The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-23

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have been corrupted by careless or design
ing men. This objection has led to the COL
lection of copies Of the sacred books from
all nations of the earth, where they are to
be found, and the careful comparison of
them. This has occupied years of dilligent
labor. and the result has been such that inf
dels themselves have given up the objection.
2. The question of the inspiration of the
Scriptures is also distinct from the question
of the ccuracy of translations, our own or
others. But it may be remarked that since
we have fixed standard and multitude of
men of diverse denominations, who have
learning and leisure to compare the transla-
tions with the original, and our age has OPP
portunity to correct another; we have the
best possible assurance for the fidelity of
these translatiohs.
8. The question of the inspiration Of the
Scriptures is distinct from that which relates
to the mode Of inspiration, and the effect Of
inspiration upon the individuals who were
the subjects of it. There are, beyond doubt,
many ways in which God could communi-
cate His will to men. We find from the
Scriptures that He did communicate the truth
in divers ways, but that with which we are
at present concerned is the fact that He did
communicate truth to them. We may also
suppose that they, to whom God communi-
cate the truth, would be differently affected
by it in their feelings and conduct. That
sometimes they would not, without further
light, fully understand the truth which God
revealed through them. This we learn was
true. That they searched diligently and it
was revealed to them, that not for them
selves, but for us, they did minister these
things. 1t was left for an after age to learn
their meaning. think, also, there are some
things yet to be learned from the Scriptures.
But this is not our question-but are the
Scriptures of Godl answer yes; tie Ho-
ly Ghost moved them to write just what
they wrote, and to write it as they did; to
say neither more nor less, nor otherwise
than they did. The truth and the language
are of God, alike from Him. There is an
objection which shall notice before pro-
ceed to the proof.
The different style and manner Of the sa.
cred writers, is supposed to show that they
were not all equally under the inspiration OF
tho Spirit. Now it is not more wonderful
that God should make use of individual Pc
culiarities in revealing Himself to men,
than that he should make men different in
countenance, in form and stature, and in the
tones of their voice; and il the one proves
that God did not reveal himself by them,
the other will prove equally we'll that He did
not make them. Every man hath his pecu.
lhr gift of God-one after this manner,
another after that.
But from whence are we to learn in what
character I'VE are to receive our Bibles!-
From the Bible itself. From the Scriptures
we learn that we are not to receive the state
ments solely on the credit of the men who
wrote it, but on the testimony of God /; tha
it is not a record of a revelation merely,
but a revelation. Paul says to Timothy,
8, l6: All Scripture is given by inspiration
Of God. He breathed into them the word
which they wrote. They wrote nothing
more, SO that the whole is His word. This
relates to the books of the Old Testament,
all of which were received by the Jews as
Holy Scriptures. They were all of them
given by inspiration of God. History,
Prophecies, Sacred Songs, Proverbs. The
same Apostle says to the Hebrews, God,
who at sundry times and in divers places
spake in times past unto the Fathers by the
Prophets. If now we turn to the Old Tes-
lament itself, we shall find this truth there
confirmed. When God called Moses, the
first of the Prophets, Exodus, 4, lila
Sand the Lord said unto him, Who hath
made mans mouth! or who maketh the
dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind!
have not l, the Lord!" "Now therefore
60, and will be with thy mouth, and teach
thee what thou shalt say" there is the
promise to this first Of Prophets, whose
writings remain to us. In the subsequent
history, it is said that the Lord spake to
Moses face to face. In respect to the law
that he wrote all the words of the Lord
In respect to their journeyings, Moses wrote
these goings out according to the journeys,
by the commandment of the Lord. l Sam
uel, 8, 81: The Lord revealed himself to
Samuel in Shiloh. Kings, 81, lS: And
the word Of the Lord came to Elijah, the
Tishbite: Part of the preface of Isaiah is,
Hear o Heavens, and give ear o Earth,
for the Lord hath spoken. The preface or
title OF the book of Jeremiah is, The words
of jeremiah, to whom the word Of the Lord
came. IL, Il; The word that came to
Jeremiah from the Lord. Ezekiel, l, 81
The word of the Lord came expressly unto
Ezekiel, the Priest, and he repeats through
his book, The word of the Lord came unto
me, saying. Hosea l, Il The word of
the Lord that came unto Hosea. Joel, /,
L: The word of the Lord that came unto
Joel. Therefore also now saith the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord, writes Amos, the Herd
man of Tekoa. Thus saith the Lord God
concerning Edom, is the word of Obediah.