what discredited in the scholarly world. But now it is re-in stated as a valuable witness to the integrity of the Massoretic text.13 Robert Dick Wilson, the great Old Testament scholar, has been able to push the veracity of the Hebrew text back deep in Old Testament days by his brilliant observations. He points out that in 184 cases where the names of Kings are translit erated into Hebrew, the transliteration is done accurately. Thus, for 3900 years the names of these kings have been faith fully recorded. There are about forty of these kings living from 2000 B.C. to 400 B.C. Each appears in chronological order “ . . . with reference to the kings of the same country and with respect to the kings of other countries . . . no stronger evidence for the substantial accuracy of the Old Testament records could possibly be imagined, than this collection of kings.” 14 Mathe matically, it is one chance in 750,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 that this accuracy is mere circumstance. After mentioning the archaeological confirmation of the Old Testament, Wilson indicates that ancient clay tablets, clas sical writers, and inscriptions show the same phenomena of transcription as our Old Testament does. The evidence is fascinating, but too detailed to present here. Thè conclusion is this : If we trust the records of secular antiquity, even though they show slight variations, we ought in all honesty to trust the records of religious antiquity. Further, if records of secu lar history are transmitted substantially unchanged for thou sands of years, then we ought not to have any objections to the historical integrity of the Hebrew manuscripts. We started with a present-day Hebrew Bible, and we have been able to go back to the time of Abraham ! All the evidence points toward a Hebrew text substantially transmitted through the passage of the millennia. Atkinson calls it “little short of miraculous.” 15 IS. Kenyon, p. 50. lb. Wilson, p. 86. The entire discussion commences on p. 72, and is worthy of detailed consideration. There is much more evidence than presented here. 15. Op. cit. p. 612. Atkinson, M.A., Ph.D., is under-Librarian of the library of Cambridge University.
MIRACLE IN REAL LIFE The Story of A l Wright
S WEARING ranchers, sinful women, midnight gambling, and long hours of hard labor in the wheat country of Cen tral California is the background of Alden Wright. Drunken brawls and rioting were every day occasions in his life. A1 had no thoughts about “religion,” except, possibly, how to avoid it. Then the Lord began to work in circumstances. In 1928 arthritis crippled him. By 1932 he was bed-ridden. Every joint in his body, except his fingers, became too stiff to move. He tells the story: “ Then this sickness came upon me, and I was put down upon my back with plenty of time for think ing. After six years in bed, I received a letter from an elderly lady who was instrumental in my conversion. This letter led me to ask a minister how to be saved. He told me that all I needed was to be confirmed. I was, but could see no difference in my life. I was still miserable in heart and soul. “ After I had been helpless for about five years, a friend built a reading table for me. It was set over my head. I can look through a glass bottom and read a book if it is set there for me. I read my Bible and found that I was still a sinner. I realized my need for a Saviour as I understood that salva tion is by grace, and not by works (or confirmation). “ Through the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit, I learned God’s plan of salvation: Jesus had died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I confessed my sins, accepted the way that God had provided, and received a joy and peace in my heart that I had never known before. “ I am still in bed. It has been nine years since I have re ceived Jesus as my Saviour. I would rather be here in this bed as I am, knowing Christ, than be in good health and have all that this world has to offer, and not be His.” A1 Wright’s life is an example of a life given to the Lord. Strength and hope are his possession. Friends come to com fort, but, instead, are stirred by the spiritual quality of his life. To say that God is not dependent upon physical circum stances, but upon the yieldedness of the heart, is often mouthed—little experienced. To see it experientially in A1 Wright impresses the truth of the Lord’s goodness undeniably upon those who have had any contact with him. A1 is a daily, radiant testimony to the redeeming love of Christ, and to the comfort that only the Lord can give. A minister told his flock that he had a “call” to go to another church. One of the deacons asked how much more he was offered. “ Three hundred dollars,” was the reply. “Well, I don’t blame you for going,” remarked the deacon, “but you should be more exact in your language, parson. That isn’t a ‘call,’ that’s a ‘raise.’ ” Page Nine
OUR CAP ITOL IN W A SH IN G TO N I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty—1 Tim othy 2:1,2. F E B R U A R Y , I 9 4 9
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