From the recent amazing advancement of the physical sciences, and the corresponding development of the prac- tical arts, and the wide extension of the secular interests and activities of the masses of mankind, and doubtless from many other causes unknown, the spirit of modern philosophy, whether intuitional or sensational, is beyond precedent naturalistic—that is, disposed to deny the supernatural as impossible, or to ignore it as unknow- able. The subtle spirit of this mode of thought pene- trates every sphere of mental activity, is diffused through Z
CHAPTER
16 THE NATURE OF THE ATONEMENT.
every species of literature, and is far more influential over the speculations of even truly religious minds than many are aware of. It is constantly, by an unfelt pres- sure, tending to lead the theologian away from the sim- plicity of the gospel. This is manifested in many essays at a rational explanation of the mysteries of revelation, in conformity with the principles of natural reason and the analogies of human experiences. Doctrines are first formed to satisfy rational views of what they ought to be, and then a reference is made to the Bible to elicit inspired confirmation of truths otherwise derived.
The two great doctrines just at present most generally brought into question, and which have suffered most at the hands of rationalistic criticism, are those concerning the nature and extent of Biblical Inspiration, and the nature of the Redemptive Work of Christ. These natur- ally stand or fall together. For if the inspiration of the Scriptures is plenary, then the Church doctrine as to the nature of Redemption remains impregnable. But if the authority of the Scriptures may be abated, the
‘way is open, of course, in due proportion, to theories of
Redemption adjusted to the “finer feelings,” the “moral intuitions,” and the administrative experiences of man- kind. Thus we have in Broad Church literature—so widely circulated in the writings of Jowett, Maurice, Stanley, Dr. John Young of Edinburgh, and the sermons of Robertson, and the late elaborate treatise on Vica- — rious Sacrifice, of Bushnell, and elsewhere—a repub- lication in new forms of that which is in essence nothing else than the old Socinian heresy on the Atone- ment. A prominent Methodist minister, the Rev. Dr. Steele, as quoted by the Watchman and Reflector, declares, concerning that great evangelical denomination, that the old view that Christ died to satisfy the justice of God is undoubtedly disappearing among them, and that the
INTRODUCTORY. | 17
)
“moral influence,” or Socinian view, is generally taking its place. And it is notorious that the hybrid Govern-
CHAPTER * L q
mental Atonement Theory—orthodox in whatever it |
affirms and Socinian in all it denies—has for years been the accepted doctrine of what is called the New England theology, and of a large class of theologians in Eng- land.
There are three points to which I wish to direct the attention of the reader in this introductory chapter.
1. The first is the fact, too apt to be overlooked by eager controversialists, that all error, especially all effective and therefore dangerous error, 1s partial truth. The human mind was formed for truth, and so constituted that only truth can exert permanent influence upon it. But the truth revealed in the Scriptures is so many-sided in its aspects, and so vast in its relations, and our habits of thought, because of sin, are so one-sided and narrow, that, as a general fact, the mind of any Church in any single age fails to take in practically and sharply more than one side of a truth at a time, while other aspects and relations are either denied or neglected. A habit of un- duly exalting any subordinate view of the truth at the expense of that which is more important, or of overlook- ing, on the other hand, some secondary aspect of it altogether, 1s certain after a time to lead to a reactionary tendency, in which that which has been too much exalted shall be brought low, and that which has been abased shall be exalted. This principle is abundantly illustrated throughout the entire history of theological speculation ; as in the ever-repeated oscillations between the extremes of Sabellianism and Tritheism as to the Trinity, of Kutychianism and Nestorianism as to the Person of Christ, and in the history of speculations on the doc- trine of Redemption. Every prominent heresy as to the nature of the Atonement, as the reader will find care-
All error partial truth.
CHAPTER I.
Systems of doc- trine un- avoidable.
18 THE NATURE OF THE ATONEMENT.