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CHAPTER V.

ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

HAVING glanced at the evidence which supports the conclusion that the Bible is a Revelation from God, and having, moreover, ascertained that the books of Scripture have been transmitted to us in a pure and unadulterated form, it may now be proper to inquire into the true nature of inspiration, and to endeavour to determine to what extent the sacred volume is entitled to the high and distinctive appellation of" THE WORD OF GOD."

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The importance of this question is very great,

upon its answer must depend the degree of deference which is due to the Scriptures as an authoritative communication from Heaven. It is a question which cannot be decided, I presume, by any arguments à priori, but by a direct appeal to the testimony of the infallible word. The real nature of inspiration, as belonging to the writers of Scripture, is a doctrine purely of

Revelation; and the only duty of a sincere inquirer in reference to it must be simply this, to ascertain for himself what is predicated or announced concerning it in the word of God.

With this conviction on my mind, I shall not trouble my readers with any lengthened details of what others have advanced on the subject of inspiration, but shall come almost immediately to the point in hand, viz., the doctrine of Scripture, as to the manner in which it was imparted.

I must just be allowed, however, to premise, that writers of the Socinian creed have so relaxed their notions of inspiration as to talk even of the inconclusive reasonings of apostles; and that others, not of this pernicious creed, have spoken and written about degrees and kinds of inspiration until they have inadvertently weakened, on their own minds, and on the minds of others, the authority of God in the Scriptures. I would have all such writers remember, that these modified views of inspiration are of modern date, and that for full sixteen hundred years they were unknown in the church of Christ. "Many considerable writers on the evidences

of Christianity, of late, have satisfied themselves with proving its divine authority generally, but have tacitly, and most inconsistently, given up or denied the infallibility of the books in which it is recorded. They speak of authenticity, veracity, credibility; but not inspiration. Some have limited the assistance of the Spirit to the prophetical parts. Others have extended it to the doctrinal, but excluded the historical. Whilst many have lowered the whole notion of inspiration to a mere aid occasionally afforded to the sacred penmen. Thus the impression left on the minds of their readers has been, that the Bible is authentic indeed, and credible, and contains a revelation from God; but that it was indited by good and pious men only, with little more of accuracy than would belong to them as faithful historians. An intermixture of human infirmity and error is thus by no means excluded; and the Scriptures are considered as the work of fallible writers, doing their best, and entitled in all their main statements to full belief, but not under that immediate and plenary influence of the Holy Spirit, which renders all

they say concerning religion, the unerring word of God."*

Most ruinous to the souls of men must be such views of the blessed word of God, and most derogatory are they to that Spirit, who has not given so much as a shadow of countenance, in the sacred books, to such vague and sceptical notions. We ought to be jealous, not only of such latitudinarian views of inspiration, but also of every approach to them. For my own part, after much deliberation, and I trust careful and unprejudiced examination of the arguments of opponents, I have come to the conclusion, not only that the ideas contained in scripture were conveyed by the Spirit to the minds of inspired men, but that they were supernaturally guided in their diction and in their writings. I shall not, however, bring this theory to the word of God, to seek countenance for it there; but shall rather call the attention of my readers to the word of God itself, that they may thence gather the true notion of inspiration.

See Bishop Wilson's Lectures on "The Evidences," &c., 12mo, vol. i. P. 314..

I begin, then, with that part of scripture which was included in the Jewish canon, and which is known by the name of the Old Testament. And if it can be shewn that the infallible Teacher, whose divine mission has already been clearly established, fully accredits the divine authority, and the infallible character of that document, considered as a whole, and without a single recognised exception, an important step will have been gained towards ascertaining the perfection of the Jewish canon, and also the real nature and extent of inspiration.

At an early stage in his public ministry the Messiah announced, to an immense assembly of his countrymen, his views and determinations respecting their ancient Scriptures" Think not," said he, "that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."* Every attentive reader of the New

* Matt. v. 17, 18.

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