New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-23
WORTH KEEPING.
III.
The mBLE AND THE HIGHER CRITICISM.
DIR. R. $ MACARTHUR, OF THE CALVARY BArnsr

DIR. r. s. MACARTHUR, OF THE CALVARY BArIsI
CHURCH, DISCUSSES rIds POPULAR SUBJECT.
aptove all things; hold fast that which Is good
the text upon which the Rev. Dr. X 5. MACARTHUR
Of the Calvary Baptist Church, preached last evening
ms subject was The Bible and the Higher Criticism
In expoundng the text he said that reason and revea
ton when both are properly understood, are not con-
Trajectory Christianity Is the friend Of free and fair
inquiry but the firm grasp good things is as i'm
portant as the testing Of all things The Church does
not fear criticism she fears nothing but error and si
She has absolutely nothing to conceal Truth against
the world' is her challenge. ave need have no fear
OF the Higher Criticism IL has been called" said the
speaker "Whatever discovers and declares truth is OF
Cod and 80 far as this criticism does this II IS to be
welcomed BY HIS iChurchs DR.. Macarthur next took
I'D the right characteristics Of Bible study The
Bible should be studied scientific principles. Its
great design Is to teach religious truth 1t Is to supply
mans religious necessities. This design Is ever para
mount The following are the remaining points OF the
sermon
Many criticiso Bible because t Is not and never
proposed to be- what they imagined 1t ought 70 be-
1t IL not universal encyclopaedia, although 1t is wonder
fully encyclopaedia not intended to be universal his
tory although is the Oldest and nobest history Wfthin
It's own sphere IL is authoritative and allble To insist
upon historical and scientific nerraney is to mistake
design and controlling purpose We do not admit
It's many have affirmed IT, but neither ought we
TO ourselves to believe that If erraney historical
or scientific can be proved the Bible is therefore Grant
and unsuthoritave religious subjects Those who say
is found in the date OF some ancient king
kingdom. In the humber engaged or killed In some
ancient battle, therefore must give up the inspiration
of the Bible and Divinity Of the Lord guilty Of
Illogical reasoning and foolish surrender to the foes oil
revelation They ought not TO stake the defence OF the
citadel maintaining unimportant outpost Inhar-
details OF testimony In our courts Is not con-
strued by judges and ures necessarily contradictory
Of the fact. that point the witnesses harmonze
CRITICS SHOULD BE MODEST MEN
have heard officers who were in battle Of Gettys
burg contradict one another regarding of the details
historical conflict but this discrepancy regarding
unimportan would surely not justify man la anFn'
ing that there never q battle Of Gettysburg The
Bible absolutely authoritative matters Of our spiritual
life and faith This Is its chosen spheres this Is Its
divine design We do admit that important errors
have vet been proved either Of historical OF sciehlhe
kind on point 80 bill Of particulars is properly de-
manded OF those who make the affirmation Ihey wisely
refrain from meeting this demand their modesy ut this
point surprisingly in contrast with their
ut many other points We simply affirm that all illusions
In the Bible to matters OF that kind merely Incidental
and teach affect the main purpose oil the feVea
ton. The critic Of the Bible should be sympatheus'
Our demand this characteristic on his part Is scienc
The oold-hested unsympahetc irrelgous critic OF te
Ble II . nonstfosty. He Is no mere ntted to Judge Oh
Its truths deaf is to pronounce on music or
blind man OH merits Of painting. we have fxht
also to demand all Investigations OF the Bible email Do
practosshal be Affirmative or CONSTRUCTIVE anu HUI
merely negative or destructive
EXPLAINING THE HIGHER CRITICISM
The Higter Criticism might fairly be called general
criticism discusses not merely the text but lus gehefa
relations its relations to the chapter In which II Is iouha
TO the book which IL is part 10 the times 70 "nNn
is referred and to entire environment and atmosphere
at ts as Professor Stevens Rochester, has recently
said History engaged in Verifying the facts Of me past
Mere textual criticism is Lower Criticism; but the H.
vestgaton which takes book. it, history, its sruct
ure its credentials this is called the Higher Criticism
hen of l
is properly called ''The Higher Biblical Criticism Let
no one such criticism when conducted In the spn'
which have already approved Let no one denouleo
men inspired this spirit and working Tor the discovery
Of truth let no one deprecia the results secured I'M
fairly oppose the methods employed III tho Investigation
be humble and candid spirit, it Will but reflect an
additional honor God and His W6d. II WILL without
doubt conducted give laer conceptions alike OF
the Bible and its Divine Author II IL shall tear down
the unsightly scafolds which traditional ntepre
and which human creeds and confessions have
erected majestic temple OF truth, destroying its
symetry robbng Of its divine glory we shall have
rejoice. The Word Of God shall stand Tor
ever; that as certain that God lives and reigns.
Mere destructive criticism is worthy Of but little re-
spect In other sphere the minimum Of talent so
certainly the maximum OF notice. child or an
idiot with knife q hammer, let loose In gallery u
paintings hall Of stauary destroy more in hour
than Angelo Raphael could create in lifetime De-
structive criticism requires but little ability and has but
little utility. Az times 1t may have mission. 1t may
attract attention by earnestly expoundng the
pei but the by attacking the gospel and de-
nouncing recognized beliefs Will have brief notoety In
and religious press. BY hurting a hymn
his pulpit the windows Of his church pastor
may notice than by ordinary preaching for
OF The reputation of being heterodox, being
on eolor In sermon may give notice
than his scholarship natural ability would give
him in quarter of century, But mere destruction Is
unworthy the ambition of noble and the attanmenss
Of broad scholar.
WHAT HAS THE HIGHER CRITICISM DoNEi
1t Is fair TO ask what the Higher Criticism has
eomplihed. This question have right to ask. Once
the Bible Is trial Many Of those who sought It's
life have already said dead were those who
sought the life Of the child Jesus but other opponents have
arisen in their place Whas really has the Higher Cr,i
cism Accomplished 1t has shown, We will admit that
Moses did not write ell the Pentaeuch But who Of any
intelligence believed that he did Certainly
reasonable student could suppose that he the
Of his own death. The Higher Criticism has shown, we
will admit that 10 the writing Of the Pentsteuch various
documents employed. But the critics contradict
themselves constantly to the points OF union and cleavage
these documents One might before passing Judgment
their work, wait until they had through with de-
stoyDg another for the Higher Critics OF one gen.
GRAFTON spend Of their in densuncing their
brethren Of preceding generation. All the res. OF Us
might be contented TO walt until they through with
another and then we might gather up the fragments Of
critics and criticisms which may remain but we nesd not
refuge behind these wBrrins critics.
Surely intelligent reader though he were not
Higher Critic, doubts doubted that various documents
entered into the preparation Of the Penateueh Surely WI
may give Moses credit for being Of common-sensc
his wonderful achievements entto him in the judg
Of his harshet critics to at least this much pae
Even average historian would take advantage OF docu-
and annals which lie had In preparing his
history Hume, Maeauay Motley, Bancroft and all his
torians did likewise. We could widely known
American ecclesiastical historian who only has the
sistanee Of writings. but IL Is said Of many writer's In
preparing his volumes the history OF the Church They
are not less his because Of this method Of preparation
THE PBNTATEuCH DIVINE MOSAIC
Representative Higher Critics admit that Pentateuch
Is written the guidance and IN the atmosphere OF
Moses. More do not need neither claim
desire. IL Ia a special and beautiful glorious
and Divine What II the accounts given Of
tIon ara hun serias grand uanaranin xkeNsl