The Fundamentals - 1917: Vol.2

CHAPTER IV THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THEMSELVES BY REV. GEORGE S. BISHOP, D. D., EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY My subject is, The Testimony of the Scriptures to Them­ selves—their own self-evidence—the overpowering, unpartici­ pated witness that they bring. Permit me to expand this witness under the following heads: 1. Immortality. 2 . Authority. J. Transcendent Doctrine. 4 . Direct Assertion. 1. I m m o r t a l it y — “ I have written!” All other books die. Few old books survive, and fewer of those that survive have any influence. Most of the books we quote.from have been written within the last three or even one hundred years. But here is a Book whose antemundane voices had grown old, when voices spake in Eden. A Book which has sur­ vived not only with continued but increasing lustre, vitality, vivacity, popularity, rebound of influence. A Book which comes through all the shocks without a wrench, and all the furnaces of all the ages—like an iron safe—with every docu­ ment in every pigeon-hole, without a warp upon it, or the smell of fire. Here is a Book of which it may be said, as of Immor­ tal Christ Himself: “Thou hast the dew on Thy youth from the womb of the morning.” A Book dating from days as ancient as those of the Ancient of Days, and which when all that makes up what we see and call the universe shall be dis­ solved, will still speak on in thunder-tones of majesty, and 80

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker