The Bible and Modern Criticism 89 Now all this is what is denominated Biblical criticism. It is a jumble of mere hypotheses, imaginings and assertions, brought forward often without even the shadow of proof, and with no real certainty. Still, in these times it represents itself to thousands of nominal Christians and to hundreds of miserably deceived theological students who are to become preachers of God's word, as being the "assured results of the latest scientific research." May God have mercy, if such is the caseu! WHAT ARE THE FRUITS OF THIS CRITICISM? Now, if these people were of the truth, and if they would only believe Him who says, "I am the way, the truth and the life," they would not be under the necessity of tediously w tic o s rk s i h n o g w th t e h i a r t w th a e y re t , h a r p o p ug ea h r t i h n e E nu u m ro e p r e ou a s nd pu A bl m ic e a r ti i o ca ns an ( n st u a a t l i l s y some eight hundred of these works) ; but they would find in His teaching a simple and sure means for testing the character of these critical doctrines. "Ye shall know them by their fruits," is what Christ says of the false teachers who came in His name. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matt. 7 :16). Are the fruits of modern criticism g b o u o sh d ? ? WHa h s er n e o a t re th t i h s e c g r r i a ti p c e is s m or a fi lr g e s ad th y at ro g b ro b w ed, on an t d his pe t r h h o a r p n s f d o o r u e b v t e in r, g t f h a o i u th s , an a d n s d o t f he p ir eo j p o l y e ou o s f h th o e p i e r u? fir H st as lov it e, no th t ei s r ow u e n d dissension, fostered pride and self -conceit, and injured before a te ll rs t ? he wH o a r s ld it the no a t ut o h ff o e ri n t d y e o d f C bo h t r h ist t ' h s e " c l h it u t r le ch o a n n e d s?" its ( mM in a i t s t . 18 :6, 7). And does it not every day furnish the enemies of God with opportunities for deriding and scorning the truth? Where are the souls that it has led to God-comforting, strengthening, purifying and sanctifying them? Where are the individuals who even in the hour of death have continued to rejoice in the benefits of this criticism?
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