Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-12

eisnic expect atlou into Inc shape 1t afterward
took in the early days OF Christianity. A long
array of misshspen progeny in the form of
apoealyptic writings trace their line up 10
this book. But also it is TO be said that il
has The high honor of having given the first
religious suggestion, in 80 far as we now
know, of philosophy OF history.
MUST KNOW THE WRITERS
The books OF the Bible which have a COM
posite character should De read into their
several parts, which should be traced TO their
various sources, aHd these writings are TO
be read critically until We can decipher the
successive hand working upon Them and in
terpret them accordingly. There is probably
no one book of the Bible which stands now
as it came from its original author. All
have been re-edited, and most of them many
times. Some OF them have been worked
over by so many hands, and have undergone
go many and such serious changes, that the
original writer would scarcely identify his
work. The historical writings take up into
them all sorts of material from all sorts OF
sources. Genesis, Tor instance, presents Us at
every step in what seems a consecutive story
with Successive layers OF tradition through
which we must work our way carefully If We
would really understand the book. We can
nee traces OF many hands 10 its story. The
twofold account of creation "a sign 10 us If
we needed it, that there was no one authori.
tative account of creation current in Israel),
double version of the deluge so confusedly
pieced together now (Which first started
criticism upon the true track of biblical
study)-in fact, the largest part, if not the
whole, of Genesis is of such character.
think 1 hear some one saying, as this
the right use of the Bible, for which / am
asked to give up the dear, old, simple read
ing for my souls inspiration% Not at al,
my friend This blessed use of the Bible,
learned at your mothers knee, is still and
mus, always remain The most right use of it
possible. / am speaking now not of the
right devotional use of the Bible, but of the
right intellectual use of it. II has been
used intellectually in building our theologies,
but wrongly. Out of this wrong use Of it
have come the misconceptions IN theology
which to-day perplex our minds and bar the
progress of religion. If we must use the
Bible with our intellecls let Us by all means
/, try to do it reasonably and in wisely criti-
| cal spirit.
RATIONAL GUIDANCE.
But sgain l hear the voice from the
pews, "who, then, save a scholar is sufficient
| for these thIngs~ l answer, no one except
| the pupil OF a scholar. The scholars have
placed within our reach the results OF such
| critical study of the Bible. You can find
the rational guidance you need, though it be
not as reverent as l crave, in books like
Knapperl's Religion of Israel, Chadwick's
Bible Of To Day, Robertson Smiths Old Ies-
lament IN the Jewish Church, and The Prophets
of Israel, and 10 greater detail in The Bible for
Learners. Imperfect as all such guides are,
and must be at present, they lead you in the
right direction if you are to study the Bible
at all as real literature. Thus read the
books of the Bible become real LETTERS v
still living works of once living men. As
| we study each writing as a whole it grows
luminous with new meaning. As We fit il
into its proper place in history its takes on
fresh interest. As We thus range these books
chronologically the history of Israel re-
/ verses lis order and becomes a veritable evo.
luton. The development of man, which
heretofore found its denial in our Bible
| thus comes upon its key in the cen.
trail race 10 geography and history
| Theology begins the Transformation
which shall reconcile science and reli.
gion. As we study tbs separate parts of each
book and trace the many handwritings in
their sacred scrolls, the Bible itself ceases 10
be manufacture, a product turned out Of
| the literary workshop at any given date
| and becomes an organic growth. Successive
generations have dreamed and aspired and
/ struggled and toiled and lett their thoughts
and feelings and deeds-yea, their very lives
| lin this mystic coralline structure we call
the Bible. Hands iunumerable have toiled
over these pages; voices, indislinguishsb able
now, in blended chorus from the dawn of his
tory, have joined in this cry of the human
after God, which steals upon US from thi.
sacred audiphone. AT such cost, my brother,
has humanity issued this book. In such pa
thence of preparation has Providence lsic
this gift before you. Through such multi
tudinous lines OF men, struggling with sin
searching out for God, does the Spirit speai
to you, o soul OF man!