New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-06
p reasoning from the products OF imagination

First then, criticism applies the histories"
test. It finds. for instance an Internal eNiue"'0
that Isaiah xl-lxv was not written IN the tii'e
Of Hezekiah according TO the TRADITIONAL Nie"'
but in the time Of the exile In the same way
II finds that the Pentateuch, in its present form
was not written by Moses. but compiled AT
much later period from many old documents
or traditions Next. It settles many questions OF
authorship and date by style, etymoloey' syn
tax and dialect. II, for instance, DOCK pui-
porting to be written by Moses is tounn 10 Gun
tain words. phrases and modes OF spelline 'na'
came into use many hundred years later inc
modern critic at once decides that the DOCK was
either written or edited in the latter age.
Still again criticism nfers the composite au-
thorship of book that contains matter out OF
harmony with the assumed age Of its com
position. The Book Of Ruth. for instance quotes
from Psalm xci. which shows that Ruth was
written possibly from old materials after the
Psalm The argument from silence Is also
recognized. When. for instance, we find in an
early writer mention without censure OF wor-
shin on high places 1t is inferred that these
writer's knew Of no legislation against this wor-
ship Similarly the omission Of any reference
TO the sin Offering in Psalm Ii implies that the
Psalm was written before the sin-offerng was
established Again. criticism considers the evil
dences Of Interpolation in the Biblical BOOKS
many Of which 1t has found, and the question OF
authorship in regard 10 which tradition cannot
be depended upon. A careful study OF the DOCKS
themselves, indeed. according TO the crlucs
shows that in many cases tradition is Wholy
wrong. There are also, 1t is said pseudonynous
books in the Bible as. for instance, Eoclesias'es
the author OF which used the name OF solomon
Lastly the claim is made that many DOCKS OF
the Bible are compilations of many ola uocu-
ments and traditions. into which were woven
with more or less skill, the ideas and coloring or
the compiler editor.
The presence of myths in the Bible Is recog-
nized by the critic
Take for example. the story Of the intermar-
rage Of the daughters Of men with the angeis
in Genesis. vi. LA. II this story were 1ouhu
in any other sacred book but the BibIe, no one
would hesitate to regard 1t as a myth. vain
efforts have been made in recent times TO eX-
plain away the angels in various ways. but no
respectable commentator would countenance
such a thing in days. There can be no
doubt whatever that the passage refers 10 an
gels Why. then. should we hesitate to regard
II as a myth? myth Is not necessarily un-
true to fact; it is rather a popular imaginative
coloring Of conception Of fact or Of real
fact It Is not necessary to deny that there
was such a real union OF angels with mankind.
even If hints that the form OF the story is
mythical
Criticism also finds numerous legends in the
Bible as well as idyllic poems. dramas and
novelettes Such are the books Of Hebrew liter
allure which are collectively called the Bible.
They vie with the literary models of the best
nations Of ancient and modern times. They
ought to receive the study Of all Christian men
and women. They present the greatest variety
OF form, the noblest themes and the very best
models. Nowhere else can we find more admir-
able aesthetic as we'll moral and religious
culture Christian people should urge that our
schools and colleges attend 10 this literature,
and not neglect II for the sake Of the Greek and
Roman literatures, which, with all their rare
forms and extraordinary grace and beauty, yet
lack the Oriental wealth Of color. depths Of pas
sion, heights of rapture, holy aspirations. tran
scendent hopes and Transforming moral power.
The function Of Biblical criticism is twofold
namely, destructive and constructive. 1t aims
TO show that there are errors and Inconsistencies
in the present text Of the Bible. and that many
of the commonly accepted views as to It's au-
thorship and date are altogether erroneous. 1t
finds no proof In the Bible itself Of the theories
Of inerrancy and verbal inspiration that are held
by so many people But while thus tearing
down the old scaffolding that pious believers
erected around the Bible, the critics do not for
get the work of construction. They maintain
that the refutation OF false views concerning the
book brings into clearer light not merely its
credibility. but It's authority as revelation Of
spiritual truth to man.
The Church is constantly learning new lessons
Of grace from the Scriptures We have right
to expect still greater light to break forth from
the Scriptures when the Church has been pre-
pared to receive 1t. The Church did not attain
its maturity at the Nicene Council Augustine
was not the highest achievement Of Christian
faith and experience. The Protestant Reforma-
ton did not introduce the golden age. A Church
that IS not growing in grace is a lukewarm. IL
not a dead Church. theology that is not
progressive Is a bedridden. II not a dead. the
ology The Church needs greater reformation
than il has ever yet enjoyed-a more extensive
living in the Holy Spirit. deeper quickening, a
more intense devotion in love and service TO our
Saviour and the interests Of His Kingdom. We
are convinced that the seeds Of such a reforma-
ton are embedded in the Bible only waiting a
new springtime Of the world to shoot forth. The
grace of God will reveal itself to another Luther
and another Calvin at no very distant day in
vastly greater richness and funess, for the
sanctifcation Of the Church, and the prepare
ton of the Bride for her Bridegroom. In the
mean time II behooves us all TO turn away
from the abnormal, immature and defective ex-
periences and systems Of very poor Christians
so often held UP TO us as models for our at
tanment and TO set our faces as a flint against
every wrestling of Scripture in the interest of
any dogma new Old and TO Ak our faith and
love upon the image Of the grace Of God in
Jesus Christ. the Crucifed risen, and glorihed
Redeemer.
A WAGNERIAN ITISEA GRE.