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-04-30

Knowing this
nrst. that no prophecy OF the Scrip
ture Is OF any private Interpretation,
Tor origin. for II seems clear that I'D
is to the source rather than To the
exposition OF the Scripture that refer
ence Is here made For the prophecy
came not In old time by the will OF
man. but holy men OF God spake As
they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
Here are some very clear and definite
statements concerning the source OF
the Scripture II 10 this God .breathed''
element that diferentiates this book
from all other writings The Bible is
quite often referred to nowadays a.
splendid literature" Well. the Bible
Is that. but II is more than hiatt
Is Scripture. Literature is the letter;
Scripture In the letter inbreathed by
the holy spirit Just as In the crea-
ton OF man We learn that man be
came a living soul when that frame
OF dust. AS IL lay on the ground. be
came inbreathed by the spirit OF life
from God Man Is dust inbreathed
spirit OF life from man he returns to
dust. 80 10 II with the Bible: II is
the letter. but II IL the letter In
breathed by Gods spirit that makes
that letter Scripture. And when you
rob the Bible OF Its inspiration you
nave nothing but mere literature left
you have no Scripture
Faith and Practice.
Where Is the seat OF authority In
matters OF religion? This is always
the problem OF the day Various re
plies are given to the question.
Reason. says one. Is the seat OF final
authority May not the intellect with
Its various functions be relied upon
TO render sure Judgments One has
only to recall the srotesque fancies
that have from time to time taken
hold OF the finest and brainiest men
and led them into the grossest do
lusions to satisfy himself that the seat
OF authority does not lie In the rea-
son. Not that We are to throw rea-
son away In matters OF religion: for
while faith Is ofttimes above reason.
II Is by no means contrary to Il. The
voice OF reason. however. 10 not TO be
considered final and authoritative.
Can We not depend upon conscience.
that organ as delicate and sensitive
rs the balance turned by a speck OF
dust. to admonish US OF evil, to praise
us for the good. and settle Tor us
the right and wrong OF matters 70
ligious, We have but 10 recall into
what incalculsble mischief the con
sciences OF some men have led them
Saul OF Tarsus. for example-to recos-
nize speedily that We must look else
where for our authority In all good
conscience men have written deadly
heresies In their books and under
the sanctions OF q religious conscience
have performed deeds OF violence and
shame" -
There are people who claim thet
the church is the ultimate AUTHORITY
In matters OF faith and practice. Thn
Ia the position OF the Roman church.
Called OF God. divinely founded. ulkb =
perpetual witnesses to the truth. with
bishops and councils-surely the
church Is q sufficient guide. Yet what
enormities have fiourished under the
banner OF the church, so long a.
she IL composed OF fallible human be-
ings the church can never be final
and authoritative In matters OF faith
and practice.
On every hand We hear the CRY.
Back TO Christ" he and he alone.
Ia the final and ultimate authority In
all these matters We certainly have
no desire TO take any glory away
from the church's Lord and Master
In order to give Il to so sacred a book
even as the Bible. We are willing
TO go back to Christ" But where
shall we find him. With the excep-
ton OF a reference In Josephus and
line or two In Tacitus where. out
side OF the Bible. shall We find Christi
SO we see that In order TO get back
70 Christ" we are In duty bound to
fall back upon the Scriptures
For our master himself the Scrip
lures we're considered sufficient au-
thority In matters OF faith and pac-
tice II would repay anyone to look
up all the passages In which these
words OF the master occur. is Il not
written'" Have ye not rsa6r
What saith the Scriptures TT 10
written" A careful study Of such
Scripture references win reveal the
fact that Christ referred TO the Scrip
lures as the authority which settled
matters OF faith and practice for him.
should the Bible be less to the church
than II was to the church's masterf
We think not.