We desire to offer a few earnest words on a subject which we deem to be of commanding interest and importance. It is this: The divine sufficiency and supreme authority of Holy Scripture, and the urgent need of submitting ourselves absolutely to its guidance in all things.
In thus stating our thesis, we would not have any to suppose for a moment that we undervalue human writings in their proper place. Nothing is further from our thoughts. Indeed it would ill become us to speak disparagingly of a branch of Christian ministry so largely used of God in all ages of His Church's history, and specially in this our own day.
Also, how often has a book or tract been made a real blessing to the soul, either in bringing one to Christ, or building up or helping on in Him! How often may we have read some passage of Scripture and seen nothing in it, until the Lord had used some paragraph in a human writing to unlock its treasures to our hearts! We are none of us self-sufficient. We are dependent on one another. We grow by that which every joint supplieth. We need all the "helps" which God has set in the body for our common profit and blessing.
But having said this much to guard against misunderstanding, and to put human writings in their right place, we return to our special object in this brief address. There is but one supreme and paramount authority, and that is the Word of God. Many human writings are interesting as references, valuable as aids, but they are worthless, yes, mischievous, as authority.
Scripture is all-sufficient. We want absolutely nothing in the way of guidance and authority beyond what we possess in the sacred canon of Scripture. No doubt, it is only by the Holy Spirit we can understand, appreciate, or be guided by Scripture; and moreover, God may use a human voice or a human pen to help us; but Scripture is divinely sufficient. It can make a child wise unto salvation; and it can make a man perfect unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:15-1715And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:15‑17)).
Now, having such a guide, such an authority, what becomes us as Christians, as servants of God, and servants of Christ? Why, clearly, to submit ourselves absolutely and unreservedly to its teaching in all things. We are bound by every argument and every motive which can possibly sway the heart, to test everything in which we are engaged, or with which we stand associated, by the holy standard of the Word of God; and if we find anything, no matter what, which will not stand that test, to abandon it at once and forever.
And it is precisely here that we feel there is such serious failure in the professing church. Too often we find the conscience is not under the immediate action and government of the Word. Instead of this, human opinions bear sway; human creeds and confessions of faith govern the heart and form the religious character; human traditions and habits of thought are allowed a formative influence over the soul.
If it is merely a question of personal salvation, profit, or blessing, Scripture may be listened to. But the moment it becomes a question of Christ's authority over us, in spirit, and soul, and body; when the Word of God is brought to bear upon our entire practical career; upon our personal habits; our domestic arrangements; our commercial pursuits; our religious associations; our ecclesiastical position; then, alas! it becomes apparent how completely the authority of Holy Scripture is often virtually thrown overboard. In fact, the enemy of souls seems to succeed as completely in robbing professing Christians of the real value, power, and authority of the Word of God, as when, during that long and dreary period of the middle ages, it was wrapped in the shroud of a dead language, and buried in the dark cloisters of Rome.
It is perfectly appalling, when one comes in contact with the actual condition of things among professing Christians, to observe the general ignorance of Scripture, and the carelessness about it. Nor can any thoughtful person doubt that the carelessness is the cause of the ignorance. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:1717If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)). But if the Word of God is neglected, and practically ignored as an authority, need we marvel when we find people ignorant of its precious contents?
We have been much struck lately in our dealings with some professing Christians, in noticing how little moral weight Scripture seems to possess with them. You will rarely meet with anyone who is prepared to start with this one grand point, that the voice of the Holy Ghost in Scripture is absolutely conclusive; that it admits of no appeal; that it closes all discussion. We speak not now of man's interpretation of Scripture, of anything in which it can be said, "That is your opinion." We speak only of the written Word of God which we possess, and to which we are individually responsible to submit ourselves in all things. God has put His Word into our hands, and He has put His Spirit into our hearts, and by that Spirit we can understand the Word; and we are solemnly bound to be guided and governed by that Word in all the details of our practical career.
It is this that we feel imperatively called upon to press upon the hearts and consciences of our readers; and now we leave it with you to consider, as before the Lord, your personal responsibility in this weighty matter. We would entreat you, as you love the Lord Jesus Christ, to examine in the light of Scripture your entire position and path; and by the grace of God, and for His glory, to abandon at once and forever all that is not in perfect accordance with that holy standard. Thus shall your path be as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Pro. 4:1818But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)). Oh! may the true language of all our hearts be, "Speak Lord; for Thy servant heareth" (1 Sam. 3:99Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:9)). "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:66And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:6)). God grant it for Christ's sake.