L ife in the Word 145 the complete independence of humanity. If only the author ity of the Scriptures be gotten rid of, mankind will have at tained the long-coveted state of absolute independence, which is equivalent to utter lawlessness. The state of ideal democracy would be accurately de scribed as “lawlessness,” since it is manifest that an indi vidual or a society which is under no restraint except such as is self-imposed, is really under no restraint at all. To at tain this ideal state is the end and purpose of present day movements; and, in order to promote these movements, that mighty spiritual intelligence who is designated “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2) very wisely, and with consummate subtlety, directs the attack, from many different quarters, against the authority of the Bible. The great mass of men, including the majority of the leaders of the age, are already completely absorbed in the ac tivities of the world and utterly indifferent to the claims of the Bible. As to these, it is only necessary to take care that they are not aroused from their indifference. But the Bible nevertheless, by reason of its hold upon the consciences of the few, exerts, upon society as a whole, a mighty restraining influence, against which the assaults of the enemies of truth are now being directed. In some quarters the authority of the Bible is directly assailed and its Divine origin disputed in the name of “Science” and of “Scholarship.” Much of the learning and theological activity of the day are concentrated upon the attempt to dis credit the Bible, and to disseminate views and theories directly at variance with its claims of divine inspiration and authority. In other quarters the attack takes the form of a pretense of conceding the inspiration of the Bible, coupled with the claim that other writers and other great literary works were equally inspired. “God is not limited,” we are told, “and can speak to man, and does speak to man, in our day, in like manner as in the days of Moses, Isaiah, or Paul.”
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker