| PREFACE. |
iii |
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BOOK I.
O F T H E M E T H O D S H I T H E R T O P U R S U E D .
PART I.
PRELIMINARY.
CHAPTER I.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CURRENT SKEPTICISM. |
The great masses of society are actual, though not
positive skeptics. The skepticism of the
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eighteenth compared with that of the nineteenth century. Comte's
Positive Philosophy. Smaller stars. Actual skepticism defined. It
accounts for the rapid growth of "Spiritualism," etc. Not confined to
these developments. The fortress of this skepticism. The
responsibility of the church with reference to it.
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CHAPTER II.
THE PRESENT STATE OF HERMENEUTICAL SCIENCE. |
Two ways mentioned of judging this science. Neither correct.
Properly regarded it is seen to
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contain correct principles, but no method. The aids we now possess in
studying the Scriptures. Their value. Their deficiency. They have not
given a scientific character to Hermeneutics. Protestants in a
dilemma. Importance of points in controversy. [vii]
Ineffectual union of Tract Societies and "Evangelical Alliances." The
cause of our differences. Four hypotheses. The existence of
false methods the real cause. Biographical History of Philosophy, and
Lord Bacon quoted. What Protestantism accomplished at first, and what
it left for us to accomplish. This has not yet been done. Conclusion.
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25 |
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CHAPTER III.
THE DEPENDENCE OF RULES UPON METHOD. |
Method defined. Rule defined. Their relation to each other. The
one immediate, the other
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ultimate in effect. Correct rules and a false method lead to falsehood.
Method the first consideration in scientific inquiry. The province of
each illustrated. :Master and servant. General and subordinates. The
materials for a building, and its erection. Failure of Hermeneutics
accounted for. Book-keeping. Solomon's Temple, and how it was built.
The Christian temple. Resumé. Plan of the work.
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34 |
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PART II.
OF THE MYSTIC METHOD.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE MYSTIC THEOLOGY. |
Webster's definition of mysticism imperfect. Mill's definition.
The Principle of Mysticism. The
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sense in which the word is used in this work. Philosophy of Chaldea and
Persia the source of mysticism. Sum of what is known of that
philosophy. Its effects upon ancient speculation. Ammonius Saccas makes
it the standard of all philosophy and religion. Mosheim quoted. Why
this amalgamated philosophy was called Platonism. The effects of its
adoption. The fallacy of calling the Eastern philosophy the standard.
The real standard. Why we begin our survey of mysticism here. [viii]
Platonists converted to Christianity. Justin Martyr, Athenagoras,
Clemens, and Origen. Their labors to reconcile Christianity to the new
philosophy. The method of doing this. Their reasons for it. Its
effects. Mosheim and Enfield quoted. Conclusion.
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46 |
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CHAPTER II.
SKETCH OF THE MYSTIC THEOLOGY. |
Pseudo-Dionysius and his works. "Two heads," and perhaps "three."
Translated by Joannes
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Scotus. Thus mysticism was introduced into, the West. Its aggravated
form. The learning of the age. Mechanical mysticism. The rebound from
Scholasticism. Neo-Platonism, Pythagoreanism, and Cabalism combined.
The mystics immediately preceding the Reformation. After the
Reformation. George Fogy identified with earlier mystics. Mosheim and
Bancroft quoted. Swedenborgianism goes one step beyond the first
mysticism. Estimate of Swedenborg's character and works. A dilemma.
Cousin quoted. Resumé. The Medici, Paracelsus, Van
Helmont, Poiret, Law, Penn, "spirit rappers." Theosophists.
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59 |
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CHAPTER III.
MYSTICISM AMONG PROTESTANTS. |
The employment of the Mystic Method varies with the necessities
of the case. The change
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one of degree, not of kind. Only a part of Scripture
subject to mystic principles. The "wall" around Protestantism. The gate
in the wall. The effect of closing it. High ground. Low water. Argument
for perpetuating established institutions. A definition of Heterodoxy.
A difficulty. An evangelical "gauge." An orthodox "lever." "Our
church." A spiritual sense opposed to a literal. A new spiritual sense.
Difference between this and Origenism. Science studied on this method.
"He knows that he is right." Conclusion. [ix]
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72 |
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CHAPTER IV.
OF THE LITERAL PARTS OF SCRIPTURE. |
The meaning of a literal teat. The nature of human language. It is
regulated by fixed laws. If it
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change it must change according to rule. A "horse," a "cow," and a
"horse for sawing wood." The battle of Waterloo. Bonaparte, the Devil;
St. Helena, Tartarus, etc. The Bible in human language. The
consequence. The nature of the Bible in particular. A revelation if it
mean what it says, not otherwise. Mysticism, infidelity. Objections.
The word mystery. The letter killeth. The limit of
interpretation. Going beyond. Outside mysteries. Sir Wm. Hamilton, and
Sir Isaac Newton quoted. Archbishop Whately. Illustrations. Paul's
vision. The seven thunders, etc.
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85 |
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CHAPTER V.
OF THE FIGURATIVE PARTS OF SCRIPTURE. |
Scylla and Charybdis. General rule for determining what texts
are figurative. Specifications.
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Horne. Rule embracing all figurative language. Irenæus's rule for
parables. Tertullian's rule. These extended to all figurative language.
The comprehension of faith and obedience. Figurative language does not
teach new truth. Dean Trench quoted. The standard in the Bible. The
effect of adopting these principles. Parables not to be quoted for
arguments except as confirmations. Various authorities. Objections met.
Conclusion. [x]
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PART III.
OF THE DOGMATIC METHOD.
CHAPTER I.
OF SCHOLASTICISM. |
The Dogmatic Method the master of the Mystic. The rise of
Scholasticism. A logical
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knight-errant. The fame of the Scholastics. New doctrines.
Aristotle's works prohibited, and the consequence. A new idea. They are
received into the bosom of the church. The maintenance of the Latin
Theology the limit of the schools. Dr. Hampden quoted. Characteristics
of Scholasticism. Questions discussed. Hallam. Sir J. Mackintosh. The
dogmatic character of Scholasticism. Its essential evil. Brucker. The
marriage of religion with philosophy. Transubstantiation made an
article of faith. Waddington and Mosheim. Pascal's remarks on
"accidents" considered, note. The effects of Scholasticism.
Resumé. Hampden.
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CHAPTER II.
THE THEORY AND THE PRACTICE OF PROTESTANTISM. |
Aristotle's authority in the days of Luther. Impious position
of Eugenius and Georgius.
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Luther's attitude to Scholasticism. Melanchthon's tergiversation. The
example of Luther and his coadjutors. The distinguishing principles of
Protestantism. Without these Protestants would be Romanists. Not
carried out in practice. A change of masters. The difference. The
binding character of Protestant dogmata. Penalty for their violation.
Inferentially, not verbally, scriptural. So Romish dogmata. One
lawgiver. Both principles present or absent at the same time. The
position taken sustained by authorities. Hallam. Chambers. Balmes.
Edinburgh Review. [xi]
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128 |
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CHAPTER III.
THE EFFECTS OF PROTESTANT INCONSISTENCY. |
Protestants do not doubt the correctness of their principles.
Why they abandon them in
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practice. The Confession of Augsburg. The theory of Protestants has
multiplied thought. The example of Luther has multiplied dogmatism.
Relative position of objects. Influence of dogmatism traced. The
circuit of error. Neo-Platonism, Scholasticism, multiform dogmatism.
The impotency of rules with such methods.
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147 |
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CHAPTER IV.
OF PROTESTANT CREEDS. |
Section I.--This subject the parent of intemperate controversy. Reasons for treating
upon it.
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To be viewed in the light of the principles of Protestantism. Tested by
the first principle. By the second. A change imperative.
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154 |
Section II.--The constitution of creeds. False
views of the Christian faith. Things improperly
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referred. Faith and knowledge distinguished. Doctrine not independently
an object of faith. The Christian faith. Test of correct faith. This
brings us practically to Protestant principles. The effect of
it.
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158 |
Section III.--Creeds viewed from another angle. The
offspring of extreme positions.
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Illustration. Polemic Theology compared with the Bible. Connections
broken and relations destroyed. False impression. Most men's
consistency. A constant change. A constant perversion. Calvinism.
Arminianism. Other isms.
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163 |
Section IV.--Archbishop Whately's argument for creeds.
His premises for us. His conclusion
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against us. Quotation. A syllogism. Whately on the effect of creeds.
Teaching v. proof. Creeds may be written or unwritten. An analogy.
Dogmatic Method in Science. Its results. A change and its results.
[xii]
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167 |
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BOOK II.
T H E O R G A N O N .
PART I.
THE INDUCTIVE METHOD.
CHAPTER I.
DEFINITION OF TERMS. |
The order to be observed in this book. The word
induction defined. Ogilvie's Webster.
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Isaac Taylor. Lord Bacon. Induction by simple enumeration.
Proper induction. Peculiarity of the Baconian Induction. It includes
Deduction. This not fully elaborated by Bacon, and why. The two offices
of deduction. Distinguished from dogmatism. Playfair quoted. "Form,"
as used by Bacon, defined. Prerogatives of instances. Illustration.
The whole process built upon an assumption. All science rests upon
faith.
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177 |
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CHAPTER II.
OF THE PRACTICABILITY OF INTERPRETING THE SCRIPTURES
ACCORDING TO THE INDUCTIVE METHOD. |
An a priori argument. Paying down the interest. The two
volumes, and their analogy. The
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onus probandi. Will and wisdom of God. The Bible not an
abstraction. History, and allusion to history. Fact. Truth. Truth not
created. God is Truth, not Fact, and why. Phenomena of Nature. Of the
Bible. Authorities which sustain the author's position, Prof. Nichol,
Mill, Sir John Herschel. Another argument. Effects to be expected.
Objections answered. [xiii]
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187 |
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CHAPTER III.
OF BACON'S IDOLA. |
The term idola defined. Idola Tribûs. Idola
Specûs. Idola Fori. Idola Theatri. Bacon's
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explanation of each. Herschel on Prejudice. Prejudices of two kinds.
The term "experience" defined. The sensible impression, and the
judgment. Most favorable moral condition of an inquirer. Bailey. Plato
quoted.
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200 |
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CHAPTER IV.
OF THE COLLECTION OF MATERIALS. |
Preliminary remarks. The authors relied upon. The first step in
ascertaining a law of Nature.
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Or of Revelation. Example. Binds of facts to be collected.
Circumstances to be Observed.
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211 |
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CHAPTER V.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION. |
Quotations from Herschel and Mill. General division precedes
special classification. Synopsis
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of the Bible. Its grand divisions or dispensations. The necessity of
fining their boundaries. One of these not settled. Induction on the
subject. Its result. Remarks.
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216 |
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CHAPTER VI.
OF SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION. |
No independent, fact. Genera and species relative. The scale
ascending and descending.
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Genus generalissimum. Species specialissimæ. Principle of
classification. The same object differently classed. Residual
phenomena. Generalizations confined to their grade. Illustration. [xiv]
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231 |
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CHAPTER VII.
CANONS OF THE INDUCTIVE METHOD. |
Remark on their phraseology. Canon I, where an assigned
peculiarity is wanting or opposite.
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Canon II, Where all the facts agree in one point. Canon III, a
unanimous agreement of analogies. Canon IV, opposing facts. Canon V,
arrangement of facts. Canon VI, counteracting causes. Canon VII,
difference in one particular. Canon VIII, complicated phenomena.
Concluding remarks.
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240 |
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE INVERSE OR DEDUCTIVE PROCESS. |
Scientific inquiry demands both processes. Ascension and
descension. Induction must
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precede deduction. Mill. Novum Organum. Deduction v. Dogmatism. Its
uses in exegesis. It elucidates obscure passages. Enlarges the borders
of revelation. Caution in its pursuit. Conclusion.
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263 |
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PART II.
OF THE SIGNIFICATION OF WORDS.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. |
The logical place of this part is Chapter IV. of the preceding.
Characteristic of Science.
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Ptolemy v. Newton. Kepler's laws. A case supposed. The meaning
of words. A "logical" justification.
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276 |
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CHAPTER II.
OF THE GENERAL MEANING OF WORDS. |
Exegetical science rests upon two axioms. Similar basis of
natural science. Axiom I, a Word
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in a given passage has [xv]
one meaning. Axiom II, a word has always the same meaning under the
same circumstances. The foundation of Lexicography. Equivalent in
natural science. Herschel. First General Principle. Generalization.
Primary and Etymological meaning. Rule I, the Dictionaries. Rule II,
direct appeal to facts. This rule includes the Canons of Induction.
Illustration. The sources of facts; the Bible; Contemporary Literature;
Incidental exemplification; Paraphrases, Scholia, and Commentaries.
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280 |
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CHAPTER III.
OF THE SECONDARY SENSE OF WORDS. |
Every word has one, and but one general meaning. Other meanings
only modifications of that.
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Illustration, "cross." New position on the word "let." "Grone,"
"grown," groan ""Our," "hour." "Ale," "ail," etc. Second General
Principle, the presumption always in favor of the primary sense. The
burden of proof. Rule III, the force of circumstances. Cuts off
guess-work. Rule IV, context. A gap to be filled. The Word "let"
further argued. A maxim deduced. Mint, gill, cleave. Rule V,
subject matter. Application to scientific allusions. Lieut. Maury. The
Geological question of the "six days." Laplace's speculation on the
origin of the earth. Extended to the creation of man. Harmonized with
the Bible. The meaning of the word "day." Dr. Kurtz's, and Hugh
Miller's position. Prophecy. Rule VI, Scope or Design. Exemplified by
various papal interpretations. Rule VII, Historical circumstances,
Dispensation, Date, etc. etc. Review. Form, Completeness, Simplicity
of the author's scheme. Comparison with others. Similar evolution of
all sciences. Certain of Horne's rules examined. Correct but useless.
Imperfection of our version, note. Conclusion.
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291 |
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| NOTES. [xvi] |
317 |