In a former work—'The Westminster Confession of Faith critically
compared with the Holy Scriptures,'—we have shown how far the doctrine there
taught have deviated from those by Christ and his apostles; and the present
commentary affords additional and very strong grounds for a revision of the
faith of all churches. The doctrines of Christianity have not altered since
they were first enunciated by Christ and his apostles; but our means of ascertaining
what these doctrines are have greatly improved since they were endeavoured to
be reduced to an intelligible and reasonable shape at the Reformation. From the
apostolic days, down to the days of the Reformation, the Christian doctrines
were becoming more and more lost in the commandments of men. The men of the Reformation
threw off a great deal of the dross; but they were quite incapable of eliciting
the pure gold. They had neither the means, nor the opportunity, nor the
information requisite to attain such an end. They gave us a very much purer and
more rational faith then the one which they subverted; but they by no means
gave us pure Christianity as taught by Christ or his apostles. The world,
however, has not been standing still since these men drew up our now antiquated
confessions. Knowledge of all kind has made prodigious advances, and with our
knowledge of the Scriptures themselves.
The churches of Christ are therefore not acting a wise part in refusing
to revise their creeds; though the churches of Scotland far more require an
instant revisal than the church of England. Perhaps not even the greatest bigot
for orthodoxy believes in all the varied doctrines laid down in the Westminster
Confession—leaving out of sight the fact that some of the several chapters of
that prolix creed contradict each other. Every man makes some exception; and to
soothe his conscience is obliged to explain away whole passages. if this be the
case with the clergy, who are sworn to accept the whole as true, what is the
case with the laity? Without any but a very cursory examination, at least a
full half of that Confession is recognised by the laity to be false, inasmuch
as it is opened both to Scripture and to common sense. This is the true reason
why the churches are losing their hold of the laity. how can a church have any
hold on a man who believes that half of the doctrines which that church
professes to hold are disbelieved, even by the ministers of that church, if
they dared to speak their sentiments? The clergy, instead of setting themselves
to revise their creeds, vainly endeavour to stop inquiry by protesting that
their creeds are perfect, and require no amendment, thus adding the additional
sin of hypocrisy. But instead of this binding the laity more to them, it only
disgusts them the more.
This is the reason why so many lay writers on the Scriptures are now
appearing. It is through them that any reform in our creeds must be worked out.
The clergy in this country will yield no helping hand. They would willingly
prove that no layman is capable of understanding the Scriptures, because they
in reality hold the Romish doctrine, though they dare not confess it, that the Scriptures
are a sealed book, of which they only possess the key. No reform in our creeds,
therefore will be worked out by the clergy; anything which is done must be
forced upon them by the people. It is the duty, therefore, of every man, who
has devoted time to the subject, to point out wherein the creeds of the church
are faulty, and show how they may be brought into harmony with the word of God.
This has been endeavoured to be done in this commentary, by showing that are
the doctrines which Christ himself taught, and how far these agree with the
doctrines taught by Paul and the other apostles, and by modern churches. It has
been most clearly proved that there is the most thorough harmony between the
doctrines taught by Christ and all his apostles. But it has, at the same time,
been proved with equal clearness, that, on many essential points, the doctrines
professed by the several churches are opposed to the teaching of Christ, and
that the creeds of all churches require a thorough revisal.
'O my people (saith the Lord,) they which lead thee cause thee to err,
and destroy the way of thy paths.' 'For this people draw near me with their
mouth, and with their lips do they honour me; but have removed their heart far
from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men.' 'But in
vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.'
'Why are ye, then, subject to ordinances, after the commandments and
doctrines of men?' 'Ye have, indeed, need that one teach you which be the first
principles of the oracles of God.' Remember that 'great men are not always
wise, neither do the aged understand judgment; therefore I said, Hearken unto
me, I also will show mine opinion.' 'My words shall be in the uprightness of my
heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly; for the Spirit of God made
me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.' 'For we are not as many
which corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight
of God speak we in Christ.'
'Consider, therefore, what I say, and the Lord give thee understand in
all things.' (James Stark, Commentary
on the Gospel of Luke [London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer,
1866], 2: 558-61; my thanks to my friend Allen Hansen for making me aware of
this source)