It would be ridiculous to refuse to speak of the sun rising and setting, because we know that it is not a satellite of our planet. (3.) There is a great distinction between theories and facts. The- ories are of men. Facts are of God. The Bible often contradicts the former, never the latter. (4.) There is also a distinction to be made between the Bible and our interpretation. The latter may- come into competition with settled facts ; and then it must yield. Science has in many things taught the Church how to understand the Scriptures. The Bible was for ages understood and explained according to the Ptolemaic system of the universe ; it is now ex- plained without doing the least violence to its language, according to the Copernican system. Christians have commonly believed that the earth has existed only a few thousands of years. If geolo- gists finally prove that it has existed for myriads of ages, it will be found that the first chapter of Genesis is in full accord with the facts, and that the last results of science are embodied on the first page of the Bible. It may cost the Church a severe struggle to give up one interpretation and adopt another, as it did in the seventeenth century, but no real evil need be apprehended. The Bible has stood, and still stands in the presence of the whole scientific world with its claims unshaken. Men hostile or indiflPerent to its truths may, on insufficient grounds, or because of their personal opinions, reject its authority ; but, even in the judgment of the greatest authorities in science, its teachings cannot fairly be impeached.
It is impossible duly to estimate the importance of this subject. If the Bible be the word of God, all the great questions which for ages have agitated the minds of men are settled with infallible certainty. Human reason has never been able to answer to its own satisfaction, or to the assurance of others, the vital questions, What is God ? What is man ? What lies beyond the grave ? If there be a future state of being, what is it? and How may future bless- edness be secured ? Without the Bible, we are, on all these sub- jects, in utter darkness. How endless and unsatisfying have been the answers to the greatest of all questions. What is God ? The whole Eastern world answers by saying, " That He is the uncon- scious ground of being." The Greeks gave the same answer for philosophers, and made all nature God for the people. Tiie mod- erns have reached no higher doctrine. Fichte says the subjective Ego is God. According to Schelling, God is the eternal move- ment of the universe, subject becoming object, object becoming subject, the infinite becoming finite, and the finite infinite. Hegel says, Thought is God. Cousin combines all the German answers
172 mTRODUCTION. [Ch. VI. - P. R. of Faith
to form his own. Coleridge refers us to Schelling for an answer to the question, What is God ? Carlyle makes force God. A Christian eliild says: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and un- changeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, good- ness, and truth." Men and angels veil their faces in the presence of that answer. It is the highest, greatest, and most fruitful truth ever embodied in human language. Without the Bible, we are without God and without hope. The present is a burden, and the future a dread.
§ 3. Adve7'se Theories. Although substantial unanimity as to tlie doctrine of inspiration has prevailed among the great historical Churches of Christendom, yet there has been no little diversity of opinion among theologians and philosophical writers. The theories are too numerous to be examined in detail. They may, perhaps, be advantageously re- ferred to the following classes.
A. Naturalistic Doctrine.
There is a large class of writers who deny any supernatural agency in the affairs of men. This general class includes writers who differ essentially in their views..
First. There are those who, although Theists, hold the mechan- ical theoiy of the universe. That is, they hold that God having created the world, including all that it contains, organic and inor- ganic, rational and irrational, and having endowed matter with its properties and minds with their attributes, leaves "it to itself. Just as a ship, when launched and equipped, is left to the winds and to its crew. This theory precludes the possibility not only of all miracles, prophecy, and supernatural revelation, but even of all providential government, whether general or special. Those who adopt this view of the relation of God to the world, must regard the Bible from beginning to end as a purely human production. They may rank it as the highest, or as among the lowest of the literary works of men ; there is no possibility of its being inspired in any authorized sense of that word.
Secondly. There are those who do not so entirely banish God from his woi'ks. They admit that He is everywhere present, and everywhere active ; that his providential efficiency and control are exercised in the occurrence of all events. But they maintain tiiat He always acts according to fixed laws ; and always in connection and cooperation with second causes. According to this theory, also, all miracles and all prophecy, properly speaking, are excluded.