The use of reason in the sphere of theology is, 1st, to exa- mine the authenticating evidence of revelation, and to decide the fact that God is speaking therein.
2d. To interpret, with the help of every light of the most va- rious learning, the records of revelation, and to determine impar- tially what God does say to us therein.
This work of interpretation includes besides the grammatical rendering of every text by itself, the careful comparison of Scrip- ture with Scripture, the limitation of one class of passages by an- other bearing upon the same subject, and thus a development, by an impartial induction from all Scripture, of the entire harmon- ious system of truth God has therein revealed.
3d. Be it remembered that reason can accomplish this much successfully only as it is informed by a sanctified heart, and guided by the Holy Ghost.
4th. Beason can be of further use in this matter only as the servant and instrument of faith, in promulgating, illustrating, and in defending the truth.
48'
THEOLOGY AND ITS SOURCES.
12. Give a summary statement of the different departments of Christian theology ?
The three grand departments of Christian theology are, I. The Exegetical, the object of which is to arrive at the exact mind of the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of the text. This depart- ment includes as preparatory the study of the original languages, the critical settlement of the text in its integrity, also Biblical geography, antiquities, and the science of the Old Testament types in their relation to the gospel.
II. The Dogmatic, or Systematic, the object of which is by means of a just comparison and impartial induction from the sacred text truly interpreted, to present a scientific exhibition of all the doctrines of the Bible in their essential relations. This includes (1.) Anthropology, or the teaching of the Scripture con- cerning man and his relation to God. (2.) Theology proper, or the doctrine concerning God and his relation to man, and (3.) Soterology, or the doctrine of salvation.
III. The Practical, the object of which is to deduce from the doctrines and precepts of the Bible rules for the organization and administration of the Christian Church in all her functions, and for the guidance of the individual Christian in all the relations of life.
CHAPTER III.
THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
1. How may the evidences authenticating the truth of Chris- tianity be classified ?
They have been most coramonly classified as, 1st. External, i e., Those evidences which accompanied the persons who acted as the organs of revelation and authenticated their claims, e.g., mir- acles and prophecy. 2d. Internal, i. e., Those evidences which are inherent in the divine message and in the inspired records thereof, such as may be decided without any reference to external sources of fact and testimony, e. g., the moral perfection of the Christian system, the miraculous harmony of all the books, the supernatural intelligence they discover, the spiritual power of the truth, etc., etc.
Another classification, less common, but more exact, may be founded upon the distinction between the different principles of the human soul to which the several kinds of evidence are ad- dressed. Thus, 1st. The rational evidence, or that which presents itself to the rational faculties of man. This class embraces the evidence of history, miracles, prophecy, undesigned coincidences, general harmony of records, etc. 2d. The moral evidence, or that which presents itself to the judgment of the moral sense. 3d. Spiritual evidence, or that which can be judged only by the spirit- ual man as the result of his personal experience of the power of these truths when spiritually discerned.
A third classification may be presented thus, 1st. These vari- ous sources of evidence theoretically considered, i. e., treated by the understanding as the basis of a theoretical judgment. 2d,. That practical evidence which results from putting the principles of Christianity, its precepts and promises to the test of practical experience.
50 THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
Without following either of these principles exclusively, I shall attempt to establish the following positions in the order.
1st. God and human nature, being what they are clearly known to be in the mere light of reason and experience, a special revelation from God to man is antecedently in the highest sense probable.
2d. The Old and New Testaments, whether the word of God or not, are, beyond question, both genuine and authentic his- torical records.
3d. The miracles alleged in evidence of the Christian religion are established as facts by abundant testimony, and when ad- mitted as facts they invincibly demonstrate the religion they ac- company to be from God.
4th. The same is true with regard to the prophesies contained in the Scriptures. The truth of Christianity is established also —