Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 1, 1867.

CREED POWER.

The following is from a sermon published by a son of Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher:—

There is nothing imaginary in the statement that the Creed-Power is now beginning to prohibit the Bible, as really as Rome did, though in a subtler way. During the whole course of seven years' study, the Protestant candidate for the ministry sees before him an authorized statement, spiked down and stereotyped, of what he must find in the Bible or be martyred. And does any one acquainted with human nature, need to be told that he studies under a tremendous pressure of motive? Is that freedom of opinion—the 'liberty wherewith Christ maketh free?'—Rome would have given that. Every one of her clergy might have studied the Bible to find the Pontifical Creed, on the pain of death. Was that liberty?

Hence, I say, that the liberty of our Theological Seminaries is a mere form. To say nothing of the thumb-screw criticism, by which every mind is tortured into negative propriety, the whole boasted liberty of the student consists in a choice of chains—a choice of handcuffs—whether he will wear the Presbyterian handcuff, or Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, or other evangelical handcuff. Hence it has now come to

pass, that the ministry themselves dare not study their Bible. Large portions thereof are seldom touched. It lies useless lumber; or if they do study and search, they dare not show their people what they find. There is something criminal in saying any thing new. It is shocking to utter words that have not the mould of ages upon them.