The times., 1897-12-12

nobody either in France or anywhere else
who could write and speak with mofe art
and talent / defy you all, as many as are
here. to prepare taIs so simple and At the
same time so sublime and 20 touching as the
tale of the passion and death OF Jesus
Christ; which produces the same effect,
which makes q sensation as strong AMI
generally felt, and whose influence VIII
be the same, after 50 many centuries
Where did the Apostle Paul get the sublime
heights and unfathomabIe depths of his
Epistle 10 the Romans? But, il the Bible
came fiom God, all is explained. IL is x
planned why this book catches the 7tten-
ton Of the little child: why it nutnbles
the Intellect OF tie greatest philosopher
1.-THE child says Yinet, does better
than understand the Bible; its exquisite
narratives are his delight. Mucn is s.s
about improving and explaining solsnn
truths; this is the fayorite task or writers
for children. But the author of the bible
is theil master in that, as in all tesidei.
Who could have so well spread honey on
the edge If this cup offered to all men, at
the hottf IN of which childhood finds moth
ing bitter? For it, everything in the divine
.tsi!ct IS honey.
And the philosopher must receive the
laws Of Gcd's kingdom like tie kingdom
itself as little child. 1t is explained
why the Invalid drinks at it as at foun-
tain of I!sc; why the graz -headed pour over
its pages as we cleave 70 volume in the
evening gioaning when the day is far
spent; why the brOSen-hrarted and sor-
rowing are soorhec by it, why it enters
into the verv life 0f that man or that nd-
ton which coules under its Influence.
If il came not from GOd, why have the
greatest inteIJects Of the race, such as
Shakespeare ami Milton and Goethe paid
il such lioIHsge; stood ds If CncGvered IN
its presence? And why have not the
one hundred -aHd-oHe infIdels, who have
rejected it OH account or is supposed de-
feets, give1. us at least one prOverb Ike
those Gf Solomon one psalm Ike those
of David; one poem like that Of job; one
glimpse or q better world, like chat iii
Revelation? II man made the LOOK, wny
does not men make another Ike IL? And
why does not humanity accept some man
made book IN its stead?
Suppose scientific men should propose 70
mankind that instead OF taking fte light
and heat " hich comes from the sun they
should wait uutil science has determined The
exact nature of il spots; havemadea IN re
perfect analysis of its rays have de
teTmined the nature s.ftts mysterious after
glcws. What would ycu say Of that BIT
that would he wisdom compared with the
| conduct OF the man who, with an eternity
OF life or death before tim, should, for
similar reasons, decline to accept their I-hs
OF the bible. There will aIwaysbe more or
less dIscIsSion about the relative hum IN
and divine elements in the Bible; 10
much Of man nd how much cf God is n It.
| The progress OF human intelligence, with
regard to other departments or study,
! neeessitates this. But, yliateyeris is human
and whatever is divine is u it; is OF God S
own ordering, that lie nfsiit better reveal
| Himself tC the race.
In his exhaustive work o-l The Doctrine
of Sacred Scripture" winch Is regarded by
many as giving away much that belongs 10
| the Bible as Tar too liberal u ohjectors to
the Bible, DR.. Iadd writes thus: I'VE
| Eegan ny iLquiring, What does tie EibIe
| claim for itself? We found the following
answer tc tiiis inquiry: TIE Bible claims
| that the Word ef God to man, by His in
spred serve nts. is scripturaIly fixed within
| thewritingsofth Old and New Testaments.
| This clanr was sub iected to detailed com
I
cism. 1t was found that the results OF or IL
| cism forbid that we should claim any kind
of infaIIiblity for all Tarts of the writings
! alike Bat it was not foand that Biblical
criticism hasdisproved the zone chfefcIaim OF
! the Bible, namel y, the claim to bring men the
| Word of God concerning tne history and
ideas OF the Kingdom of redemption" :"
Dr.. Ladd has gone over the whole ground,
and has surrendered far mere, as believe,
than the Christian church wiiI eventually
| surrender. But. after criticism has done
| it's worst. tins is his summary OF how the
case stands. May we not well then close
| our discussion of these themes, with the
words cf the ApOstIe: Wherefore We do
| we'll to take heed thereunto, as to a light
shining in a dark place, until the IA y
dawn and tie day star arise ia our bea--s;
knowing this that no prophecy is of aAy
private interpretation For tie proi hecy
came not in old time blythe viii of man: bat
holy men of G"d spake as they were moved
of the Holy Ghost