HOW THE LEAVEN OF SKEPTICISM WORKS.
By Editor
FORTY years ago Bishop Colenso, a missionary of the Church of England in South Africa, published his views regarding the unhistorical character of the books of Moses. The publication created a great sensation throughout Europe and America, a sensation of real indignation among churchmen of all denominations, insomuch that many volumes in refutation of the bishop's heterodox views were soon put into circulation. But the "new thought" had also adherents who were not slow to encourage and energetically promulgate the heresy, and their success in finding a susceptible soil in which to cultivate the seed of infidelity has been remarkable in spite of all opposition. In fact, many of the opponents of the raid on the Pentateuch soon became passive in their dissent, and others, not so radical, became first apologists, and finally advocates. Referring to the change in popular sentiment in this regard, the Springfield, Mass., Republican says:— To-day a tenfold more radical book issues quietly from one of our Christian colleges, and takes its place as a standard work of reference at the elbow of every scholarly clergyman, not only without surprise or protest, but even without remark. The thing is a matter of course. Within the brief space of a single generation has occurred a revolution in religious views more fundamental than all of the combined changes of all the centuries since our pagan forbears accepted Christianity. This latest addition to the fast-growing volume of literature laden with religious infidelity is a book on Old Testament history, by Prof. Henry Preserved Smith, of Amherst College, and is the latest volume of the "International Theological Library." We are averse to giving publicity to the details of error, but, as a sign of the times, we note a few of the points in this learned dissertation against Scripture facts, while still nominally holding that "the Bible is a storehouse of spiritual truth." Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not regarded as persons, but as personifications of tribes or groups of tribes. The actual existence of a personal Joseph or a real Israel in Egypt is denied, because some infidel "scientists" say they find no evidence. Yet other scientists find abundant evidence—in the relics of public work done under Joseph's supervision, and of the "store cities, Pithom and Raamses," which were built by the enforced labor of the Israelites. It is denied by Professor Smith that there ever was a tabernacle in the wilderness, as described in the book of Exodus, or that the Israelites ever conquered the land of Canaan under Joshua. According to this new theology, now "international" in its extent and influence, David did not write the Psalms; the accounts of Solomon's glory are gross exaggerations; his famous wisdom was only a readiness in enigmas and riddles, and he was far behind certain heathen kings as a ruler. But fortunately we have the book of Proverbs as an example of wisdom far beyond anything that skeptical theologians have so far been able to produce. It is claimed that the "Elijah stories" are mere legends, and those of Elisha are simply duplicates. There was no great return from Babylonish captivity, and Ezra is set up as an imaginary person. Daniel, also, is accounted as a fictitious character, etc., etc. With all this array of discredit, of what use could the Bible be more than any other story-book? Leaving out the book of Genesis alone would vitiate the whole story of the Gospel of Christ. From what other source could we learn of the fall, the need of a Saviour, or the promise of a Saviour? The promise of heirship in the kingdom of God is to Abraham and his Seed, which is Christ. If Abraham be a myth, what about Christ? "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." But if Abraham be a fiction, then the promise is fictitious, and the heirship is fictitious.7 What better scheme could the adversary of Christ concoct for the frustration of the Gospel of salvation? Yet we are confronted with the fact that such doctrine goes as "a matter of course" among "scholarly clergymen;" that books of such a character take place as "standard books of reference" with many to whom the people are looking for instruction in the Word of God. What shall become of the people, when those whom they trust as spiritual advisers thus deliberately "exchange the truth of God for a lie"? "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you."