The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15

to Old Testament history also. and has there
led to a like success by procuring an entirely
new insight into the actual course OF the devel-
opment OF the religion Of Israel. Formerly
the point Of departure was taken from an oh
scure antiquity. no contemporary documents
Of which were nj our disposal. so that the student
could only rove about In the midst OF vague
and arbitrary hypothesis. Now we have
learned from vatke, Reuss, Kuenen and others
to take our standpoint of observation In the
time OF the Prophets, In whose writings We
Possess authentic sources which disclose to No
the religious and civil condition Of Israel in their
time. From this point Of view we are In a po-
sition TO draw conclusions as to tho real course
.; things In the foregoing cpochs. conclusions
which gain so much the more in certainty tho
more they are on the one hand adapted 10
explain the peculiar development Of the religion
Of Israel in %Prophetism, and, on the other hand.
are supported by the analogy Of Semitic an
fiauity In general, as this analogy Ia brought
To light through a comparative knowledge
OF the peoples. languages and religions" Thus
also here the methodic criticism OF the sources
in connection with the comprehensive com.
blnations Of the science Of comparative religion
has led to such a transformation of our historical
NV" " WIZ D'u UNI tNitA jill 40 DuuT -
criticism had effected for the New Testament.
The author of these essays holds that the
result for both Testaments Is that. In the place
of the traditional heapinS up Of miracles and
riddles Of all sorts, we have a truly ineligible
history, a process OF the development Of the
human mind In which the new mora-religious
ideas, born in the souls Of spiritual heroes
amidst the storms and woes Of times big with
fate. can make their way to recognition and
dominion only gradually and in the midst Of
mighty conflicts with the opposing powers
Of reality. and thereby, for the most part, lose
as much in inner purity as they gain In external
might and solidity. Just this is human history
a tissue OF divine power and human weakness,
everywhere marvellous and full Of divine revela-
tions, but nowhere interrupted by miracles, or,
by sudden leaps and springs, breaking the
connection OF events, and violating the order
Of the world" ...
In DR.. Pneiderer's opinion. the charge which
has been levelled against historical criticism,
that II denies the authority OF the Holy Scrip
lures. the principle OF the Protestant Church,
and thus undermines the Church. rests upon Q
two-fold error. to-wit. a installing a. we'll Of
the true sense Of the Protestant principle OF
Scripture as Of the true object OF criticism.
The Protestant principle Of Scripture. az We
know II from the writings Of the reformers,
by no means demands that we should hold every
| word in the Bible to be Immediately and liter
| ally true, but it contains only the incontestibls
thought that our Christian faith should rest
not merely upon the inner witness Of the Spirit.
but also upon the sacred history which the Bibls
makes known. Therein lies, as a matter Of
/ course, the requirement that We should know
this history MS correctly and thoroughly as
pos sible. Now IL Is evident that, since the
| biblical history has been handed down to US,
like every other other history, through human
| witnesses, we are able rightly to know II only
by the same method Of scientific connection
that Is employed in all historical research. SO
far as historical criticism sets itself just this
task. II is really 10 be regarded as the carry.
| ing out rather than the denial Of the Protestant
principle of Scripture. II, now. II is true that
by this method many a tradition turns out not
| to be real history, but Its subjective reflex. a
humanity weak and dim apprehension Of the
original facts. this should not he regarded
from the Protestant standpoint az n harm,
since the fundamental requirement Of Pro-
testantism everywhere has for It's aim to so
backward from her mere traditions to the gem
uine Word Of God, which consists precisely In
tho facts OF real history"
Or. Pneidcrcr contends that the judgment
pronounced by Goethe upon Niebuhr's criticism
Il applicable within tho domain Of theology.
That Judgment was; "the separation Of fiction
from history Ia Of inestimable Importance.
since neither Of tho two is thereby destroyed.
but each is rather established In Its true value
and dignity. so that IL Is very interesting to
see how both again combine and reciprocally
influence one another. Would that all phe-
nomena Of historical events could be treated
In this manner" Our author thinks that II the
critical understanding Of the history Of reli-
gion and the Church leads US to the knowledge
that ideal truths never como to mon gratui-
tously, but must be gradually acquired and made
clear by endless changes and conflicts. there
lies In this fact an exalting trust for our present
age that out Of the confusion and passionate con-
ficts OF individual minds. the eternal ideal will
atlast come forth victorious and purified. II. In
other words, welearn from history that the great
institutions OF society. the State and the Church.
are neither n finished gift from heaven nor Q
creation Of human caprice. but the result Of .
development which has run a course OF thou.
sands Of years, to which unnumbersd deeds
and su6srings. conflicts and sacrifices Of many
generations have contributed. such an insight
can only increase our reverence for thess In.
stitutions. and strengthen the purpose to de-
vote our powers In order to maintain the In.
heritance OF the Fathers u~nimpaired. amid
the storms Of tho present time. and to give II
an ever richer evolution and . finer form for
the welfare Of posterity.