The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-03
SERMON ON BIBLE
nv DR.. McCORKLE AT FIRST PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH.
WAS THIRD OF A SERIES.
,xn HEARD by LARGE AND INTER-
EsTED CONGREGATION.

triue." and the "OOhseht Oh All aus
parts--CIosed With Explanation
- Gods Will and an Elaboration
IN His Hearers to obey 1t.
paw DR.. William P. McCorkle de-
,i,,ered in the First Presbyterian
l,h,,rch last night the third of series
oe sermons on the Bible. His subject
os the inspiration of the scriptures.
Taking as his text, 1 Peter, 1925: But
the word of the Lord endureth forever.
And this is the word which by the gos-
nal is preached unto you," the speaker
cold. The statement of our text will
Ia admitted if it is conceded first that
the Holy Scriptures are indeed the
word of God. That word, whether
given in the upturned pages of the
creation story as it appears in the
rocks, or in the outspread pages of the
heaven, or in the more sure word of
nrophecy will endure forever. It's
testimony can never be successfully
challenged; its authority can never
cease. it's influence can never die. 1t
is destined to share the Immortality,
and glory of it's divine author.
But why" DIR. McCorkle asked, "do
Christians consider the scriptures in
spired? The unbelieving world is ready
TO answer Because of impossible mir
acles.' Permit me to say THAI while
miracles enter into the mass of Chris
ton evidences, it is not upon these
we rely to establish the credibility of
the Christian revelation"
Proceeding, the speaker cited the
story of the settlement of the canon
of the New Testament by the Council
of Nice, which is given by Prof. Hulk
ley in his "Riddle of the Universe"
This story" he said, lis a baseless
legend if not pure invention, and
has no other authority than an anony-
nous manuscript published in the sew
enteenth century. The Council of Nice
was not called for the purpose of set
Ting the canon, and there is nothing
on the subject in it's deliverances.
The Christian writer's of five succeed
ing centuries are silent as to the oc-
currence of any such marvels as that
repeated by the learned scientist.
Moreover, the. Christian world had
settled the canon of the New Tesla
ment as early as the middle of the sec
y
the Diatesseron Through four) of
Satan, the long lost harmony of our
four gospels that was published about
the middle of the second century, but
we have also the Apology of Aristides,'
presented with "a. similar defense of the
faith by Quadratus to the Emperor
Hadrian at Athens in the year 125.
These manuscripts, taken in con-
nection with the evidence of Jerome of
Eusebius, of Irenaeus and of Justin
Martyr, esta blsh beyond controversy
that the Christian scriptures as we now
possess them, were in circulation and
recognized as of divine authority as
early as the year lbs. This was the pc
riOd when. as Pliny wrote the Emperor,
Trajan, Hadrian's predecessor, the
contagious infection of Christianity
was spreading through the cities and
through country villages, and heather
temples were already in large measure
deserted.
We do not believe the word of God
TO be inspired, because of the marvels
which medieval writers may have al
legged to have occurred in connection
with the settling of the canon. The rea-
sons why we believe these books as in
splred are such as any man may test
for himself. First, the heavenliness of
the natter" This the speaker illus
trated as consisting in the purity of its
teachings and the exalted character of
the ideas which it presents to our at
tention.
The heavenliness of a divine reve-
lation,' he said, may be expected to
show itself in the great ideas, which
II would bring into the world. We
would expect it to declare truths be-
yond all that had ever been reached by
man, and in a style both majestic and
commanding. And who does not see,
II he will be at pains to read this. book
carefully, that this is it's chief charac-
teristic? Consider the topics which it
presents to men. None greater were
ever urged upon the attention of hu
manty, and what is said is infinitely
above the speculations of the philoso-
phers and the dreams of the ancient
seers"
After telling of the gods of mythology
and the various other religions the
speaker said: Take the Bible idea of
God. God existed in the beginning.
belore a star had flashed its light
through the darkness of primeval night;
before sun had burst into rudy
names or a nebula had come from the
creative land. God was everywhere.
ms Infinite power called all worlds and
an beings into existence. His power
Slohe sustains all things. He reigns
rom The highest heaven to the lowest
HelL without a rival and without pos
slDlhty OF defeat or dethronement. His
omhpresence fills every inch of space,
oHu IN him all His creatures from an
seS TO animalculae, live and move and
nave their being.
again, we regard this book as in
5pIeQ because of the efficacy of the
uTculne. Why is it that only in lands
4 "uere His book is known and read,
Ia lhere is such a thing as civil and
tNslous liberty? Why is 1t that only
~ ulose lands where law and society
90 S Deen moulded under the influence
us teachings, is there to be found
oe sh standard of social purity and
pubic life? Why Is 1t that only in
n tIs that are known as Christian are
~ round great Institutions of phil
4 1it1i'o py' orphanages, almshouses, hos
n ,'is Tor the unfortunate. schools for
~ ohhd and deaf, missionary organ
t.Ions seeking to carry the light of
ssr, u 70 the benighted millions Of
tba The answer is to be found in
nv cnaracter of our holy book 1t is
M v.Ht one book written in this world
,h Is all mems book.
Con- urther this book is one. The
c'stnt Of all its parts is a fact that
aHnot fail to attract the attention OF
M IN the superficial observer It's doc
non. " the same. and II is contin-
ST.. ana progressive, from the first
dement's as to the creation. until ~
vi IN hes its climax in the revelation
Jerhe surprising glories of the New
b,,e.alem. There is no contradiction
t,1@@een Moses and Paul between
.'NNNf and euau.,att.t t-....-.-. 49,.