A Phase of the Church Question. [pp. 566-586]

o~7O A L1~q~c (f [O&ToBER,
of all ages i~avc loved to inc~llire into tlie " deep tJ~ings" of
God. All such investigations are attended ~itii danger.
lIuman ~vcaki~ess is no~vhere more strikingly manifest tiiaii iu
tlie lli~to~j of WAilo8oj)/y. Once under the power of an
` idea or theory," conscientiously believed to be a reality, an
earnest u~ind will almost ii~evitably be led to an extren~e.
Thus in the case of Dr. Nevin; his so-called Cl~risto-centric
notion of a whole lias beconie for him tlie pilneiple of all his
thinking: with tyrant sway his pl~ilosopl~y rules liis theology.
An " OiJ~r of IUo~~4{j)" has been constructed in the interest
of this abstract "idea or theory." Dr. Nevin says: "They,"
that is, the members of il~e committee to prepare tlie "Order,"
"were themselves brought more and more under the power of
an idea, which cari4ed them with inexorable force its own
way.`-See lit. QUc8t., p. 39.
This ~Iercersburg scheme, like I~omanism is a species of
priestly ritualism: it is from man. P~oinanism is based upon
a human notion having for its centre a Pope: this scheme
is founded upon a metaphysical abstraction having for its centre German P~ationalism. Dr. Xe viii has confused tlie mind
of niiiiisters who seem to have no ac~naintance with tlie writings of the German metaphysicians. i3y affirming that Christ
is the principle of his scheme, the real principle which is his
own so-called Christo-centric notion of a whole has not been
clearly apprehended. Trne Dr. Nevin holds and teaches many
precious trnths of tlie Gospel. Care must be taken to distingnisl~ between these and the scheme as such. A church has
been constructed, having for its foundatioii a pantheistic "idea
or theory' of personal being. This phantom clinreli Dr. Xe via
calls tlie Christian Church! As well atten~pt to constract the
nniverse, in a similar w~y, and call the abstraction the ~~ork
of God himself. So-called philosophers expose their weakness by thas trying to know as God. Their speculative notions
are right, thQy say, even though the Almighty should be
wrong Not content to sit at tlie Saviour's feet, they attetupt
to "find out the Alinigh ty to perfection." Of the work
of God, a greater than Dr. Xcvi a says; "Though a man lahor
to seek it out, yet shall he not find it: yea, further, tl~o"gIi a
wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."