The Collected Writings of J.N. Darby [Hardback]

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Excerpt: I send you a few remarks on modern rationalist views and their bearing on Christianity (just as I penned them down for myself), that Christians may not lightly suffer the taint of such views to approach them; whatever may be their patience with those who may be deceived.

"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:45-47.)

Here we have more than one point. First, Moses' writings are attributed to him; next, it is declared that he wrote of Christ, of Jesus; thirdly, his writings are spoken of, and, because they are writings, as of authority superior, as far as form goes, to Christ's words. If, therefore, we do not receive his writings, Christ's words have no authority-Christ made a mistake as to his writing of Him-His whole interpretation of scripture is unfounded- His estimate of Himself is false as the object of this testimony. Who can guarantee its being well-founded on any other ground? He supposed God's mind was in the written word; the modern doctrine makes this a mistake-He was not the object of Moses' writings-nor did Moses write them!

Who can tell then that there was a Christ to come? or if Jesus was not the subject of this testimony, He was, if there was any such testimony, deceived as to Himself. The whole authority of Christ and His words is gone-as to God's mind and as to Himself. Christianity and Christ Himself are without foundation. For if Christ's own testimony is unfounded and Moses' too as to Him-or rather, if there is none such, as Christ supposed there was-what foundation have I for anything in Christianity as a revelation of the mind of God and of His Son as the truth?

Table of Contents

1.       Christianity and the Education of the World

2.       What Has the Bible Taught? and What Has Geology Proved?

3.       Modern Philosophy and Modern Theology, Both Compared With Scripture

4.       Inspiration and Interpretation

5.       Rationalist Views, Remarks on