Liber Librorum, Its Structure, Limitations, and Purpose; A Friendly Communication to a Reluctant Sceptic (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1867 Excerpt: ... E. (Chap. x. p. 146.) IDOLATRY OP THE BIBLE. ' Idolatry of the written Word expresseth itself in the holy--but I call it unholy--notion, which they have taken up concerning inspiration, that the very words are inspired, and the writers were but organs of voice for that Word.... And in the same spirit they require of you at once to believe the Book as the Word of God, by one act of faith to adopt it, then to read it and bow down before what you read. That is to make the Book an idol, and then prostrate your soul unto it. And by so doing, you shall make your soul a timorous creature of superstition, or a blind worshipper of sounds and sentences; but never a child of the Spirit of God. Such notions flow not from orthodox doctrine which saith unto every man, Read this Word with what persuasion of its Divine authority you presently have, and affect not more than you really have, for that is falsehood or superstition which God abhorreth. Bring to it the faculties of mind which you presently have, and peruse it with the desire to be enlightened in the deep things which it containeth, and the Spirit will open your soul to understand it more and more, and dispose your heart to receive it more and more, and constrain your will to obey it more and more; and as your soul grows into its confirmation more and more, you will believe it more and more, and your faith in its inspiration will grow with your spiritual growth and strengthen with your spiritual strength.' The Idolatry of the Bible, by the Rev. Edward Irving. From an article on the Theology of Luther, by the Rev. Dr. Dorner, Contemporary Review, No. xii. (1.) 'Holy Scripture, in its real message and purport, receives its full credentials to the heart, by the illumination of the Spirit kindling in us a Divine assu...