Remarks on the Princeton Review [pp. 306-347]

8.eneral Faith of the Church.
in all these revelations and dispensations. For of him, through
him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
It is an undeniable historical fact, that this system underlies
the piety of the Church in all ages. It is the great granitic
formation whose peaks tower toward heaven, and draw thence
the waters of life, and in whose capacious bosom repose those
green pastures, in which the great Shepherd gathers and sus tains his flock. It has withstood all changes, and it still stands.
Heat and cold, snow and rain, gentle abrasion and violent con vulsions leave it as it was. It cannot be moved. In our own
age and country, this system of doctrine has had to sustain a
renewed conflict. It has been assailed by argument, by ridicule,
by contempt. It has been pronounced absurd, obsolete, effete,
powerless. It has withstood logic, indignation, wit, and even
the Hexagon. Still it stands.* What then is to be done?
Prof. Park, with rare ingenuity, answers, "Let us admit its
truth, but maintain that it does not differ from the other systenli.
There are two theologies, one for the feelings, the other for the intellect, or what may be made to mean precisely the same thing, two
forms of one and the same theology; the one precise and definite,
designed to satisfy the intelligence, the other vague and intense,
adapted to the feelings. Both are true, for at bottom they are
the same. It is in vain to deny this old theology. It is in
* The New York Independent, in a notice of our former review, objected to the
tone of confidence with which we wrote on this subject. How can we help it?
A man behind the walls of Gibraltar, or of Ehrenbreitstein, cannot, if he would,
tremble at the sight of a single knight, however gallant or well-appointed he may
be. His confidence is due to his position, not to a consciousness of personal
strength. A man at sea with a stout ship under him, has a sense of security in no
measure founded upon himself. A Christian surrounded by learned sceptics may
be deeply sensible of his own weakness, and yet serenely confident in the strength
of his cause. We then, who are within those old walls which have stood for ages,
even from the beginning, who can look around and see the names of all generations
of saints inscribed on those walls, and who feel the solid rock of God's word under
their feet, must be excused for a feeling of security. We invite our critic to come
within this strong tower, and to place his feet upon this same rock, and he will find
how strength-inspiring it is, even though his personal humility should be increased
by the experiment. We beg of him at least not to confound confidence in a
system which has been held for ages, with self-confidence. Our Independent
brethren seem to have lost the idea of the Church. Some of them have even written
against the article in the Creed which affirms faith in that doctrine. They appear
to think that every man stands by himself, that nothing is ever settled, that every
theological discussion is a controversy between individuals. But there is such a
thing as the Church, and that Church has a faith, and against that faith no one
man and no angel is any fair match.
1851.]~
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