1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
of to-day--reason unguided by the Divine Revelation. Only in twoways can general infidelity (such as the above) be obviated; eitherignorance and bigotry must be cultivated and fostered, or the Biblemust be studied in the light of itself, and the traditions of menrejected, totally. The last is the right way, but will not be followed.The former will not succeed, for knowledge is being increased andthe masses will not long remain in ignorance; hence losing theirbondage to tradition, and being without a true knowledge of theBible, the mass of the nominal Church is hastening into infidelity,under the leading of false teachers who still cling to the nameChristian, though they have rejected the doctrines of Christ.====================R736 : page 6EVOLUTION AND THE BRAIN AGE.An exchange giving a report of a recent lecture on Phrenology,says of it: "He showed how man had first been in a stage ofexistence in which his animal nature predominated, and the almostpurely physical ruled him; then he slowly grew from one state toanother until now, when the average man has attained to a conditionin which it might be said, he is coming under the rule of the brain.Hence this age may be regarded and designated as the Brain Age.Brain pushes the great enterprises of the day. Brain takes the reignsof government; and the elements of the earth, air and water, arebeing brought under subjection. Man is putting his hand on allphysical forces, and slowly but surely attaining such power over thedomain of nature as gives evidence that ultimately he may exclaim,in the language of Alexander Selkirk, 'I am monarch of all Isurvey.'"The above is in perfect harmony with the latest discoveries of socalledscientific thought on the subject. Notably, within the pasttwenty years the theory of Evolution has been making rapidprogress among all classes of thinking people, until now it isconsidered a mark of ignorance and "old fogyism" to thinkotherwise.Hence, were it not that we see a necessity for it we should nottrouble to contradict or refute this, more than many other claims,"babblings and oppositions of science, falsely so called." 1 Tim.6:20.R737 : page 6The danger which we see is this: The suggestion seems to someminds reasonable and consistent, and in this day many seeminclined to reject the Bible, or place it on a level with heathenmythologies. The tendency is first to neglect and ignore itsteachings on this subject; secondly, to claim a harmony betweenScripture and the Evolution theory; and finally, either to so wrestand twist the Scriptures to make them conform to what is termed
scientific knowledge, and thereby plant and water seeds of error, orelse to the discarding of the whole or large portions of the Bibleentirely as a parcel of "old wives' fables," as a New York Methodistminister of the gospel recently did. Perhaps now he should beknown as a minister against the gospel; but the words "gospel,""minister," and "Christian," have become very popular, and eventhose who deny and belittle the Saviour, the ransom for sin whichhe gave, and the forgiveness of sin which in consequence he offers,would think it very unkind for any to say that they are notChristians, but ministers against the gospel of God's Word.The fact that at first glance a theory appears "reasonable" shouldnot lead us hastily to accept it and attempt to twist the Bible intoharmony with it. In a thousand ways we have proved the Bible, andknow beyond peradventure that it contains a superhuman wisdomwhich makes its statements unerring. We should remember too, thatwhile scientific research is to be commended, and its suggestionsconsidered, yet its conclusions are by no means infallible. And whatwonder that it has proven its own theories false a thousand timeswhen we remember that the true scientist is a student attemptingunder many unfavorable circumstances and struggling againstalmost insurmountable difficulties to learn from the great book ofNature the history of man and his home.We would not then oppose or hinder scientific investigation, but inhearing the suggestions from these students of the book of nature,let us carefully compare their deductions, which so often haveproved in part, or wholly erroneous, with our book of DivineRevelation-- the Bible. Let us prove or disprove the suggestions ofscientists by "the law and the testimony; if they speak not accordingto this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). Anaccurate knowledge of the teachings of both books will beharmonious, but until then God's revelation must to his childrentake precedence to and be the standard by which the supposedfindings of fallible fellow men shall be judged.But while holding to this principle, let us see whether there be notsome other reasonable solution of the increased knowledge andskill and power of man than the theory of Evolution, that originallydeveloped from a very low order of being man has now reached theBrain Age.Perhaps after all we shall find that the inventions, conveniences, thegeneral education and wider diffusion and increase of knowledge isnot attributable to a greater brain capacity, but to more favorablecircumstances for its use. That the brain capacity to-day is greaterthan in bygone ages we deny, while we freely admit, that owing tofavorable circumstances, the use of what brain capacity men haveto-day is more general than at any former period, and hence makesa much larger showing.Let us see: In the study of painting and sculpture do not the studentsof this "Brain Age" go back to the great masters of the past? Do
- Page 95 and 96: If this be true, the sacrifice of J
- Page 97 and 98: which God considers necessary to a
- Page 99 and 100: they were redeemed by his precious
- Page 101 and 102: ====================R725 : page 5WI
- Page 103 and 104: Secondly, Satan so far as we are in
- Page 105 and 106: Paul says that God--In the ages to
- Page 107 and 108: The reference in this text is to Ch
- Page 109 and 110: "Further than this, let me frankly
- Page 111 and 112: the New Testament repeatedly. Hence
- Page 113 and 114: But is not deadness to sin, or a ce
- Page 115 and 116: to-day think of it--as "the angel G
- Page 117 and 118: ecome joint-heirs with Him. Like Je
- Page 119 and 120: R730 : page 1page 1VOL. VI.PITTSBUR
- Page 121 and 122: their numbers were far less, but th
- Page 123 and 124: ook. Every one will be called a Chr
- Page 125 and 126: that I tried to shake it off, but i
- Page 127 and 128: Taunton, Mass.DEAR BROTHER:--Please
- Page 129 and 130: the responsibilities of our maturer
- Page 131 and 132: their office, of their being finall
- Page 133 and 134: passed away because the necessity f
- Page 135 and 136: These thoughts were suggested by tw
- Page 137 and 138: Hence without attempting to teach i
- Page 139 and 140: us a copy of such paper with the ar
- Page 141 and 142: can bring against it. Since then, t
- Page 143 and 144: for existence though every proof-te
- Page 145: Here the lecturer wanders still fur
- Page 149 and 150: trust we shall be able to show this
- Page 151 and 152: directly in the hands of those whos
- Page 153 and 154: While we understand from Scripture
- Page 155 and 156: faith. And apparently most of the "
- Page 157 and 158: would you not, sacrifice your honor
- Page 159 and 160: come, buy wine and milk without mon
- Page 161 and 162: had failed to prove a real blessing
- Page 163 and 164: BROTHER RUSSELL: I received the pap
- Page 165 and 166: therefore, never been baptized (by
- Page 167 and 168: lameless of any disobedience; but t
- Page 169 and 170: harmony with it, you never will be
- Page 171 and 172: "This great salvation" must take pl
- Page 173 and 174: R742 : page 4RICHES OF HIS grace in
- Page 175 and 176: RECKONED as filling up that which i
- Page 177 and 178: Since the Gospel Church enters upon
- Page 179 and 180: ----------"IT is easier to find a s
- Page 181 and 182: glorified with Him and made fully l
- Page 183 and 184: "SHOW me the man you honor. I know
- Page 185 and 186: Episcopalians and United Presbyteri
- Page 187 and 188: They do not openly deny the meaning
- Page 189 and 190: Why does our Saviour take the serpe
- Page 191 and 192: The 3d verse explains still further
- Page 193 and 194: R746 : page 8Is there no danger tha
- Page 195 and 196: "My dear fellow," he said, "you're
scientific knowledge, and thereby plant and water seeds of error, orelse to the discarding of the whole or large portions of the Bibleentirely as a parcel of "old wives' fables," as a New York Methodistminister of the gospel recently did. Perhaps now he should beknown as a minister against the gospel; but the words "gospel,""minister," and "Christian," have become very popular, and eventhose who deny and belittle the Saviour, the ransom for sin whichhe gave, and the f<strong>org</strong>iveness of sin which in consequence he offers,would think it very unkind for any to say that they are notChristians, but ministers against the gospel of God's Word.The fact that at first glance a theory appears "reasonable" shouldnot lead us hastily to accept it and attempt to twist the Bible intoharmony with it. In a thousand ways we have proved the Bible, andknow beyond peradventure that it contains a superhuman wisdomwhich makes its statements unerring. We should remember too, thatwhile scientific research is to be commended, and its suggestionsconsidered, yet its conclusions are by no means infallible. And whatwonder that it has proven its own theories false a thousand timeswhen we remember that the true scientist is a student attemptingunder many unfavorable circumstances and struggling againstalmost insurmountable difficulties to learn from the great book ofNature the history of man and his home.We would not then oppose or hinder scientific investigation, but inhearing the suggestions from these students of the book of nature,let us carefully compare their deductions, which so often haveproved in part, or wholly erroneous, with our book of DivineRevelation-- the Bible. Let us prove or disprove the suggestions ofscientists by "the law and the testimony; if they speak not accordingto this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). Anaccurate knowledge of the teachings of both books will beharmonious, but until then God's revelation must to his childrentake precedence to and be the standard by which the supposedfindings of fallible fellow men shall be judged.But while holding to this principle, let us see whether there be notsome other reasonable solution of the increased knowledge andskill and power of man than the theory of Evolution, that originallydeveloped from a very low order of being man has now reached theBrain Age.Perhaps after all we shall find that the inventions, conveniences, thegeneral education and wider diffusion and increase of knowledge isnot attributable to a greater brain capacity, but to more favorablecircumstances for its use. That the brain capacity to-day is greaterthan in bygone ages we deny, while we freely admit, that owing tofavorable circumstances, the use of what brain capacity men haveto-day is more general than at any former period, and hence makesa much larger showing.Let us see: In the study of painting and sculpture do not the studentsof this "Brain Age" go back to the great masters of the past? Do
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