The “Scotsman” and Union.
The Scotsman is still pursuing its self-imposed task of pleading for the union of the Established and U.F. Churches. In a recent article, entitled “Wreckers,” the writer is furious that there should be opposition to the movement in the Established Church. We hold no brief for those who signed the minority report of the Union Committee. But if the Scotsman wishes to wreck this union, the writer of the above article is on a straight road for such a purpose. For our own part we have absolutely no sympathy with the proposed union, and if one were to venture a prophecy, it would appear that from the report of the Established Union Committee that union is further off than ever.
Heresy in the Church of England.
It appears that a discussion has arisen in the English Church with regard to the theological views of one of their Oxford Professors, Dr. Sanday. The said Professor refuses to accept the New Testament record of certain miracles performed by Christ, such as the multiplying of the loaves and fishes, because this is “contrary to nature.” In a defensive statement, he gives himself still further away, for he there also doubts certain miracles of the Old Testament. He maintains that the statements of the inspired evangelists about the loaves and fishes have had an imaginary origin in “the stories of multiplied food in the Old Testament narratives of Elijah and Elisha.” He also denies the supernatural birth of our Lord and His bodily resurrection from the dead, while he further refuses to apply the term “Infallibility” to Christ. Truly the Church of England has fallen upon evil times when the fires of Ritualism and Rationalism are consuming her life at such a rate. The editor of the English Churchman writes upon Professor Sanday’s errors, but, while the article is sound, it appears to us to be lacking in robust vigour of condemnation and in that degree of just alarm which the presence of such gross and soul-destroying heresies should produce in all right-thinking men. We must candidly say that while we value many things that appear in the English Churchman, we are often very much disappointed with its milk-and-water style of witnessing against evils in Church and State, as well as with its positive approbation, especially in “Reviews of Books,” of teachers and writers on religious subjects who ought to be severely censured rather than commended for their opinions.
Women Preachers.
The Suffragists are progressing rapidly—in the wrong direction. One of their number, a Mrs. Cousins, says that “preaching has been a masculine monopoly, but that women’s time to preach is coming, and that if the Churches will not ask them to come into their administration on an absolute equality with men, women will organise their own Churches.” We must confess that it is a matter of absolute truth that women are honourably in the majority in all religious denominations at the present time, while men are shewing themselves disgracefully careless about divine ordinances; but at the same time no right-thinking Christian woman wishes to preach or rule in the Church.
Diary of Dugald Buchanan.
We call the attention of our readers—especially the young—to this valuable Diary, which is being republished in our columns. Dugald Buchanan rehearses several striking incidents which took place in the days of his youth, and which showed the merciful, providential care of God over him—sparing him for better days. The Diary is fitted to warn sinners against many forms of evil, and to encourage the penitent to seek mercy at a throne of grace. It also conveys the solemn instruction that not every religious experience in a way of alarm or encouragement is saving grace. Impressions are one thing, the new birth is another; and without the latter—a real change of state and nature—no sinner can enter the kingdom of God. We earnestly trust that the Diary may be blessed to the awakening and enlightenment of the unconcerned, and the comfort and edification of God’s people.