The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-23

Rev. DR.. HamlIn, the pastor, spoke
on the higher criticism, which has
raised such Robbery in the Presby-
terrain church. This higher criticism
has to do with the literary style Of the
Bible, seeks to throw on II all possible
lights, av0ila itself OF books, nonu-
ments, ruins, whatever fairly serves its
purpose. This may DO done with bias
for or against the Bible. DR.. Hamlin
insists that the critic should approach
tho subject with a bias in favor OF the
Bible, for ''tlis book has every pre-
sumption in its favor" In this view
the higher criticism is as legitimate as
the lower, which deals with textual
questions. The preacher made strong
point of tho temptation which besets
the most reverent Of the higher critics,
that OF basing conclusions on too small
9 number OF facts, the bane OF induc-
tive science. The investigator discovers
six facts and announces a law, whereas
he should wait until he has sixty facts
or six hundred -facts. Moreover the
higher critic is exposed to the narrow
ness that is apt TO mark all specialists,
magnificent as is the service they render
10 the world. Therefore the higher
critics should be extremely modest,
whereas they are too often arrogant and
dogmatic, impatient with those who
are not ready TO accept their conclu-
sions. DR.. Hamlin says to the higher
critics, go on with your work and we
will wait for more light" The point of
tho Yirilo discourse was that tho higher
criticism which is reyerent and deyout
is hardly II matter for ecclesiastical dis
cIpllne. This criticism IDEALS with the
Bible rs fact, and the facts about the
Bible wo must all iace sooner or later"
Said the proachor: "Let US dismiAs our
fears and 80 on with oht,%ork The
Bible Ia safe because II Ia true" l
looked over tho congregation to ace
what impression these words made.
and Il seemed that there would havo
boon applause il applause had been In
place.
All apt illustration Of this plain, solid,
logical discourse was very striking.
II took UP tho criticism that the book
o. Isaiah was written by two persons,
the Inference being based OIL tho differ
OncoB OF atylU In the two parts. Sup.
poso that two or three thousand y0nra
licncU Lowcll'H "Bigclow Papers" and
his "0tation on Democracy" should DO
found bound together and ascribed to
tho same author " would DO natural TO
say on tho internal evidence alone that
ono nah could not have been the author
OF both productions. ltwonld be argued
that they woro written centuries apart,
"thO ono whom English was more
pRtols, tho other whom English had az.
tanned all tho accuracy and olevanco Of
tho classic Greek" Apply this happy
Illustration ns vol 10 the book OF Moses
and 900 how II dts. II you have not
road tho "Blaeow Papers" and tho
Democracy" jump into them at once,
have great feast and thon think about
Moscs and Isaiah and tho rest Of them.
What q service these thoughtful men
render who dig out the good things and
serve them 70 US In palatablo style. II
was worth a Journey 10 Washington TO
got that single illustration and the
thought II clothes as with garment.
The Church Of tho Covenant will reI
along without o presidential presonce
II Is a beautiful edihce, tho organ IL wei
played, tho congregation has n Consid'
etablD pnrt IN the service, iher0 10 d
preacher Of an Rble.bodied mind. A
noted Presbyterian divine visiting