The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-04-12
Fiction of the Bible.

The oldest novel in existence is proba-
bly, the Book of Job. We presume there
may be some men left who still read the
book of Job as a veritable history, but
those who are capable of Judging will
simply place it at the head of the realm
of fiction. That it is divinely inspired
we do not dispute. Indeed, the estab-
lishment of its divine inspiration as fact,
rather than the acceptance of it as a mat
ter of faith, would only strengthen the
position we have always held, viz: That
the highest fiction is that which
most competently carries the most valu-
able burden of truth. The writer of the
book of Job was a man vino, in the
dawn, as it were, of human history, re-
volved in a Catholic cultured and rever-
ent mind the unequal dealings of God
with men. Why did the good man have
trouble? Job was an excellent man,
perfect and upright" stripped of every
good, and the art by which the writer
presents him as, enc after another, his
possessions are taken from, and his
friends discuss with him the great prob
lem that vexes him, with all the ma
chinery of dialogues between the Al
mighty and Satan, and the Almighty
and Job himself, snrpasses ali the art OF
later times. Such imaginations and such
I descriptions, such conversations and ar
guments, such marvellous characterize
tons as are TO be found in this great book
can be found nowhere else in the whole
range of literature. 1t is a book that
has commanded the admiration as well
as the profound reverence of the greatest
men who have ever lived, and it is a
novel in all its essential features, even
though we call it poem.
The Book of Revelation is novel, so
far as it is an attempt TO convey truth
through typical forms and scenes and
/ events. 1t is no record of facts, but a
panoramic representation of conceptions
born in, and addressed 10, the imagina-
/ ton. In short, it is a creation of art
whatever may be its origin, whether di-
vine or humanity which certain great,
shadowy thoughts and ideas are attempt
| ed to be represented to the mental ap-
/ prehensions of the faith of men. There
are many dev0ut believers in the inspira-
/ ton OF the ancient scriptures who regard
/ the story of the creation and the fall OF
/ Adam rehearsed in the Book of Genesis
as anything but a literal representation
/ of historic facts. The essential truth is
in the narrative, but it is represented in
such a way that the simplest mind can
comprehend and make use of it. The
Song of Solomon is a very exquisite essay
/ in the art of fiction. II the Books of
Esther ard Ruth are historical, they are
| certainly nothing to Us but stories and
morals, and very strong and beautiful
/ stories they are The names of Ahasue>
rus and Mordecai, and Hannah and
Esther, are nothing but names to the
present reading world, which mean no
more than those of Daniel Deronda and
I Ralph Nickelby and Carlissa HarlOwe.
Boaz and Ruth might be Abelard and
Heloise, or any other lovers. The two
stories are to US simple stories, having no
significance particularly as history, and
no use, save in an exquisite form of art
they convey to US the moral lessons with
which they are charged Dr. Holland,
in Scribner.