DR. COLENSO, BISHOP OF NATAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 167, 25 March 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

DR. COLENSO, BISHOP OF NATAL.

[From the Pentateuch Critically Examined'} Part ill, Pre face.] If it be really true, as the Bishop of Oxford has said, that “ much harm has been done among the young by my book,” and that “ it is doing an evil which it is difficult to estimateand if it be also true, as the same prelate has written, that my arguments are “ but the repetition of old and often answered cavils”—it would surely bo most do-

sirable —rather, I should say, it would be felt to be imperatively necessary for the bishaps who condemn me to put forth a reply, such as to themselves appeared to be sufficient and satisfactory, such as might be guaranteed in their name by the ■ authority of the primate. If this were done, I should be bound by the sense of honour, as well as compelled by the love of truth, to consider seriously, the arguments adduced in such a document. X should justly be condemned and disgraced in the presence of my fellow-coun-trymen if I did not do this, and either admit that I am wrong, or point out the defective resonings of the reply. * * But what do my episcopal brethren mean by this proceeding ? Do they really suppose that by the obstructions of church censures and anathemas, or the mere exercise of authority, they can bar out the entrance of that light of critical science which God himself has given us, as one of the special blessings bestowed on us by His goodness in this day ? May it not be that the science of biblical criticism is as needful to our true progress and highest happiness as any other of the sciences —as geology, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, &c.—all of which have been aroused into new life at this very age, and many of which—like that of which the most ancientresults art exhibited in the works of Davidson, Kalisch &c., and the parts already published of this work, were almost wholly unknown to our forefathers ? May it not be true that each one of these sciences is as truly intended by the wisdom ami grace of God for the present stage of human development as any other of the sisterhood—that we can not despise or refuse the help of auy of them, without “ rejecting the counsel of God against ourselves,” that “if this work be of God, we cannot overthrow it, lest haply we be found fighting agaiust God ?” In short, may it not be true that this light of criticism may be but one of the many-co-loured rays of modern science which came to us all from tbe “Father of Lights,” in .this, our own age of wonderful illumination, and which are meant to blend together into the pure white light of truth, that light which our spirits need, and which His wisdom and love at this time impart to us ? Must we then, English Christians, live on, as men did in former ages, under strict ecclesiastical restraint, as if there was a “ dark chamber” in the house, into which we have once looked but have shut to tbe door, and dare not look again, lest we should see something to frighten us out of our “ hopes for eternity” and cause us the loss of “ all our nearest, dearest consolations ?” How much better to open wide the door and let in the blessed light and air of day into every part of our spiritual dwelling ! That light, indeed, may show us that the stories of the six days’ Creation, the Noachian Deluge, the slaughter of 68,000 Midiauitish women and children are no longer to be spoken of as historical facts. We may perceive that it is no longer possible to confound the early legends of the Hebrew people and statements contrary to reason and the facts of nature, or condemned by our moral sense, and by the voice which witnesses for God .within us, with the eternal “ Word of God.” But we shall find in the Pentateuch, notwithstanding precious things without number of which little or no use is made at present in the instruction of the people—unquestionable facts of history, mixed up, no doubt, with much of uncertain or unreal tradition—and above all, rich lessons of spiritual truth, by which our souls may be cheered and strengthened for the work of life. What a day of regenerated life will it be for the Church of England when these things shall be spoken of, plainly and freely in every pulpit of the land ; when the Bible shall be opened, and the story of its origin explained, and the real value of its histories discussed, as the records of living man, like ourselves, written down by living men—with the reverence due to a book so venerable, and endeared to the inmost heart of every Christian ; but yet without fear of treading with irreligious feet upon holy ground ; rather, with the deepest and most sine ere conviction- that we can only thus serve God acceptably, and discharge our duty before Him as Christian men and ministers, by such free inquiry after truth, and free utterance of it.