The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-04

fronts the religious inquirer or focay u the
question Of Biblical revelation. Few there
are who will deny that the Bible IS sozns
sorf OF a revelation. The question Is. What
kind of q rsvslasson2 Much depends upon
the answer 70 this. Many are asking the
question reyerently. many from scnoi-
arly standp point make the inquiry. There
Is a criticism Of the Bible different from
ahe coarse ard indecent assaults OF the
sensational inffdel. Men who recognize the
extraordinary influence OF the book and
appreciate As moral and spiritual worth
are stadlousIy seeking 70 know the method
OF It's revelation. We must meet these
questions fairly. A serious duty In this re-
spsct rests upon the religious teacher. he
caHnoE simply affirm. by begging the CUES
fi0n. that the Bible Is al inspired directly
from God. lie must try 70 show how II Is
inspired: how II was written: what Is
Eneant by the term revelation as applied 20
the Bible. Otherwise. while he may pass
muster with the good people who don't
care 10 think about what they believe. he
VIII be quietly let alone by those 10 whom
assumptions alone are insufficient.
shall try to poin; out the method OF
revelation In the Bible, welcoming ali
true scholarly investigation. maintaining
that important above all else Ii the truth
itself
To rightly understand the Bible we must
o9s theories about the revelation In the
Bible. It's natural or supernatural origin;
its infsllibilily; IT. inspiration to the letter
;fusi for she time being be set aside. Many
different sca0ols as well as different indi-
yiduaLs have their IDEAS about the Bible.
but what Of the Bible itself? IL presents
no theory. gives no statement OF It's origin
s. language that amounts 10 a rule. Tue
only way 70 know the meaning Of the
Bsble Is 20 study IL historically. sclcntihcal-
Is. spiritually BY It's own light. not by
the preconceived notions OF taeologians.
can 1t be understood. II We turn then TO
the Bible itself We find that Il Is COM
poss.a OF number Of different books IL
yidAa into two great parts called the Old
and the New Testament. or These Books.
some are historical. some poetical some
words of prophecy. In the second de
partment the New Testament. we find for
the most part the life narrative and teach
ingS OF one who. II known only By the
gospels. would stand unique among all the
characters Of earth. No life so marvellous
in every way was ever conceived of before
or after. Other books in this second part
are letters written by apostles about this
grand character to w2lom the Old Tesla
ment points and whom the New Testament
aifirms. one book IL a history of the first
years OF the society that aross through the
life and teachings OF this wonderful per-
son. and the last book OF all is a poetic
vision Of the kingdom OF God. These books
OF the whole Bible were written by differ
enf persons at different periods covering a
portion OF time not less than 1900 years
The authorship and the exact date OF COM
position OF few OF these books are I'M
certain. Not only do We find a marked
variation in style between these books, but
a difference also OF substance and dis
tinetion In motive. Especially between the
Old and New Testament Is there a notice
able diversity.
Indeed. as one studies these books from
the beginning to end he Is struck with the
startling similarity TO the method of rev.
citation here. and the method OF divine
revelation in the natural weird Both ep-
pear to have come about by what has
been fer convenience sake termed evolu-
ton. Evolution has been defined by one
OF the ablest OF It's exponcnts In the way
of science as continuous progressive
change. according 20 certain laws, and
by means OF resident forces" Now this
IS precisely what wo discover In relation
TO the growth OF the Bible The writer
OF the epistle TO the Hebrews put II we'll
when he said. God. who at sundry times
aud I'm divers manners. spake unto the
fathers bg the prophets hath in these last
days spoken unto VS. by His Son" There
f. unity 20 be sure throughout the whole
Bible. bat II - the unity OF growth rather
v n
like the fun grown tree OF tho same spe-
cies: that is the unity Of growth. Two
leaves from the two trees precisely alike
IN size, shape and color would he the
unity ~ identity. The unity OF scripture
Is analogous to the first illustration. The
likeness between the earlier and later
portions OF the Bible corresponds 20 the
similarity between the outline sketch and
the finished painting. Take the old Tesla
ncnt and this principle OF "A progressive
revelation is most apparent. II seems
strange that hy religious teachers 70 has
been so long ignored. The books Of the
old Testament are cvrtainIy not alike In
character nor in their moral and spiritual
worth Not on this account however DO
we discard those portions that record the
first ycarnings % the human heart to-
wards God and the imperfect thoughts
and very imperfect acts Of the chiidren in
humanity schildhosta age The later proph-
els rose tn spirituality far above tho men
Of the period OF the giving Of the law,
just "a Moses and his peers were I'm ad-
vance 90 Abraham. and Abraham a long
ways above the men % the time OF the
food. When amid the records 81 the do
ings % the wandering hordes ~ uncivil-
fsgd peoples we come across deeds that
shock and oppose our moral seuse we
have only to remember that these men
arc 10 he Judged not according % present
lghs ard knowledge but BY the light
they had. and that this light could only
he IN proportion e their capacity 20 re-
ceiVc the truth Tho scientist discs not
condemn the earlier foFrns ef He because
tAes were Imperfect "a viewed from the
standpoint ~ man. hat he halls with de-
Ngat the record 81 now from those earlier
forms lie grew ogi. "a continuous pro-
gressive change. according 20 certain
laws ana hy means - resident fnTees 90
80 the broad minded student ~ the Biale
sees how Goa srske to the fathers 81 she
wEts past spake As neccssffate3 D. the
fncaFScftv ~ man a. thai sgaEe. He sees
BOW this revelation was given. a con-
tinuous pros Fcssive change aeeer3jos 70
sareeS That rrssl 8cnt fierce xss the " ord
tbe Same that was la the beginning MA
s1ee1 Tie WAS ga the world aDd the
world was made hy i3im aua the Wor &
kew Him not" Read ths frs charter ~
~ Johufs gospel. Read the first chapter
81 Genesis and theE reaa any Eoosg 49,
count OF tne scientific aoctFire - eNolu-
tJou and see fae wonderful correspond
cues netNcen tne method 81 God ~ ma
tare ard iR sae B.oie
As Goa spake is ttgcs past ay tAe
4athers-ace,s0an1e Hts tralh 20 Ire
earaitfan - tns hsgfran race 81 iAat tiue.
- 81 cheese 'ass DAYS iie ham sP0Asa BY
HFta San. From Csrrs.R to esq 81 W. have
& continuous FroEfs sstsv caaBxr- BAT. as
evezs Hsrioa zeFa,zr ssys The pFcN ess
- evota-tca does aot terminate ev-e The
Geve,eCn.ert o. saHSatp .r 3 so5tarv ird8-
s.J0al ,soeS uet ftali toe p3reesrs -
s.estfts,, TIE CREST ultimate oaiere -
Chrsrt's scnshls IS tc develop f. .n all au-
r-arstv" That work = - - carrsaf %
taroagh tAe He.y Sgtrit Th@s C~h-i~t