Men may incorporate their doctrines in creeds, or articles of faith, and sing them in hymns; and this may be both useful and edifying if the doctrines be true. But in every question which involves the eternal interests of man, the Holy Scriptures must be appealed to in union with reason their great commentator. He who forms his creed or confession of faith without these, may believe anything or nothing, as the cunning of others or his own caprice may dictate. Human creeds and confessions have been often put in the place of the Bible, to the dishonor both of revelation and reason. Let those go away, let these be retained, whatever be the consequence.
[1] See on this subject, "The Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures asserted," by Rev. S. Noble:—a work well worthy the perusal of every Christian, and which deserves a place in every library.
[2] See Wesley's Sermons. Sermon xv. "preached before the Hon. Sir Edward Clive, one of the judges of his Majesty's court of common pleas, in St. Paul's Church, Bedford, on Friday, March 10, 1758."
[3] Dr. Clarke has a very curious note on this passage. He supposes that the "noise" will be occasioned by the action of electric fire, on the watery particles of the atmosphere. These, being divided into their two component gases, the one will ascend into the higher regions, and the other float on the earth's surface. Thus, he says, the account of the apostle is "philosophically correct." Whether this be the apostle, or whether such account is correct in any degree, let common sense judge.
[4] This passage in its mere outward application, refers to a temporal overthrow in the land of Idumea; it has also, however, an acknowledged relation to the triumphs of the Gospel, and the overthrow of its enemies. Still, it makes little difference in the strength of the argument, to which event it is referred. Such descriptions have been given, they have been fulfilled, yet in no case literally. This is all that need be proved.
[5] See Sir Isaac Newton,—Locke,—Dr. A. Clarke,—Burkitt, etc.
[6] See Dr. Adam Clarke's remark upon this passage.
[7] Birkitt's Notes on the New Testament.
[8] For further remarks on this text, see "Noble's Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures."
[9] Dr. A. Clarke, in loc.