The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-09
HOLY WRIT.
Its Authenticity Discussed by Rev. John
GRAY.

Its Authenticity Discussed by Rev. John
Gray.
The subject OF Rev. John Gray's discourse
at Metropolitan Temple last night was
THE Authenticity Of the Scriptures. D."
After announcing til at in this season of
Lent such theme would not be nappro-
pirate. the reverend gentleman proceeded
to explain that to-day everything has been
reduced to practical question. All things
supernatural are thought or as visions, fit
tlng lancleS which fall away upon the test
OF practical application. This modern
spirit OF criticism has gone so far as to at
tack the authenticity of the holy scriptures.
1t is true" continued DR.. Gray, that
the original manuscripts have been lost, not
being able In their frailty to endure the hand
ling and the hard times Of successive
ages. No writing within the title of holy
writ is Of later date than the fourth century,
although the Institutes Of the Apostles
date back to the second.
But 1t Is plain matter of fact that the
four gospels were esteemed its most sacred
OF writings. They are found in all the old
manuscripts, differing only as to text. as
they pass from one transcriber to another.
Lspecialry AUTHENTIC is the gospel of st.
statements OF things that happened as they
occurred. If we blot out Christs history.
all remaing is valueless The acts of the
apostles are there but myths. There could
have been no Christian church without
Christ, no apostles without Christian
church.
"rhe two principal subjects of disbelief are
the incarnation and resurrection. The com
mon contention is that, although Christ was
undoubtedly honest and sincere, he was de-
ceived in himself. was the victim of his
own personal nature. Under the influence
OF his great power be made people believe
what biblical history records but what
really never happened.
But these things are believed by the up
holders OF the gospels to have undoubtedly
happened, and, applying the ordinary rules
OF evidence observed in court of Justice,
the contention is esta blished. Were tie
apostles not honest? They belonged to that
class OF plain, matter fact men who form
our laboring classes, weil-read in their time
as a blacksmith is to-day; men who are open
TO deception as Is that class of dreanlers
who, know little Of everything, but who can
be led astray from the basis Of facts by
some new theory.
Working men demand real facts
Ihelr testimony would be valuable in a
court OF Jnstice then as ii is to-day They
were not likely to be brbed, nor were they
acquainted with the cunning of the world
ohrlst offered them nothing. but, on the
cont rary, ever besought them to follow him
through the sorrow that inevitably must
come. Nor did he yield to their entreaties
that he sho nd become great and powerful
temporal leader"
continuing DR.. Gray explained how ire
sistiDie Is the testimony Of the apostles and
sitter arguing that it is possible for God TO
WORK miracle, the explanation of which is
beyond TIE process of our reason in its pres
ent state, devoted the remainder of his SER
mon to establishing that the whole Christian
church and religion depends for existence
upon the acceptance of the scriptures as au-
thentic histories of Christ