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Show : tbc Jlutbority of tie Church X to Interpret the Scriptures X . " Prom. Readings by T. B. Reed. - I Truth does not fear discussion, but truth can only be manifest by the grace of God, which ia not granted except to the humble of heart, to those who ask, it sincerely, who do not depend on their own light and knowledge to find it, who pray to obtain it, and who do not seek it for a vain curiosity. Herod was curious cu-rious to see some miracles wrought by Jesus Christ, but his curiosity was not gratified. "Ask and it shall be given unto ycu," saya our Lord. "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight," says Isaiah. "Be not wise in your own conceit," con-ceit," says the Apostle to the Romans. With this short exhortation respecting respect-ing the means we must adopt to be made worthy to know the truth, and the dangers we are to avoid im the search of it, we come to the point in question. Protestants agree with Catholics in asserting it is the duty of a Christian to believe everything that is contained in the Old and New Testaments, because be-cause it is the Word of God. They both acknowledge that faith is necessary neces-sary to salvation. "He that believeth not is condemned already, "says St. John. If I am obliged to believe, I must know what deserves my credence. cre-dence. Who will teach me this? The Bible must be your teacher, I am answered; an-swered; you will find therein every truth and nothing but the truth. Such an answer is just in a general senste; but I find it is not enough to read the Bible, it is necessary to understand it well. I observe that all the several denominations de-nominations of (Reformed) Christians ground their faith on the Bible, and withal they differ in the most essential points. Protestants say that Baptism is necessary for salvation, but Quakers deny it. The Protestants reject several books of the Old Teotfment which other Christians venerate, as equally sacred with the rest. There is no heresy here-sy which is not supported by its author as a truth grounded on the Holy Scriptures; Scrip-tures; there is scarcely a sentence in the Gospel which has not been understood under-stood and interpreted by many in di- I rect opposition to the sense given it by others. How can it be expected that whilst I consider how the most learned men of all ages and nations differ so widely among themselves, I should trust my talents and my judgment, and place reliance on my opinion? I asknowledge that I am unequal to the task, and that the Bible is insufficient insuffi-cient for me if I am not shown the way to understand it rightly. I think that every one must be equally perplexed, per-plexed, and that no one can be firm in his faith without a guide, because no man' can be sure of not being mistaken. mis-taken. Where then shall I find that guide? Our Savior has provided it for us. He knew too well that man left to himself would be liable to error, and j would remain in darkness. He was, therefore, not satisfied to tell us that we must believe, but He established a Church from whom -we might safely, , without danger, that'is of erring, learn all that there is to be believed. We may say in a certain sense that all the laws of the Prophets are therein there-in contained. "I say unto thee," said Jesus Christ to St. Peter, "that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates shall not prevail against- it." Nobody can understand the latter words in any otner sense than tnat this Church shall rand forever free from error, because be-cause the moment it should fall into error hell should prevail against it. In another place He saj-s to Hia Apostles: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all naitione, teaching them to observe all thing's whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo! I am with vou all days, even unto the end of the world." It is clear that as the Apostles were to die, the premise prem-ise to be with them always, even to the end of the world, that they misht teach -whatever He had commanded, must be referred to their successors as well as to themselves. Jesus Christ says again, speaking of the Apostles: "Sanctify "Sanc-tify them in the truth. Thy word is truth. And for them do I sanctify Myself, My-self, that they also may be sanctified in truth: And not for them only do I pray, but for those also who, througSl tlujir word, shall believe in Me." This passage showa plainly thait He did not provide the means of maintaining pure the belief for the Aoostles alone, but for thcee who were to learn the truth from them. St. Paul defines the Church of Jesus Chrkit in the most distinct forms pebble when he called it the pillar and ground of truth. It, therefore, there-fore, cannot err, cannot fall.- No Chris-tian, Chris-tian, then, can deny that there is a Church established by Jesud Christ, a Church that, cannot fall, a Church that cannot err. This Church, consecuent-ly, consecuent-ly, must, be t)he guide of these twho wish to find, the truth. We need no longer be afraid of misunderstanding the Scriptures. We have a safe, that is, an infallible interpreter. To follow such a guide is both our interest and our duty. It is our interest, because without with-out at we can never be sure of being right in our beiief, and could net help being constantly perplexed and doubtful. doubt-ful. It is our duty, beeaurc we are commanded to hear the Church, for our Lord said to hia Apostles: "He who heareth you, heareth Me, and he who ! despiseth you, despiseth Me. tnese who do not hear the Church are considered consid-ered at heathens. "If thv brother . . . will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican." The Church of Christ is directed by the Holy Ghcet. The Apostles have informed in-formed us that thio was their belief, as having come together to determine certain cer-tain regulations for the conduct of the faithful, they made the following declaration: de-claration: "It has seemed good to the Holy Ghcst and to us to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things." Acts xi., 28. ' In fact, if the Church could err. we would not be obliged to hear it, as there would be a danger of being led astray. Reason, 'therefore, en wellns the Scriptures, Scrip-tures, teacheH us that the power of interpreting the sense of Holy Writ rests with the Church, which is the pillar and the ground of truth. Our duty, further, to submit our opinions to ! her judgment is a natural consequence cf her authority. j Frotestanitu have seen the necessity of acknowledging the uthority of the Church, and they make it an article ef their profession cf faith. "The Church has power to decree rites and ceremcn-iera. ceremcn-iera. and authority in comtrovers'ies in faith." They allow to the Church, the authority of -determining the conitro-versiies conitro-versiies of faith, and still, by a singular inconsistency, they do not concede that it has the privilege of infallibility. They aasert that it may err. "General councils, coun-cils, when they be gathered together (for as much as they are an assemblage of men whereof all be not governed v 1th the Spirit and Word ef God) may th'joe thinga pertaining unto God." This doctrine has something singular in it. What can they mean, when they acknowledge ac-knowledge that the Church has authority author-ity in controversies of faith? To have authority to interpret and no power to interpret always rightly, is a privilege cf no great value. If the Apo-atles had told us that t'hey had authority to cure the sick, and no power to do it effectually, effect-ually, what would .we have thought ef them? The authority of the Church to determine controversies oan be taken in two eeroes only, viz: a power to understand under-stand the Scriptures rightly, or a power to obliee her members to snibscrih to her decisions. If it be taken in the first sense, it must be acknowledged that ! the Church cannot err; if in the second, it musit be confeueed that it is a strange pretention, that of obliging people to submit their opinion to an authority subject to error. Let us conclude. Jesus Christ did actually establish a Church, of which St. Peter was the head. Our Savior ha3 assured us of this by His own word. This Church can neither err nor lapse. We (have the authority of it in the words of our Lord Himself, and of St. Paul. This Church is to be our snide in establishing our belief, and in regulating regu-lating our conduct. This principle is the logical consequence of our acknowledgment acknowl-edgment of her authority in infallibility. infallibil-ity. It is, moreover, what we are by express words, commanded to do. |
