The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 193

APOSTOLIC INSPIRATION highest degree, and

we

heartily indorse all that the Ethical theolo-

gians say in this respect. tolic inspiration is

153

But,

when

we

all is said,

not even touched upon

;

that

hold that apos-

it lies

entirely out-

and that the Church must reverence it as an extraordinary, peculiar, and unique work of the Holy Spirit, which was wrought exclusively in the holy apos-

side of

not contained

it; is

in,

but added

to, it;

tles.

Hence both

sides concede that the apostles

were born again, that But

they had received illumination in a peculiarly high degree.

while the Ethical theorists maintain that this extraordinary illumination includes inspiration, the Reformed hold that illumination in its

highest degree has nothing to do with inspiration

unique in

its

;

which was

kind, without equal, given to the apostles alone, never

to other believers.

The difference between the two views is obvious. According to the Ethical view, the epistles are the writings of very worthy, godly, and sanctified men the thoughtful utterances of highly enlightened believers. And yet, having said all this, they are after all only fallible they may contain ninety per cent, of truth, well expressed and accurately defined but the possibility remains that the other ten per cent, is full of errors and mistakes. Even tho there be one or more infallible epistles, how can this ;

;

;

we do not know it? In fact, we are without the least And for this reason it is actually conceded apostles have made mistakes.

avail us, since

certainty in this matter. that the

Hence the Reformed churches can not accept

this fascinating

and the conscience of believers will always protest against it. What we expect in " holy apostces' is this very certainty, reliability, and decision. Reading their testimony, we want to rely upon it. This certainty alone has been the strength of the Church of all ages. This conviction alone has given her rest. And the Church of to-day feels as instinctively that the reliability of the Word that is its Bible is being taken away from it, inasmuch as these beautifully sounding theories strip the apostolic word of its

representation

;

infallibility.

The holy wise.

St.

apostles appear in their writings as such, and not other-

among the twelve, testifies that as apostles a rare promise, saying, " He

John, the most beloved

the Lord Jesus gave shall guide

you into

them

all truth,"

a word that

may

not be applied to

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