Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-02-12
Hdrarp
The Bible.
BY REV. ]. MORRISON, D. D.

t-, BY REV. J. MORRISON, d. D.
That the record which discloses the doctrines and
facts OF Christianity written by the men whose
names they bear, is thing quite as well establish.
ed as that the Eneid was composed by Virgil the
HAD by Homer, and the Cyropeda by Xenophen.
The very literary character of the Old and New
Testament Scriptures would go far to prove that
they are genuine productions. They exhibit d.
versity OF style which shows that they were writ
ten by various authors, and they display an idio-
matte popularity corresponding to the ages and cir
/ cumStances in which they were written. Thus in
| the Pentateuch we meet with a slight mixture of
Egyptian words, as might be expected if Moses
was the writer; while in the books of Ezra, Nehe-
miah, and Esther, there is a considerable infusion
of Chaldean and Persian connecting them, beyond
all reasonable doubt with period of Jewish his
tory subsequent to the Babylonish captivity. If,
moreover, we turn to the New Testament, we find
its several parts written in species of Greek par
taking largely of the Hebrew, Chaldee Syriac, and
Latin words and phrases-a circumstance exactly
answering to all that might have been anticipated
upon the supposition that men In the precise con-
diton of the evangelists and apostles had furnished
their contents
Nor is it within the range of probability to i'm
agine, for moment, that the sacred books are for
gerles. If they are, then they must have been
palmed upon the world by persons whose impos-
ture could not be detected. But how could this
occur in the matter of giving currency to the
records of public faith? Take for instance. the
books of the Old Testament Scriptures If they
are not genuine productions, l ask, who were the
parties concerned in the iniqutous forgery? It
could not be the men of heather antiquity for they
were imperfectly acquainted with the national pc
cuarities and rites of the Hebrews: and were not
likely, moreover, TO stamp the seal of their appro-
baton upon records which accredited the posterity
of Abraham as Gods peculiar people, and con-
demned the whole Gentle world as sunk in state
of idolatry and crime. 1t could not be followers
of Christ, for it is matter of undoubted certainty
that the Scriptures of the Jews existed many con-
turies before the Christian name was ever heard Of
1t could not be the Jews themselves for never was
there more uncompromisng exposure of the
crimes dolatres, and righteous chastisements of a
rebelliOus and guilty nation, than that which they
contain.
If we look at the New Testament it Is equally
unreasonable to suppose that it is not genuine
production, and that it was not actually written
BY the men to whom it is attributed. Unbeeving
Jews and Gentiles were happily in this instance,
the guardians Of revelation; for they were equal
ly opposed to the doctrines of Him whom they had
combined to cruelty, and they were both jealous
N, IL 81 I. =
humble and devoted followers, it stands to reason,
that if the records of the Christian faith had not
been genuine narratives of facts, furnished by the
very men who assume to be the writers, the dishon-
est effort would have been detected and exposed,
and the whole world and all succeeding generations
would have been warned against the iniquitous at
tempt to originate history not founded in fact.
The genuineness of the books of Scripture were
never called in question by friends or enemies
From the earliest period of the Jewish history
downwards, the Hebrews regarded their sacred
books as their peculiar treasure, and associated
them all with their several authors and ages and,
in like manner, the Christians from the apostolic
age to the present moment, have had regular sue
cession of writers, who have quoted and authenti-
the New Testament. 1t is an interesting fact that
CELSIUS and Porphyry, and Julian, and an endless
race of heretics, combine with the apostolic and
Christian fathers, Barnabas Clement, Ignatius,
Polycarp, Justin, Martyr, Tertuan, Origen, and
Eusebius in accrediting the books of Scripture as
genuine productions. The most inveterate oppo-
nents Of revelation have been compelled to admit
fo hat tho R;hle 10 M forUary
Nor is there the slightest reason to suspect that
the Scriptures have undergone any ateria altera-
ton, Or that they not now in the same condition
in which they were when they came from Moses
and the prophets the eyangelists and the apostles
As it respects the Old Testament
Scriptures, it is q well established fact that the
Jews were their faithful guardians. They were Of
ten employed, indeed, in transcrbing them; but so
strict were they in comparing the copies with the
originals, that they numbered both the words and
letters. That the Jews never altered their sacred
books is triumphany proved by the fact that neith-
er their own prophets nor Jesus Christ, though
they laid many heavy charges at their door, ever
once intmated that they were guilty of such mutt
lation. \ Nor is the protection less man.
ifest which has been spread over the books Of the
New Testament The early multiplication of cop
les together with the several transations into for
eien tongues. rendered any serious deviation from
the original manuscripts utterly impossible. Be
sides in the course of one century from the period
of Christs resurrection the gospel spread over
the greater part of Lesser Asia, and over many
portions of Africa and Europe: SO that if any of