Show I 1 THE SCIENCE OF THEOLOGY tx IN the Homi left review for may Is a paper from the pen of rev dr charles harles 8 deems on the outlook in ID r theology the writer takes the ground that theology is a progressive science I 1 and distinguished from all other sciences clances clen ces by the fact that it to is imposed ble to make the slightest advance in ID any department of science without making a contribution to theology F this is very good so eo far as it il goes but the abe eminent writer spoils polls it all tin in our r view by the statement that theology ia tea a human science just as astronomy la Is theology is the formulation by the me human intellect of all it can learn karn of et the facts of god y this appears to us a very poor dt fl action of theology theol opy it is based on the idea of the absence I 1 of present or con revelation and almost savors of doubt as to past revelation theology ina to a divine science if anything it is the science ol of god and includes knowledge of the existence character attributes laws and doctrines of god our relationship to him and communion with him it is written in scripture and abundantly attested by human experience that man by searching cannot find out god it is only by deity manifesting himself to man that mot there ran can be any true knowledge of him therefore theology is not a human but a divine science it is different in this essential respect from astronomy onomy or any other human science it is because men have tried to forms theological systems as they would C arrange what is known or sul supposed posed to be known of natural phenomena that there is so much con confusion fusto n dis sension and lack of knowledge that lo is lack of science in what is called theology revelation from god it if re oe ived in the epif spirit it of faith produces knowledge of divine things human peculation emulation ecula tion and research will not do this lm they leave doubt and uncertainty in the mind and amount to little more than guesswork guess work what fixed principles there are in the dox systems of theology have come by divine revelation and are tacitly ac as such in the cree creetie credus tio F where there is no communication from god to man or where men reau diate such intercourse theology dots dos not really find place what passes for at it is a poor counterfeit and cannot be properly called a science for there to is scarcely anything any thing c in it that is actually known it is a matter of opinion and opinions concerning it are almost as various au the minds of men in the true science of theology are rules by which knowle knowl edge of 0 f divine things can be obtained and certainty be established in the place of theory dr deems says saya theology must be a progressive science that is true but scarcely in the theseus thes eue in which he views it if theology is but a human science an ae experience goes on and the mind of sch a enlar enlarges geshe he can throw away many ideas that he once held and form others jn in their plase to be repudiated with further advancement ai u d this he would call progress and would be incidental to the develop development of human theology but in true theology progress means adding not substituting it gives line u upon pon line X precept upon precept here a litt little to an and there a litt little I 1 e but does not reject first principles As in the science of mathematics now new rules are given with the advancement of the student but the fundamental principles are ever preserved and are necessary to the system so it is ie in true theology this necessitates continued revelation arid and the world was always opposed to that it is no differ different eDt today even the teachers of what to is called theology repudiate present revelation and do not believe that god speaks to min man in the nineteenth century though they profess to believe that he dd reveal himself in the earlier ages of the world while they take this inconsistent ground theology will a always ways be to them an u uncertain n mass of incongruities and hypotheses with divine revelation there is no ambiguity the word of god is truth the spirit of god guides into all it manifests that which is unseen it searches all things without its aid there can be no true theology and the theology which depends up upon n its manifestations fe is not a human science formulated out of the notions and opinions und nd discoveries of man but a divine science consisting of revealed truths that have come and are coming ard abd will continue to come from deity himself and are a sure and aind certain guide to divine knowledge every truth cevelo developed witt ed in human science harmonizes with it and it is the test and touchstone of them all by this the existence character attributes mind and will and purposes of god and the relationship and duties of man to him are made known to those who receive his word and are led by his bin spirit and they advance in the science of theology according to their growing capacity their faith their diligence and their obedience and will ultimately know him even as they are known and be prepared to receive a falness of knowledge and be associated with him who to is the primal source of all science eface and all truth |