, 1880-10-17
soME QUOTATIONS FROM PROF. EZRA ABBOT.

soME QUOTATIONS FROM PROF.. EZRA ABBOT.
To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune.
CHICAGO, Oct 1a--One would suppose from
! some pieces which have recently appeared in
The SUNDAY TRIBUNE, that tho best scholarship
hus settled down to the belief that there Is nc
trace Of the existence Of the Gospels until the
year 150 4. D. I do not know that there is any
particular use ia trying to refute this state-
ment with those who are bound to have II
so,-Who are not able toappreciate tho arguments
by which men OF the highest learning In this
country, England, and Germany assign the
origin OF the Gospels in their written form to
the first century. If this is q question which is
to be settled BY ignorance aud blustec the pages
of THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE might rs well be de-
voted to the crudities which have SO lately ap-
Christianity has nothing to fear from tho
truth. bur its defenders may well feel sad to sec
the crcdulity Of the public, and the nnquesuon-
ing way in which 50 many accept the reckless,
false, and Raeblcd statements of the merest
tyro in these matters, while they reject the
Scriptures which have survived the fierce as-
saults of infdelity for centuries.
There are. however, doubtless not few who
would really like Il, know whether the best
scholarship holds that the four Gospels arose in
them before the gear 15o A: D.
This is question thar admits Of a dednlt So
,ution It is perfectly well known q among IA AZ
anybody who can consult books in the Chicago
Library A0d eau W1ltG t. 101X aftIGle 10 B4fc
correct information in regard to this matter.
The best sources are in the German language,
as German echoiarship ts particularly rich N
this department. Only those who are ycrsed in
such matters can give us the results OF New
Testament criticism The coflseristks Of this
snhoiutshtp may be found In Hertwigs Idh<l-
lc1l zur Ei1lcttuI,1 ing Nete Testament, Berlin,
1877, or IN various larger works. 1t is not
nv purpose, however, to quote from German
writer's, or from the works OF English scholufs,
whn deseryedIy have q high reputation among
fha critics but from little book by an
American, who is confessediy one Of the fore
most New Testament critics Of the age. refer
College; q man OF the most pa1t1ssakins accu-
racy. of incest Judgment and or the utmost
cnnsrientfousuess. II these traits were not stlf-
fioient to insure confidence. the tact that ne Is
Unfrarlau would remove the SUSPICION o. un-
fairness and prejudice. Such uFe ais aeeatn-
ments that he was invited oy 6e5naM stnoats a4,
to prepare the prolegomepas to me eientM A. co.
carTain knowiedVo he has furnished valuable
no1.rx.nffons in the text OF Greek 1c5t0U!entS
ef1ited by famous English scholars; Inere Is ~
ntJestjon that when such man WRITES oooh gu
subject 10 which he hns devote9 yGats yt ~ - ~ u
z,estigofipn it is worth reading. and that me e.
1otion If his statements fn accuracy nna senit-
hitjtv IN matters Of New, Testament crtncistn IS
so,r1nrad WITH those Of certain ag1l0sucS, Nho
~ - holster up Col InRersoM IN his worst faas-
lakes. is that OF toms weight to 1catn9s x. >.
In Els book on - The Authorship OF ne rous1u
GOSPEL" Boston, 1850. Prof Abnos saSs ~ S,,-
ee5 ecHo1arsFin on the New Testament: "1naavla-
,,a1s i1ffer widely in their power OF resss4k .i
at+;dence opposed to their pre1uaices. WIZ .nn
eufhorn Of Supernatural Religion mas rev E94is iaas
ii this oepacity.'' That "a, the sta1emeae ~ 4@sS