ADDRESS BY THE REV. MR M'LAREN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 8

ADDRESS BY THE REV. MR M'LAREN.

Tho Rev. W. D. M'Laren. M.A., lectured at tho Hanover Street Baptist Church last liight, umlor the auspices of tlie Council ot Ulurches. There wart a largo attendance, many of those present coining from the suburbs. The chair was occupied 6v tho Rev. W. Hay.

Tho subject of fho address was " Christ's Witness fo the Bible," being tho obverse of tho cnbjcct of tlic previous nisyhf— namely, "The Bible's Witness, to Ch?ist." Alter noting the novelty, reasonableness, flu • ""Fortanco of seeking to ascertain L/hnsts view of the Bible, the lccturor inquired how this was to be done, and insisted on tho cumulative principle of argument as tho only means of prcof from'tho four Gospels, cither concerning tlio Old Testament or concerning the writings about to constitute tho New Testament. Allowing for possible mis-reports, the lecturer contended that tho amount of allowed evidence was sufficient to warrant the following conclusions:—Taking the Now Testament first, he showed bow Christ had, first of all, indicated tho facts which wprc to be reoorded and explained (I)is own birth, i I ® lrac ' es ' <fc®th, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost), and also selected tho agents by whom these were to bo understood, recorded, and explained. Ho defined Christ's view of tho Apostolic office as neither ecclesiastical nor speculative, but as God's of God's Christ. Hence, tho function of the Apostles was unique. Wc havo tho New Testament, and thev have no successors. This view Mr ' M'Laren attempted to justify, on the ground of the neod of such permanent record and permanent interpretation, as well as on the principle of Divine parsimony, by which mtrades were not needlessly repeated. Tliis was why we cannot outgrow the' Now ■testament! bccause we cannot get a. better record or a better interpretation. Passing to™ 1 ® Old Testament, the lecturer dealt with Christ s treatment, first, cf Old Testament narrative, then of its precept, and theil cf its general (oach)Ug. Snecial mention wa-i made of Christ's treatment, of the story o{ the fail as at an onco historically true in assonco but avowedly couched in paraoohc form-e.g., Christ, and His hearers interpreted the serpent as the. devil. Ine lecturer also showed the varying treatment given to Old Testament precept—ceremonial and legal as transient, moral as permanently binding, and spiritual as living tho key in love to God of all ethics. Ihc remainder of OH Testament teaching Christ treated as involving principles regulative of conduct for ethers, owl for Himself, and appropriated to His Kingdom and His person the experiences and of ? m ' I no phct. Indication was given of Olirist s mothod of citation aud His attitude at once confirming Scripture authority and ,extremely free in interpretation of form* as when tho coming Elijah is only John Baptist. Interest was obviously evoked among the audience when the Jccturcr summarised Christ's treatment as " firm on tho fact ami froo on tho form." Reference was mado to tho absolute independence of Christ s view of fccriptnre for all critical research and treatment, so le-ng as not anti-supernatural. Christ's supreme' thought of tho Old Testament was its centering in Himself. Finally, Christian experience was cited as verifying tlio position and tho efficiency and authority of Scripture as guided and preserved from spiritual error by the special action of tho Spirit of God, and mado efficacious for Christian life, while at the same time no guarantee was given for infallibility of any other kind. This subject. "The, Scripture Sufficient rather than Infallible" will bo treated at lonpth on Wednesday niplit, ard ''The Practice and Devotional Uso of Scripture" on Thursday night. On the motion of tho Rev. Jlr Heigliway, seconded by the Rev. Mr Hinton, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho lecturer.