The Fundamentals - 1917: Vol.1

352 The Fundamentals which led to these results, and i f I accept these methods, I also accept the presuppositions which give rise to these meth­ ods. If the "assured results" of which the critics are so fond of boasting are true, then the naturalistic evolution hypothesis which produced these results is correct. Then it is impossible to accept the miraculous or supernatural, the Bible as an authoritative record of supernatural revelation i s completely upset and its claims regarding itself are false and misleading. I can see no way of escaping these conclusions. There is no possible middle ground as I once fondly imagined there was. Thus I was compelled to conclude that although there is some truth in the evolutionary view of the world, yet as an explana­ tion of history and revelation it i s utterly inadequate, so inadequate as to be erroneous and false. A world-view must be broad enough to admit of all the facts of history and experi­ ence. Even then it i s only a human point of view and neces­ sarily imperfect. Will anyone dare to say that the evolutionary hypothesis is divine? Then we would have a Bible and a phi­ losophy both claiming to be divine and absolutely contradict­ ing each other. To attempt to eliminate the miraculous and supernatural from the Bible and accept the remainder as divine is impossible, for they are all one and inextricably woven together. In either case the Book is robbed of its claims to authority. Some critics do not hesitate to deny its authority and thus cut themselves loose from historical Chris­ tianity. In spite, however, of the serious faults of the Higher Criti­ cism, it has given rise to what is known as the Scientific and Historical method in the study of the Old Testament. This method is destined to stay and render invaluable aid. To the scholarly mind its appeal i s irresistible. Only in the light of the historical occasion upon which it was produced, can the Old Testament be properly understood. A flood of light has already been poured in upon these writings. The scientific spirit which gave rise to it is one of the noblest instincts in

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