The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-06

that it is not probable that David wrote
any of the Psalmsi
In his Quotations in the New Tesla
ment" he does not hesitate to take issue
with Christ on a question Of eXegesis!
And why not? Jesus is not supposed 10
have been acquainted with the Copper
mean system OF Astrology; and why
should we credit him with "A knowledge
Of Biblical Criticism" which Is much
more modern than the received astrO-
nomical science?
TWO ANSWERS.
To this question the plain Christian has
two answers. First. Jesus does not say
any thing about astronomy; but every
one OF the synoptical evangelsts credits
him with saying that David was the au-
thor of 10th Psalm. See Matthew p: az
a. Mark J.: 36-37 and Luke 20: 42-H.
Second An old thinker once asked with
some point: HE that planted the ear,
shall ne not hear? he that formed the
eye, shall he not see?" and ! fail 20 see
that any modern science has az an blunt
ed the sharpness Of that point. When
Mr. Darwin denied the plain proposition
that the eye was made TO see with, he
may have been perfectly consistent. but
people of plain sense will think he was
consistently wrong.
tianity." is one Of the most rigorous and
vigorous applications OF evolution" that
l have ever seen made TO any moral or
spiritual problems j. is not quite so
bold as Tame, who in his English Lite
iature' accounts for the great master
pieces by referring them 10 climate food,
situation, circumstances-in short-'en-
vironment" Hamlet" Macbeth even
Midsummer Nights Dream" grew out
OF the insular situation Of England, and
the beef-eating and becr-drinking habits
OF the people,
Dr. Toy is not so radical as this. lie
admits that, in the religious life Of Pro-
phats and Seers, there are some facts
which. We can no more explain than We
can explain the genius OF Plato and OF
Shakespeare. But Tame Is the only writ
er Of my acquaintance who Is holder than
Toy in applying evolution TO intellec-
tual and moral problems. 10 seems hard
ly extravagant TO say that II Charles
Darwin had been drowned in his voyage
on the "Brage." instead Of living TO
write his origin OF Species" then DR..
Toy would never have written Judaism
and Christianity"
The opening sentence OF the "introduc-
ton is a striking summing up OF the
scope and tone Of the whole learned
, work: THE rise of Christianity out OF
Judaism is a fact which though OF enor-
. nous significance, is yet in conformity
with a well-defned law OF human pro-
gress." And on the same page: "Reli-
giOn must betreated as a product OF hui
man thought And as human
thought is developed only in ana through
society. religion dixie language and
ethics) may be regarded as a branch OF
sociology. subject to all the laws that
THE CHRISTIAN ANSWER.
To this the plain Christian answers:
Now. where did that Chaldean shop
herd, Abraham, reared In the midst OF
heather idolatry, living all his life with
almost nothing that we call culture: ="
without sciences, arts. manufactures,
agriculture. commerce; without even
house to live in; where. We may well
| ask, did such man get that ciear-cut
/ and perfectly Ineligible idea of his
| covenant God. whom he loved. rever-
! enced worshiped and obeyed TO his HES
| enc; There is not The slightest trace OF
an abstract" God in any scene in which
Abraham figured His God could see and
! hear and talk and be talked TO. There
I is not a touch OF abstract speculation In
T, the whole OF Abraham's theology. IN
| deed outside OF JOB" and "Ecclesiastes. +"
| the Old Testament Is singularly destitute
| of speculation. Nothing can be more
T, concrete and realistic than are the PEN
| tateuch, the Psalms, the Proverbs and
| the prophetic books generally
f, IL is, moreover. a noticeable fact that
/ nearly all Hebrews who have distinguish
| ell themselves as speculative thinkers
f. have practically abandoned the Judaism
! o. The OH Testament. fh.io. Spinosa
and Mendelssohn were all OF Hebrew