Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-21

ploytd In one department OF Biblical
study which Is employed IN all The
others, aud long before it took THIS
special title II had brought out much
Important knowledge now received by
r,holars without dissent aud embodied
Ia ali the best commentaries. But while
we admit that the higher criticism u
legitimate AMI necessary, and That "
has already rendered good service, we
ought not IN be forward To accept every
thing put forth In Ia name, not even y
II il accepted by eminent scholars anu
supported by considerable apparent
evidence. This testimony Of experts
IL JUDGED DECISIVE In their special
ties, because Ia these they alone
have competent knowledge. II II de-
cisive In courts OF Justice, where prop
crty aud life often depend on u; aud "
must be 80 Ia literary aud historical
criticism, even Ia the Scriptures,
where our knowledge Of their meaning
and purpose must otter depend on u.
but experts must DO cross-cxamined,
and all the moro severely because their
testimony IA finally decisive. They
must satisfy the court aud Jury-and
IN this ease Christian teachers are the
court and Intelligent lnymen are the
jury-that they aro experts, aud that
they arc not stating their gucs-work or
theories, but facts which they have
verified, ami the Statements OF all the
experts must essentially agree.
80 the higher criticism Is Itself sub
ject 10 criticism. IL requires counter.
criticism; It's processes must he critic
ally reviewed and Its cancellations
critically verified before they eau rcas-
onably claim acceptance. We willing
ly conccIc to critical scholars every
thing necessary 10 their inquiries--
entire liberty, all available material
and facilities, the tentative use Of
hypothesis, aud Of every applicable
method employed In other scienccs-
and then we insist that they lie scieutliic
and prove their work, 50 far as they 60,
beyond all reasonable doubt. We can
afford all the trouble necessary In
eliminating error from our ideas
OF the Bible, aud In getting
clearer and trIcr ones; we eau take hll
the Inconvenience Of tho discus
sion OF long chetlshcd beliefs, we can
allow our ignomntly formed impress.
sions to bc shaken up; we can suspend
our Judgment on important questions
~ may he necessary; we are prepared
10 receive any truth that Biblical
scholars may discover; but what they
Offer MS truth We must require them TO
verify. Toward all scientific study OF
the Bible we should be very generous;
toward NIL now conceptions Of II pro.
posed by the higher criticism we ought
TO be- very critical. II the result Of
critical study requires some amend.
ments In the copm0n conception Of
the Bible they will lie accepted, Of
course, rs others have been. IL IL
neccs-itates some change OF base
In the common Use OF the Bible,
such change will be made cautious
ly, 81 course, but In full faith
that my change required by truth
II always profitable. Hut such changes
can be conceded only for evident and
sufficient reasons, and only 70 far ~
such reasons require. So tho critical
study OF the Bible must be- critically
estimated. Those students who are
nioet scientific will readily aclsnowl.
edge, what we insist on, that the
conntcr-critlcism Of their work, while
fair, should also be very cxac,ing.
We should shy this Of critical research
Into any valuable literature or import
ant history. Hut IN writings contain
Ing divine revelation their ine.tiniable
value makes II all the more lnpcra.
tive TINT, while critical research u
carried M far M possible, It's results
should lee accepted only as they bear
rlgidly critical review Tho Con9rega-
IODadsf,