Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

there is a middle way from which these extremes are equally distant,
every candid man who believes the Bible must allow. That there is an
inspiration of the Spirit which every conscientious Christian may claim,
and without which no man can be a Christian, is sufficiently established
by innumerable scriptures, and by the uninterrupted and universal
testimony of the church of God; this has been frequently proved in the
preceding notes. If any one, professing to be a preacher of the gospel of
Jesus, denies, speaks, or writes against this, he only gives awful proof to
the Christian church how utterly unqualified he is for his sacred function.
He is not sent by God, and therefore he shall not profit the people at all.
With such, human learning is all in all; it is to be a substitute for the
unction of Christ, and the grace and influences of the Holy Spirit.
But while we flee from such sentiments as from the influence of a
pestilential vapour, shall we join with those who decry learning and
science, absolutely denying them to be of any service in the work of the
ministry, and often going so far as to assert that they are dangerous, and
subversive of the truly Christian temper and spirit, engendering little
beside pride, self-sufficiency, and intolerance?
That there have been pretenders to learning, proud and intolerant, we
have too many proofs of the fact to doubt it; and that there have been
pretenders to divine inspiration, not less so, we have also many facts to
prove. But such are only pretenders; for a truly learned man is ever
humble and complacent; and one who is under the influence of the divine
Spirit is ever meek, gentle, and easy to be entreated. The proud and the
insolent are neither Christians nor scholars. Both religion and learning
disclaim them, as being a disgrace to both.
But it is not the ability merely to interpret a few Greek and Latin
authors that can constitute a man a scholar, or qualify him to teach the
gospel. Thousands have this knowledge who are neither wise unto
salvation themselves, nor capable of leading those who are astray into the
path of life. LEARNING is a word of extensive import; it signifies
knowledge and experience; the knowledge of God and of nature in