The Portland daily press., 1897-05-03
THE HIGHER CRITICISM.
Or. BIanchard's Sermon on the Book of
Deuteronomy.

the high priest, said unto Shaphan the
scribe, ST have found the book of the law
in the!house of the Lord"
Z The book of Deuteronomy is of i'm
perial Importance Its influence upon the
world has been SO momentous that it
isInot possible adequately to measure its
extent Reversed by Jews ami Christians
and Mohammedans, it has influenced
customs. laws, creeds. 1t has lifted men
to highest pinnacles Of thought and
fesling and it has induced to the oom-
mission of atroeious deeds. The student
stands in awe Of the book as he contem-
platss its history. Quoted by the great
master and.bys thegpriests of the Inquis-
ton. 1t deserves veneration. The points
to be considered were:
1.-The story of its discovery in the
temple.
U.-The question of its authorship.
III.-Its rhetorical and dramatic mag
nifoence.
WITS results for evil and for good.
Josiah the King, religious youth, be-
walled the wlckedness of his kingdom.
A good king had been followed by an
evil one. The prophet Isaiah had
preached, had influenced, but his infu-
ence had been overborns. Baal was
worshipped. The sun, morn and stars
received alteration. Lasoiviousness.
cruelty, greed abounded. The temple
was neglected. In making repairs of
this, 4 hook was discovered. The high
priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan, 81
have found the book of the law in the
house of the Lord Shsphan read 1t
to King Josiah. 1t overwhelmed the
royal listener. He believed Moses had
written it. He feared God would send
terrific punishment. He ordered gath
ering of leaders and people in the tenn
pie. He himself read the roll. The peo-
pie, awed by the Kings solemnity and
the words of the book, promised allegi-
ance to it's commands. So came Josiah's
reforms. Everything used for worship
OF Baal. of sun and moon and stars
was destroyed The priest OF false re-
ligion was displaced. The soothsayers
were punished. The scene Of the discoy-
cry of the book Of Deuteronomy is one
Of the greatest of history.
Its author was probably the prophet
terial, reshaped, added. and gave it forth
as coming from Moses. This is the
hypothesis Of Renan. The preacher &C.
cepted it as reasonable and explanatory.
Good arguments are presented by able
men for the old theory Of Mosaic author
ship but scholarship grows more and
more convinced that it was made about
the time it Was discovered.
Prof. r. G.. Moulton shows it's rhetori-
cal and dramatic magnidoence. He calls
the book "The Farewell Orations of
Noses. ~ It's literary form excites his
admiration. The speaker shares his
feeling. Az we see Moses delivering the
first GRAFTON, as we listen to his delivery
of the Covenant to the Levites; as we
behold the Rehearsal of the Blessing
and the Cursing' as Prof. Moulton calls
it; as We read the fourth Grafton "The
Covenant in the land of Moab" the song
of Moses, the great scene of his going to
the.top of Mount Pisgah and his lonely
death, we are profoundly moved by the
rhetorical and dramatic power of the
book
The evils which tho Deuteronomy pro-
duces are very sad ones. They are the
belief that God sanctions the massacres
Of unbelievers; that book contains the
full revelation Of religion; that special
place is needed for worship Of God and
that priest, intermediary between God
and man. Is needed. Jews. Christians,
Mohammedans have put to death IN be-
levers. The priests Of the Inquisition.
quoted Deuteronomy in their@eruel work.
Puritans prosecuted Catholics. Moham-
medans today, as they slaughter Armeni-
ans, are under the influence of this po-
tent book. Great has been the evil OF
thinking revelation has been confined to
certain writings. Great has been the
evil caused by believing that only In
sacred buildings can God be worshipped.
Great has been the evil Of thinking that
q man can turn away Gods wrath from
man or give him blessing because he
alone, as priest can approach God.
The good, however. produced by Deute-
ronomy overbalances the evil. In this
wonderful book first appears the
doctrine OF the love.of God
and Man. Jesus quotes it as
he gives the two great command ments.
In it appear also, commands to protect
the weak. The reformers OF all ages
wishing fer justice, anxious to guara
the poor against the rioh, have found
In it's code the great declarations con-
corning kindness, gentleness, Justice.
The new knowledge enables US to enjoy
the Bible. The purpose that animates
Higher Critic and preacher, is to help to
this enjoyment. Pain may come at first,
as old opinions ara changed, but joy will
follow. This knowledge is bringing
Christendom into unity of opinion.
Some day it Will unite very closely all
religions men. 1t helps us to see that
no book smonopolizes all Of Gods teach
ings. 1t shows that neither alone In this
temple nor in that ia God the Shirt tn