The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13

In chapter on Mr.. Gladstone as a theo-
Logan. contriblS ed by Canon MacColl, will
be found defined his attitude toward the
so-called Higher Criticism and his views
concerning a future life. His general DO
stion with respect to the Old Testament
may be inferred from two sentences In his
Introduction to the Peoples Bible: at
Is not necessary here to inquire whether
each and every portion Of the books as
crbed to Moses had him for its author.
or whether. besides the palpable case OF
the chapter which relates to his death
other additions In furtherance and expo.
sItion OF his career may have been made
'hristendom at large, as well as the Jew
ish nation. firmly believed that he and none
other was the great legislator Of the Jew
ish race; that the vital substance of his
legislation remains embodied in the Pen.
tateuch; and, as II may be added. that
never in human history was any legisla-
ton so profoundly and so durably stamped
upon the life, character. and experiences.
even down to the visible and claimant wit
ness OF the present day. of those to whom 1t
was addressed 1t is well known that
he undertook to refute the conclusions OF
the Higher Criticism. Some OF his argu-
nents to that end may be condensed as
follows: In the first place. according to the
Higher Criticism, the Pentateuch, espe-
ctally those parts which they term the
priest code" was devised probably after
the exile in the interest OF the prlestly
order. But 1.-The schools OF the prophets
established a caste. which was in profess
si al rIv
established an effective censorship over
them. Is 1t conceivable. asks Gladstone
that the prophets would have passively
sanctioned such a gigantic forgery as the
Higher Criticism alleges? In the second
place. the Higher Criticism admits that the
priests published their forgery under the
shelter Of the great name OF Moses" Why?
Obviously, answers Gladstone because
that name had already acquired and con
solidated its authority from its being In
separately attached to the original gift OF
the law" Gladstone also maintained that.
considering the extraordinary pains which
the Jews took TO preserve the integrity of
the Pentateuch. the theory OF the Higher
Criticism would argue something like hal
iucination on the part Of an entire nation
Moses belongs to the class OF nation
makers" and the Pentateuch bears internal
evidence OF one masterful spirit and do
minant will shaping and soidifyng a no
madic tribe into a nation OF singular te-
nacity. 1t Is inconceivabe that a band OF
priestly forgers could have stamped this
notable characteristic on their literary
fraud. Elsewhere Gladstone says that the
sacred-books and legislation traditionally
ascribed to Moses undoubtedly formed the
and peculiar people" The Moses OF the
Pentateuch was a man emnently qualified
for such an achievement. The story Of
fered to us by the Higher Criticism" on
the other hand, does not At the circum-
stances. and Is. in parts. glaringly incon-
sIstent with them" Gladstone also deems
the Samaritan Pentateuch irreconcilable
with the later date assigned to the Hebrew
Pentateuch by the Higher Criticism. THE
racial and religious feuds between the Jews
and Samaritans would inevitably have made
T. impossible for the former to palm of
forgery OF their priests on their Jealous
rivals Yet this is the conclusion to which
tho Higher Criticism conducts us. It is
ever, that Gladstone took UP an extreme
position. and asserted the literal infalli-
bility of the Scriptures. That alone for
which I contend" he says, is that the
heart and substance OF the legislative and
institutional system delivered to us in the
Pcntateuch is historically Trustworthy"
Gladstone's views on the eternity OF
punishment were expressed with reserve
He suggested that the great diversity Of
delineation" with which the subject is
treated by our Lord and the writer's OF the
New Testament may. possibly, indicate
a purpose Of reserve" He was not friend
ly to the forensic view OF the question"
and preferred Buffers idea OF punishment
following sin by way OF natural conse-
quence," Human nature, he said. is ca
pable OF terrible and undreamt Of posi-
bilities. and 1t will be at his peril that man