INDEPENDENCE IN THE PULPIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 14

INDEPENDENCE IN THE PULPIT.

Sir.—l am glad to find, albeit with some surprise, that "Poor Parson" and I are defending the same pocketbook. I am grateful for his admissions. He agrees with me that the written Word is confirmed by the Spirit. Exactly. "Yea, saith the Spirit." He would limit this confirmation to when it testifies of Christ, though such limitation is not allowed by the context of his quotation. Your contributor challenges me to look him in the face and tell him what the witnessing Spirit testifies to me when I read certain historical passages, such as that which he quotes. Did I know his address I would gladly do so. "Poor Parson" hears no affirming voice. I claim to do so. How, then, can it be one and the selfsame Spirit? But. wo are to try the spirits whether they be of God. How can we do so? By what test? My quotation of the ordination service proved that there is a standard of test outside of oneself, namely, the Holy Scriptures, and it is to be noted that the priests have already, as deacons, said in answer to the question, "Do you unfeignedly believe all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament?" "I do believe them." That this, of necessity, implies, as your correspondent asserts, "so far as I understand them," is reasoning I cannot follow. It seems to me that when they cease to so believe them they should in all honesty give up their profession. Especially in view of the fact that they promised at the same time "to be ready' with -all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and slrauge doctrines contrary to God's* Word." Your contributor refers to Bishop Monies "Yeni Creator," but does not quote it. T wish that space would allow me to do so in full, but can only commend the volume to my readers, especially chapters 3 and 4. f quote as to tho Scriptures themselves page 59. "At this period in the history of tho Church it is important in the highest degree to hold fast and to hold in the foreground of our convictions ar.d our consciousness the supernatural, the miraculous, the divinely authoritative, aspect of the Holy Scriptures, as the work throughout of other, than the Holy Spirit or God." "Evacuate Scripture of its Divine authority and you so far paralyse its power for Divine consolation." Page 65. "We will remember that the Blessed Spirit is not only the true author of tho written woid, but also its supreme and true expositor." This is what I mean when I affirm that the written word is confirmed by the Spirit. No one in his senses imagines that the evolutionist s hypothesis is an essential one for salvation, on tho other hand, ho is much more anxious to dispense with the thought of its necessity. Admit the hypothesis, then man did not fall, consequently the need for the atoning death of Calvary s Cross disappears, and with its disappearance the Christianity of tho JNew Testament. Bishop Barnes frankly admits this when ho states "As a result (that is, of the evolutionary hypothesis the stories of the creation of Adam and Eve, of their primal innocence, and ot their fall, have become for us folk lore. "Darwin's triumph has destroyed the whole relevant theological scheme. . - • • Many of us rejoice. . . -!" '-ibis ' s joke. I hear the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church in Philadelphia, i "thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man taKe. thv crown. He that bath rm car let him hear what the spirit saith to tne Churches." Pvev. iii., (5, U, 13. Quaktus ill Bbotheb*