286 THE VERY REV. H. WAGE, D.D., ON AUTHORITY. 



held semper, uhique, (4 ah omnibus.^' And they were reminded 

 (pp. 227 and 230) that the voice of conscience has authority greater 

 than that of the Church. As regards science they would cordially 

 concur with the statement (p. 204) that all true scientific thought " is 

 in the attitude of Samuel — ' Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth,' " 

 Nothing was more reverential than science. lo view, however, of 

 the manner in which a powerful scientific school was endeavouring 

 to impose upon students an acceptance of the evolution theory, the 

 belief that their advances in interpreting nature were no longer to 

 suffer obstruction from unproved theories put forward by some 

 scientists, appeared too optimistic. 



Might he suggest that the word "Romish" (instead of "Roman") 

 would better express the author's meaning in speaking of the 

 " Roman Church " and the " Roman error " The Romish Church 

 referred to was not sjmonymous with the Christian Church to-day 

 existing at Rome, nor with that of the Christian Church there in 

 apostolic times. 



One of the most interesting parts of the paper was that which 

 discoursed of the delegated or derived authority of Church and 

 State. Probably the historic conflicts between these powers might 

 be largely accounted for by an endeavour on the part of each to 

 usurp an authority belonging to the other, e.g., the ecclesiastical has 

 sought to bear the sword and to obtain the worldly possessions of 

 the civil power ; she had sought to wield an authority to which she 

 had no right ; it had not been given her. 



It was important to distinguish authority from infallibility. 

 Authority was not infallibility, nor were they necessarily conjoined. 

 The authority of the civil power did not secure from error in its use, 

 nor did the authority of those Avho were over them "in the Lord " 

 give them always "a right judgment in all things." " Even general 

 councils may err." Authority must not be stretched beyond the 

 limits within which it has been given. 



Infallible authority was from God alone. It was found in 

 conscience — which is the inward standard, and in the outward 

 standard — which is the word of God, the Bible interpreted to the 

 humble and obedient heart by the Spirit of Truth. 



The following communications have been received from Dr. W. 

 Woods Smyth, Mr. T. W. E. Higgens and Bishop Thornton. 



