power of the inspired writings, and have accepted them because of the internal evidence of their divine origin. Such being the case it is plain that the authority of the Scriptures does not exist apart from Reason, but on the contrary is dependent on the rational recognition of their origin and their contents.

THE FUNCTION OF INSPIRATION

Moreover, the office of Reason has never been simply to receive the Bible as a whole, and after that to regard each chapter and verse as needing no explanation, and as equally intelligible and important with every other chapter and verse. Even if the divine Revelation had been published as one book by one author, each of its parts would naturally be the subject of separate consideration and valuation. But it consists of a widely varied series of independent writings which must be severally judged, each according to its own character and its own claims on our regard.

The theory of inspiration implies that every author was controlled by a special divine impulse, and that his message was that best fitted for the time and place of its delivery. Sometimes prophets appear to have had only a partial understanding of their own predictions; in

spired men often gave their messages figurative forms, constructed by their own minds, and they occasionally employed ideas which were not scientifically correct. Like other ancient writers they used conceptions which have been discarded in the course of the world's intellectual progress. These notions, however, were not necessarily involved in their moral and religious teachings. We must also allow that many passages in the Scriptures are mere frame-work, which has no spiritual significance in itself, and serves simply as a proper setting for essential facts and truths. It is incumbent on Reason to distinguish the different elements which enter into the composition of the Holy Scriptures, and to determine the significance of each. Such a critical process will assign different values to different parts of the Bible, but will result in the highest possible estimate of the Scriptures in general as a means of religious instruction. So we say that the Bible is a superhuman production, the wonderful "Word of God which is able to make us wise unto salvation."

THE DOCTRINE OF INERRANCY

The doctrine of the absolute inerrancy of the Scriptures is founded on the assumption that the Almighty has so superintended the work of cer

tain writers as to exclude from it any mistake or incorrectness. This is an a priori position which seems incapable of satisfactory proof. It might apply with some propriety in case one messenger were sent with one book to declare the will of Heaven. But here we have a collection of sixty-six pieces of ancient literature, preserved and bound together because of their religious value, yet of the utmost diversity of character and origin. In many cases the dates of production and the authorship can only be conjectured or are utterly unknown. Most of these writings themselves make no claim to be composed under divine direction, and were simply preserved by pious men as important presentations of religious truth.

To prove satisfactorily the inerrancy of all Scripture would call for a separate examination of the claims of each book, or rather of the claims of the manuscript in which the book was originally written; and that would be a difficult task, if not impossible, seeing that no first copies are any longer to be found. Yet if any one thinks that a careful interpretation of the Bible from beginning to end will justify the conclusion that the original documents were absolutely inerrant we have no inclination to quarrel with this belief. But we are not prepared to share in it, especially

as it does not seem to be any part of the teachings of the Sacred Writings themselves.

THE WORD OF GOD

When we speak of the Bible as the word of God we mean only that it is a volume which God has given to us to be a reliable source of religious instruction. It does not discuss any philosophical or scientific questions, and, altho it makes contributions to history, psychology, ethics, economics and politics, all such teachings are subordinate to spiritual aims. The proper object of the Bible is to promote the life of God in the soul of man. Viewing the holy book in this light there is a sense in which we can say that it is our only infallible rule of faith and practise. For we believe that every sincere and prayerful inquirer after God may certainly be led through a study of the Bible into the way of life, salvation and holiness. In short, the Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament are the only divinely authorized guide to saving truth. This interpretation of the language of the Presbyterian Confession and catechisms is not so strong as some claim for them, perhaps not so strong as might be upheld by historical authority, but is it not as strong as the premises warrant?

HISTORICAL EFFECT OF THE BIBLE

When our Savior was about to leave the earth he told his disciples and his people of another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, which should lead them into all truth, and which especially should testify regarding Christ himself. This heavenly instruction, of course, was to relate only to divine things, and especially was intended to give a true and living knowledge of the Redeemer. And the Lord's promise was fulfilled to the Apostles and to the first Christians on the day of Pentecost, and has been realized in the vital faith of God's people through succeeding centuries. Every soul seeking to know Christ through the aid of the Holy Spirit has found a sure guide in the Holy Scriptures. Hence the unity of God's people in regard to the essentials of Christian faith.

Our Savior's words, doubtless, have a further fulfilment in the case of those who are seeking to understand all particulars of God's will and ways, but it cannot be said that Christians in respect to non-essential matters have found the Scriptures to be an infallible rule of faith and practise. On the contrary, the Bible has been the ground of much diversity of faith and practise. This is the book where each his dogma seeks, and this the book where each his dogma finds.