Men may boast of "modern thought," and "intellectual progress," and style themselves "an advanced school;" but we are persuaded that a solemn crisis is not far off. The question throughout Christendom, already heard far and near, is, "Is the Bible God's revelation of His mind and will? or, Is it merely a collection of the writings and opinions of good men?" Many of the adversaries of the truth lavish their praises on its being "the best of books," but such compliments are unnecessary and unacceptable. Are the scriptures the utterance of God's mind, which came by His will, and not by the will of man, which holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost? If not, there can be no faith, no divine ground on which the soul can rest. But, having His own word, and knowing His perfect love and faithfulness in the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus, and having heard and received the gospel of His grace, the soul rests in perfect peace before Him, and can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The believer is not called on to define inspiration. How the scriptures were inspired has not been revealed. It is enough for him that by them God is made known, that holy men of God testified by "the Spirit of Christ which was in them," and that they minister Christ to his soul. Our Lord, too, when speaking of us to the Father said, "I have given them Thy word." After that, we read that the apostles and brethren prayed that they might "with all boldness speak Thy word," and were so answered, that "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with boldness." Believers knew that the ministry in old time, and also by our Lord and His apostles, was the ministry of "the word of God.”
Neither are believers called on to solve all the mysteries and difficulties of the scriptures. They may know but very little of the Bible; but they find it therein revealed, without a shadow of question, that Jesus the Son of God "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification;" and that "by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses," and they are filled with "joy and peace in believing.”
How plainly we may "see the day approaching!" The cry of "Peace and safety," the prelude of sudden destruction, well-nigh encircles the habitable earth. "The times of the Gentiles" are rapidly being fulfilled. Not a few have departed from the faith. The cloud which has been so long hanging over Christendom, thickens and lowers with incredible rapidity. The disciples of modern infidelity are being multiplied. "The way of Cain," or approach to God without blood; is becoming largely accepted. The name of Christ is unblushingly attached to unscriptural efforts, in order that they may be accredited; and "having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof," from which the faithful are enjoined to "turn away," is spreading itself far and near. The numberless confederacies of men on all sides may be casting their shadow, to intimate that the binding of the tares in bundles is not far off. Nor can we fail to see that the hostility between confessed infidels and formal professors of Christianity may possibly be the harbinger of that great collision ere long to have its solemn fulfillment, when they will "hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire." (Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25); 1 Thess. 5:33For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3); Rev. 17:1616And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16))
It would be impossible at this time for the faithful not to "sound an alarm." We are to "warn" as well as "comfort." Neutrality is out of the question; for our Lord said, "He that is not with Me, is against Me." With those who are true to Him, the supreme authority of scripture will be maintained at all cost. Its intrinsic perfection and excellency have been tasted and enjoyed by them, and they know the Shepherd's voice. Christ Himself, their life and righteousness, is their resource; His Father is their Father, who loves them as He loved His Son. The Holy Spirit is their Teacher, Guide and Strength. Their watchword is, "It is written," and they find real delight in serving the living and true God, and waiting for His Son from heaven. They know that "the night is far spent," and "the day is at hand.”
That the scriptures have been marvelously preserved for us to the present moment is an unquestionable fact; but what means God has employed for its accomplishment is another thing. Certain it is as to the Old Testament that to the Jews "were committed the oracles of God;" and it is most interesting to observe how scrupulously pious Jews have sometimes guarded the sacred treasure, and also that the books which they still accredit as divinely inspired, correspond with what we call the Old Testament, though the books are not bound up together precisely in the same order.
The pretensions of Romish or Anglican churches to be the appointed custodians of the scriptures, and that the decisions of their councils gives them their authority, is as gratuitous and unfounded as anything can be. Where is there a line of scripture to warrant such a conclusion? We are well aware that our opponents would say, "Hear the Church;" to which we reply, though that scripture gives church or assembly authority in case of discipline, it gives not a shadow of warrant as to the oracles of God being now committed to the church. The words, "Hear the Church" are found only in Matt. 18, and refer to an offending brother, who having been told of his trespass by the offended one alone, and not having been gained, then, having his fault again brought before him in the presence of one or two more, and having neglected to hear them, the assembly or church must then be told of it, and "if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Now, honestly, whatever has this to do with the church being the custodian of the scriptures, and to decide on their authority? Instead of the church giving authority to the scriptures, it is really the scripture which, in cases of discipline, gives authority to the church.
Another word brought forward to bolster up this tradition of men is quoted from Luke 10:1616He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. (Luke 10:16), when our Lord on sending forth the seventy to preach the glad tidings of the kingdom (for the Messiah was there, and ready to set up His kingdom,) said, "He that heareth you, heareth Me." Now where is there any allusion to the church or its authority here It has always been true to receive or reject the servant, is to receive or reject the Sender; as here, it is the servant being heard because he came to them in Messiah's name. We know from Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) and other scriptures that the church on earth was not then in existence, nor could it be till the Holy Spirit came down, as recorded in the second chapter of Acts.
(Continued and To be continued)