New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-20
INsPIRaTION or THE BIBLE.

We have hitherto minated our conviction that the
Hartford impugners Of the Hebrew and Christan
Sculptures seemed 10 fasten upon The Inspiration OF
those writings dehnitIOn which is not held by nearly
all perhaps not by majority, Of those who receive
them as their highest rule of faith and life Simply
40 evidence of the correctness of position without
meaning 70 intimate that this is or is not the true
Christian doctrine Of Biblical Inspiration, We cite the
following passage from Bishop Watsons Apology for
the Bible in reply 10 Thomas Paines Age of Rea-
son published in 1893, quoted by The Portland Id
r,rt.ser. Watson Bishop of LANDAU, and Profess
sor of Divinity in Cambridge University, that he
ought TO have known what the Christians of his day
did CT did not believe concerning the Bible In reply
70 Psine harsh structures on the Book of Ruth, he
observes:
Pretty stuff indeed you exclam, be called the
WORD Of God Itseems n that you do not perfectly
comprehend what is meant by the e1pression-the Word
OF Color The divine authority Of tue Scriptures viii
explain il you IN The words Of DR. Law, late Bishop Of
Carlisle sul in those OF 81 Austin My FIRST quotation IS
from Bishop Laws Theory OF Religion, book not undo
serving your notice The true sense then, OF the digae
0lh0fiy Of the books OF the Od testament ana Whch
perhaps enough 70 denOm the IN general drtny
spir,o be this that as IN those times God has
al along b. siGes tie inspection or superntendeny OF his
"geuere providence nerered upon particular occasions
by giving express commissions 10 some persons thence
called TToBkef 20 declare his viii IN various manners,
ana degrees Ol evidence As best suited the cisi0n
and nature Of the subject an1 IN all Oiher cases
Fl them wholly 20 themselves IN ike manner be has
inierpOsec b., immedls-e assistance ana notified
10 Lem they did the wordl in the recording Of
thee revelations Tar that necessary amid the
COMMON hut from hence termed sacred history those
times, and mixed with various other occurrences, IN
Which tie hist lrians own natural QuaincttOus were
sufficient enable him % relate things With al the accs
racv thy required. III passage from - austin IS
this IN Of opinion that those % whom the Holy
Ghost rev called that ought be received authJrita
tive in religion, migat write some things Is men with
historical diligence, and other things prophets oy d.
vine Inspiration and that these thngs Are 80 ds
tipct that the former may be attributed 70 them
.e1es a. contributing 70 the Increase OF kn1"edge
and the latter o. God speaking BY them things Ap
pertaining TO The authority oi religion Nnsther
tbs opinion b. right or wro1g d. not here inquire Il Is
the on niOn 81 many learned and good Christian and
Il Won will adopt your opinion, you viii cause per
hSs 70 becomes Christian yourself you viii see cause %
consider chronological graph al or genealogical erOrs
apparent Mistakes or Tea CONTRADICTIONS As u historical
fcss-neecless repetions and irlnng nterpOllOns-n-
d4sd Won vii 20 consider al the principal Obec-
tiou Of your book % be absolutely without foundation.
Receive bu. tie Bible c0mpos-d BY upright and vel 10
formed though 10 some respects iaLlbe men iOr
euce al fhbty they profess to deliver the word Of
Cool and YOU must receive * DO revealing you,
in rapy parts the express viii Of God and in parts
reair 20 the ordinary history Of the times Give but
The authors OF the Bible that credit which you give other
T,,oreps believe them to deliver the word OF God when
thew tel YOU they DO believe when they relate other
things as themselves ana not OF the Lord that they
woe 70 the best Of their knowledge and capacity YOU
will he in your belief sonnet thing very different from dest
Won NAV Dot be allowed aspire the character of an or
ihodo1 believer but you viii not be mi believer in the
divine authority Of the Bible though yen shoud admit
human mistakes ard human opinions to exist in some parts
Of This take 10 be TIE hrst step toward the removal
of the doubts OF many scepde men when thew are
advanced thus far the grace Of God ASSISTING tea liable
disposition and plous intention, may carry them on to
perfection