Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 595

Chap.

Ill]

THE PRINCIPIUM

§ 88.

IN ACTION

571

why abstract intellectualism is insufficient for this will appear later but in so far as now we limit ourselves exclusively to ;

from the nature of the object and from the principium of theology that it must determine, assimilate and reproduce, but with this its task is ended. For the sake of completeness, we may add that this includes this intellectual task, it follows

the investigation of the instrument of revelation,

Holy Scripture

;

which task

come

Scripture has not

to

is

i.e.

the

the more extensive, as that

us in autographs, nor in our

own language, but in foreign languages and which are in many respects corrupt, so that

in apographa, it

requires an

entirely independent effort of the mind, by the study of criti-

cism and language, so to approach the Scripture as to render an investigation of its content possible. Meanwhile this detracts nothing

from the character of principium which

sessed by the Holy Scripture as the effective cause of

is

pos-

all

true

In view of the full demonstration of the former chapter, this requires no further emphasis.

theology.

§ 88.

I7ie

Principium of Theology in Action

Without further explanation the impression would be conveyed, that the method of theological investigation, as described in the preceding section, makes theology to termi-

The more

nate in dogmatics.

frequently

Even

named

so, since earlier

dogmaticians

their dogmatics " Theologia

Christiana."

Calvin's Institutes

is

based on such a supposition.

readily seen, however, that in this

way theology

It is

as a science

would be curtailed. To mention one particular only, we what would become of Church history? In this second

ask,

section, therefore,

we

observe that he

who

investigates a

knowledge of it only by the study This applies also to the of its states both of rest and action. ectypal knowledge of God, which, in behalf of the Church, is deposited in the Holy Scripture. The Word of God also has its action. It is "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword," " a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces." It works also as a living seed that is sown, and: which, according to the nature of the soil, germinates and given object, obtains

full

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