The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-29
III.

essay conourB with MIR. MowDerly In holding ~
| impossible for Christians who know what they
are about to overeStimate the Importance OF
historical evidence for those facts ut least OF
| which the creed contains summary. But he
thinks that until recently tho tendency with
books OF historical evidence has boon to OK
nggerate tho extent to which the mere evidence
OF remote fncts can compel belief. He
deems 1t impossible to say what We should
make OF tho Now Testament record II 1t were
contained simply In some old manuscripts. or
unearthed In some way by antiquarles out OF
the Syrian sand. He IL even inclined to add
that It is becoming moro and moro difficult to
believe In the Bible without believing ante
cedently. or at least coincidently, in tho
Church. In other words. belief In tho in
spirntion OF tho Scriptures requires to DO hold
In context by tho belief in tho general action OF
the Holy Spirit upon Christian society and
tho Individual soul. He considers most rational
tho attitude Of the early Church toward Scrip
ture. Tho Scripture was regarded as the
highest utterRnce OF the Spirit. But tho Spirit
In the Church interpreted the meaning OF
Scripture" This theory OF inspiration which
ascribes n continuous power OF reinterpreia-
tion to the Church may do well enough for
Catholics and Anglicans and Lutherans but
what will tho Calvinists make OF 1t who have
had to evolve their dogmntlc formulas and CO.
clesiastcal structures out OF the text
OF Scripture? According to Mr.. Cores
conception OF Hebrew inspiration. this nd-
mitted OF degrees. Thus the inspiration
Of the prophet Is direct. continuous.
absorbing. On tho other hand. the inspiration
OF the wrtor OF Ecclesiastes Is such as to lead
him to ponder on all the phases Of a worldly
experience passing through many q false con-
cus!on and cynical denial. Discussing the ac-
count OF tho creation. with which the Bible
opens, Mr.. Gore takes note Of its afilnities in
general substance with the Babylonian and
PhRnician cosmogonists" but he says not
word about the lmpossibiity OF reconclllng the
order OF creation laid down in Genesis with
geological and biological facts. 1t may
bo possible. however. that he has such
Inconsistencies in view whom he AYERS
that the Hebrew cosmoGony has for its motive
and impulse not tho satisfaction OF fantastic
curiosity or the lator interest OF scientific dis
oovery. but to reveal certain fundamental reli-
gious principles. Such, for instance, as that
everything as We see 1t was made by God, and
that everything is In its essence good as the
product Of II good God These are the core
principles OF true religion and progressive
morality. and in these. according to Mr.. Gore.
lies tho supernatural inspiration OF the Bible
account OF creation So too with the first ira
ditions Of the Hebrew race. These. according
to the author OF this essay. are given
from II special point OF view: IN that point OF
view which presents everything ms illustrating
Gods dealings with man lies the narrator's
inspiration. Then, again. the Hebrew his-
torians are inspired only In this sense:
that the animating motive OF their work is not
to bring out the national glory or to fatter the
national vanity. nor. like the motive OF n mod
crn historian. tho mere Interest OF fact but
IN hnfn fha oh nnla he
OF how God has dealt with them The
claim OF tho Psalmists to inspiration
would DO based by Mr.. Gore upon the
fact that their poetic faculty Is directed to one
groat END. to reveal tho soul In its rotation to
God. In It's civilizations and its ESTABLISHMENTS.
Passing 10 the New Testament Mr.. Gore can
not discern in II, except perhaps in the case OF
the Apocalypse. any sign OF an inspiration to
write other than the inspiration which gnve
power to teach. What then for writing or for
touching was the inspiration OF an apostle? 1t
consisted In his having been selected and
trained by Jesus TO act as one OF his witnesses
and thus qualified to receive the Holy Ghost.
which was 10 be poured out upon thom after
Christ was gone. Thus the Church. according to
Mr.. Gore, secs In tho apostles mon specially
ana deliberately qualified to interpret Christ to
tho world. 1t understands by their insp!ra-
ton an endowment which enables mon OF all |
ages 10 tnke their teaching as representing. |
and not misrepresentlng, Chrlst's teaching and |
himself Thit conception Of apostolical in !
SEPARATION Ia scarcely disIinRuishabe from tho |
orthodox view. When tho author. however, |
takes ND records like those of st. Luke. |
which represent apostolic teaching at second !
hand, he docs not find that tho inspira- |
ton OF their writer's was OF such sort as |
enabled them to dispense with tho ordinary |
means or guarantees Of accuracy. Ho would |
look apparently upon the inspiration OF such
mon rs tue outcome of the whole spiritual on
dowment OF their lives. which made them the
trusted friends OF tho apostles. and qualified
them TO be- tho chosen instruments to record
their teaching In tho midst OF church whose
OF the tradition would have acted as u
check to prevent any material error oreoping
into tho record, This seems equivalent to say
that Luke possessed tho same credentials
neither more nor less. that wo exact OF o mod
ern historian.
Mr.. Goro ndmits that the inspiration OF the
Old Testament recorder, in the specific sense
10 which he has used tho word. does not guar
Antee tho exact historical truth OF what he
records. The Church. he says. cannot insist
ipon the historical character OF tho earliest
records OF tho Hebrew Church In detail.
Within tho limits 0! what is substantially his.
oric9l Ito recognizes room for an Rdmixture
II what, though marked by spiritual purpose.
5 Yet not strictly historical. as for OK
ample Ia feature which characterlzes all
'Rrly history. tho Attribution to first
founders OF what is really the remoter
results OF their institutions. Ho points out
hat historical criticism by an analysis whose
orce seems to him very great distinguishes
distinct stages In the growth OF the Israellto
aw OF worship: at least an early stage such as
o represented In the Book OF tho Covenant"
\ second stage in the Book OF Deuteronomy"
aud a last stage In The Priestly Code" Mr..
ioro. OF course. comedies that such view i'm
plies that tho recorders OF Israes history
we're subject TO tho ordinary laws in the
estimate OF evidence and that their
Inspiration did not consist In mIrAcu-
Gus communication to them OF facts
Is they originally happened" The force