A Philosopher’s Opinion of the Bible.
By Earnest Naville
A LEARNED Swiss writer (Jean de Muller) was deeply engaged in historical studies at Cassel, in the year 1782. Indefatigable in researches, he wrote to his friend Charles Bonnet, that he had studied all the ancient authors without one exception, in the order of time in which they lived, and had not omitted to take note of a single remarkable fact. Among other works it occurred to him to glance at the New Testament, and we give in his own words the impression it produced upon him:— “How shall I express what I have found here? I had not read it for many years, and when I began it I was prejudiced against it. The light which blinded St. Paul in his journey to Damascus was not more prodigious or not more surprising to him than what I suddenly discovered was to me the accomplishment of every hope, the perfection of all philosophy, the explanation of all revolutions, the key of all apparent contradictions of the material and moral world, of life and immortality. I see the most astonishing things affected by the smallest means. I see the connection of all the revolutions in Europe and Asia with that suffering people to whom were committed the promises; as one likes to entrust a manuscript to those who, not knowing how to write, cannot falsify it. I see religion appearing at the moment most favorable to its establishment, and in the way most likely to promote its reception; the world appearing to be arranged solely with reference to the religion of the Saviour. I can understand nothing if such a religion be not from God. I have not read any book about it, but in studying all that happened before this epoch, I have always found something wanting, and since I have known our Lord all is clear to my sight; with him there is no problem that I cannot solve. Forgive me for thus praising the sun, as a blind man who had suddenly received the gift of sight.—