The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-21
Attacks on the bible.

Editors OF the Register:
The Bible claims to be an iIfsllible
authority on all matters relating to re-
ligious faith and practice. It's friends
ask that it be received by men as being
neither more nor less than what it
claims to be- Concerning itself it says
Gall scripture is given by inspiration OF
God, and is profitable Tor doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness; that the man OF God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works. "-Tim. 3.l6.l7;
The "all scripture" comprises both the
Old and New Testament ees testiiying
OF him and teaching the way to eternal
life; aud because the New Testament
was writtea by. or under the direction
o., the Apostles, unto whom Christ
promised the Holy Spirit who should
teach them all thiDge, and bring all
things 10 their remembrance, whatever
he had said unto them. John 1926.
If, therefore, Christ lived, and died, and
rose from the grave, and was thereby
declared to be the Son OF God, with
power, the whole Bible from Genesis 10
Revelations mnst be accepted for what
il claims 10 be. 1t will thus be seen
that our whole religion rests upon
the proposition that Christ arose from
the dead end in proof Of this assertion
we are prepared to offer better histori-
cal evidence than can be offered for any
other fact belonging Ia former genera
tous. II the resurrection OF Christ is
disproved, then we must give up the
Bible and the religion based upon it,
but as long as we believe Christ arose
from the grave We are compelled by
that one doctrine to receive the bible.
We would suggest 10 those writers in
both our papers who, under cover OF
advancing science, have been attacking
the Bible, that their arguments would
be better directed against this historic
fact. They would not then be so open
to the charge Of irrelevaacy ss now
when made from scientific standpoint.
That great fact has always been re-
garied as the citadel OF Christianity, and
so long as we regard it as true we can
not in the slightest degree be moved by
attacks on any other point.
Now. all this Bible claims 10 be, and
all we claim for it is, an authority in
al matters relating 10 religious faith
and practice. Its design is that
"the man Of God may be
thoroughly furnished unto all good
works" Righteousness among men is
it's one aim, and in order that men may
become righteous it gives them full in
struction. 1t tells them what they are
to believe concerning God and what
duty God requires of them. 1t con-
tsins reproof, incentives, correction, all
bearing upon correct living and perfect
character. 1t is profitable for instruc-
ton in righteousness; not in grammar
arithmetic geology, astronomy, chem =
istry, science or philosophy. If one
would know how TO per iorm chemical
operations, lie must consult an aCknowl.
edged textbook OF chemistry, but il
one would know how to live 80 IS to
attain the end OF his being and satisfy
God, he will find the Bible complete
and perfect textbook, whose directions
he may safely follow IN all respects.
Taking this view Of the Bible II seems
to the present writer that attacks on II
based upon any OF the sciences are IT.
relevant. Even admitting that there IL
irreconcilsble conflict between the
teachings OF any one OF the sciencet
and the teachings OF the Bible on thu
same subject, (Which | am by no mean'
willing to do, except for the sake OF
argumenD this does not justify
any man in discarding the Bible al
an authority on matters OF faith AND
nrsctice in religion. ii some Lesiou'
disciple of Lindlev Murray should pro-
noupce one OF Grsy's Textbooks o
Botany utterly unreliable and uuwortGyy
Of consultation by any one who would
understand the growth and constructor
OF plants, for no other reason than tina
he had discovered grammatical error
in some OF it's sentences, we would sim
ply cry out 20, LindIey, thou art BESIDE
thyseif: much gramm hath made thee
mad" A treatise on Chemistry may
he perfectly reliable as textbook
even though we could discover, some
where within lts Tide, such a geographi
cal blunder as calling London the csp!l
tai of Spain. Any errors discovered II
any book which do not invalidste 1t
argument, or conflict with the ayowe'
design OF its production, may be &c
aside as having nothing 10 do with tn
determining OF the question, Shall W
accept it for what it claims to be!
What if the Ptolemaic system OF as
tronomy be found in the Bible 60 e1
plicitly that no Interpretation can &c
rid oft, is that any reason why W
should not regulate our daily life by II
pr.cepts, and bsse our hopes OF III
, future upon its revelations Sd
, PROMISES? Moreover, it could easi
be shown that the principles, doctriDe
and precepts OF the Bible which 81
laid down therein, that the man
God may be perfect" are Of such
! character that no conceivable discover
E lie. OF science will ever set them aaid
L