MR. SPURGEON AND THE BAPTIST UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8089, 2 November 1887, Page 3

MR. SPURGEON AND THE BAPTIST UNION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —It is not too much to say that Mr. Spurgeon is equally venerated and beloved by the whole Church of Christ. Bat, perhaps, the noblest act of his life is his present protest against the theology of the Christian World. Will you kindly allow me to call attention to some of the contributing causes to the present state of things in England. Four great factors in recent history attract our notice. First, there has been a great accession of wealth during the current half century ; that is, an abundance of the necessary materials for the use of mankind. Seoond, there has been an immense addition to our knowledge of scientific facts. Third, there has been the growth of liberalism of a degenerate type, akin to the weak notions of the erratic genius Roußieau; and fourth, there has been Broad Church Rationalism, maintained by such men as Dean Stanley and F. W. Robertson. The key Jo the letter's opinions may be found in a statement he once made with regard to the evangelical explanation of reconciling justice and mercy. He said, " I consider it the poorest effort ever made by false metaphysics." Now, amongst these, Broad Church Rationalism, in a religious sense, is paramount. And while no one would question the piety of such men as Dr. Arnold and Dean Stanley, it is another thing as to whether they were correct in their doctrine. The early saints of the Christian Church wera those who built the edifice of superstition, and no one is more influential for evil than a good man who takes the wrong course. No doubt the leaders of the Broad Churoh were grieved at what they suppoeed to be a general falling away, and applying the apostolio example of Paul, who became all things to all men, that he might save some, imagined they were doing the same. Undoubtedly they, like so many other great men, made a profound mistake. They compromised in order to secure the attachment of numbers. Paul acted from a different motive, for he expressly tells ue it was for the Gospel's sake. The Apostle James says " The friendship of the world is enmity with God." The action of the Broad Church was a going down to the world—not a raising of the world to the Christian level. It was a falling-in with that general deification of intellect, and man so plainly seen in the selfsufficient attitude that is assumed bo generally in the present age. Wkile the votaries of the schools mentioned unite ia worship- , ping the idol of the human intellect they all ooufess the fallen nature of man. Denying it in creed, they admit it in practice. They all desiderate a radical change of hnmaa character and disposition. In ancient Egypt and Greece, as, under I Christian circumstances, in Scotland in the last century, and Germany in this, Rationalism has been weighed in the balances and found wanting. The experiment is being repeated by the Broad Church, and with the like result. In religion, as in every department of life, we must be guided by principle. Reason points to this, and if we have the right disposition, we will accept her teach' ing. If so, we are directed to put t|u>t in Some One higher. The logical conclusion of human sufficiency is Atheism. Every gradation from the initial principle of nationalism is just a stage nearer the goal. A refusal of submission and a denial of authority, has its inevitable consequence in anarchy. There is no wonder then that the Broad Church, ii> the midst of such propitious circumstances, has done its work so well that the distinctive principles of Christianity have well nigh disappeared, not only in itself, but also amongst the Dissenters. If faith in Christ ia anything, it is definite. It is belief in a personal and divine Saviour. What is demanded is a simple reception of the word of God as a rule of faith and guide of life. " The Bible, and the Bible alone, in the religion of Protestants." It is fidelity to these great principles which forces Mr. Spurgeon to protest against the wide-spread defection from genuine Christian faith in the Baptist Christian Union. According to modern thought "the Bible is inspired in the same sense as Shakespeare is inspired. The doctrine of the Atonement is immortal. The salvation provided by Christ is not so great after all, for there is no everlasting punishment. In fact, one creed is as good as another ; for it ia only the life that determines the right and the wrong."' It would occur to a simple mind that if it is of no consequence what; we are, we may be anything or nothing as we please. What is the meaning of the Bible ? Iβ it not that man is a sinner, so much so that the death of Christ was requisite for his salvation ? Is it not that Christ is the Lamb of Qod prefigured in the old sacrifices, who died upon the Cross, who was preached by Peter as Him who redeemed mankind with His precious blood ; and by John in the Revelation as being the Lamb of God with the Father in the heavenly glory? This is the distinctive religion for which the martyrs died ; but this is precisely what the theology of the Christian World traverses, and which the Baptist Union has to a large extent Adopted. Mr. Spurgeon's action is perhaps the noblest incident in a noble life. He at all events is an honest and faithful servant of the Master whom he follows. If we are to abandon Christianity, let ue at least be etraigutforward. s to

say so. If henceforth we are to be content to adore the beautiful in nature and art, let: us at all events be honest; let us be heathen! at onoe. Let us dismiss tinsel and sham, and appear in the tawdry and tnereticioae adornments of those who are untrue to the , most sacred of obligations.—l am, &0., • John Buchanan.