The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-21

Knowing t b s
nrst, that no prophecy of the Scrip
lure is OF any private Interpretation
! LOT origin, for it seems clear that ii
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
mere are some very clear and definite
statements concerning the source of
the Scr1pture. 1t is this "God-breathed'
element that differentiates this book
from all other writings. The Bible is
quite often referred to nowadays as
splendid literature" Well, the Bible
is that, but it is more than that-it
is Scripture. Literature is the letter:
4 scripture is the letter inbreathed by
tne molly spirit. Just as in the crea-
tlon OF man we learn that man be-
came living soul when that frame
OF DUST, as it lay on the ground, be-
came inbreathed by the spirit of life
from God. Man is dust inbreathed
Dy deity, and if you take away the
spirit of life from man he returns to
dust. So is it with the Bible: it is
the letter, but it is the letter in
| breathed by Gods spirit that makes
tnat letter Scripture And when you
rob the Bible of its inspiration you
nave nothing but mere literature left
you have no Scripture.
Inc Bible the Authority in Matters of
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
us various functions be relied upon
TO render sure judgments? One has
only TO recall the grotesque fancies
that have from time to time taken
hold OF the finest and brainiest men
and led them into the grossest de- |
lusions to satisfy himself that the seat
or authority does not lie in the rea- 1
son. Not that we are to throw rea-
son away in matters of religion; for
while faith is ofttimes above reason. /
IL Is by no means contrary to it. The |
voice of reason, however, rs not to be |
considered final and authoritative.
Can we not depend upon conscience, |
that organ as delicate and sensitive
as the balance turned by a speck of
dust, to admonish us of evil, to praise
us for the good, and settle for US
the right and wrong of matters re- |
nglous! We have but to recall into |
what fncalculable mischief the con-
sciences of some men have led them
Saul of Tarsus, for example-to recog- !
nize speedily that we must look else
where for our authority I'm all good |
men have written deadly
heresies in their books, and under
the sanctions of religious conscience
have performed deeds OF violence and
shame"
There are people who claim that
the church is the ultimate authority
in matters of faith and practice. This
is the position of the Roman church.
Called of God, divinely founded, with
perpetual witnesses to the truth, with
bishops and councils-surely the
church is sufficient guide. Yet what
enormities have flourished under the
banner of the church! So long as
she is composed of fallible human be-
lngs 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,
is 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 it 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 reference in Josephus and
a line or two in Tacitus where, out
side of the Bible, shall we find Christ?
So we see that in order to get back
to Christ" we are in duty bound to
fall back upon the Scriptures.
For our master himself the Scrip
lures were considered sufficient au-
thority in matters of faith and prac-
ice. 1t would repay anyone to look
up all the passages in which these
words of the master occur, rs it not
written?' Have We not read?"
What saith the Scriptures?" ct is
written" A careful study of such
Scripture references will reveal the
'act 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
han it was to the church's master?
We think not.
To know how to wait is the great
secret of success.-De Maistre-