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ward the Scripture and whose estimate of its authority is such as I have indi cated. And not alone does the origin and development of the system raise grave suspicions, but the fundamental assumptions used to support these new theories are proved on investigation to be wholly Unsound. 1. We discover that the claim that the Bible is authoritative only in part is untenable. When the contents of the Bible are examined it is found to be an organism, every part of which is necessary to the maintenance of its life. It is either an altogether good Book, as it claims to be, or, it is a misleading and vicious book. Much, for example, has been made of the variants found in the text of various manuscripts and transla tions of the Scriptures, which are said to number 160,000. Yet even an authority of such liberal views as Dean Farrar has pointed out that 99% of these aré of no essential importance,, representing as they do mere verbal differences, while the remainder do not affect any essential fact or doctrine. The Bible unmistak ably claims to be of Divine origin and inspired throughout. In 2 Tim. 3: 16 we read: ' “ All scripture is given by in spiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” In Gal. 1: 11, 12 the Apostle Paul declares,- “ The Gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” In 2 Pet. 1:21 Peter declares, “ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved (carried along) by the Holy Ghost.” More striking still is the statement in Peter’s first epistle, 1 Pet. 1:10, 11, “ Of which salvation the proph ets have inquired and searched diligent ly . . . Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ
testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should fol low.” Three most remarkable states ments will be noted in this last passage: First, it is declared that the Old Testa ment prophets were themselves ignor ant of the full meaning of the proph ecies uttered through them: Second, the indwelling Spirit of Christ was the source of the prophetic gift: Third, they were able through this agency to foreshadow the essential facts regarding the life and death and resurrection of Christ centuries before His birth. 2. We find on examination that the Scriptnres bear the Divine seal of Jesus Christ. In Jno. 5:46, 47 we read of our Lord rebuking the Jews in these words: “ For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Clearly the force of these statements is to es tablish the fact that Scripture is not of varying authority, but on the con trary the testimony of the Pentateuch and the testimony of Jesus in the Gos pels proceed from a source which is equally Divine. This position is af firmed by similar testimony in Luke 16 v 31 where our Lord, in the account of the rich man and Lazarus, concludes: “ If they hear not Moses and the proph ets, neither will they be persuaded -though one rose from the dead.” There are other instances where our Lord em ploys such language as, “ David himself saith by the Holy Ghost” (Mark 12:36) and, “ Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying” (Mat thew 22:31). But perhaps the most comprehensive of all Christ’s - utter ances, giving eternal validity to Scrip ture, is found in the account of the Emmaus walk in Luke "24. In verse 27 it is stated: “ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expound ed unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself,” and in verse
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