PART III.-ITS AUTHORITY:

THE BIBLE

WHY I BELIEVE IT

There is a presumption in its favor.-Its own claim.Its claim is verified.-Its indestructibility.-Its promulgation.-Its literary value. It makes men.It makes nations.-Christ believed it.-It has power to save. -“It finds me.”

If I regarded the Scripture as a mingled tissue of truth and falsehood, I could not honestly say that I believe it. But I do believe the Bible: and I mean precisely what I say. To my mind the Book is not true in spots, but true and trustworthy from beginning to end.

And this is the historic faith of the Christian Church along the ages. The enemies of the Bible are so vociferous that at times one is moved to lament as Elijah did under the juniper-tree, "I, even I only, am left"; but the Lord reassures us, "I have left me a great multitude who have not bowed their knees to the antibiblical Baal." Be of good courage, therefore.

It is a great thing to be a conservative. We are

bound to move with the moving world, providing we move not away from the immovable faith which was "once for all delivered unto the saints." We are bound to keep open house for Truth; but we are bound no less to double-bolt our doors when Falsehood knocks and shouts "Let me in!"

Whether a man believes his Bible or rejects it, two things may be fairly required of him. On the one hand he should frankly and truthfully state his position without mumbling or mouthing it; and on the other he should be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason for it.

The following now are my reasons for holding that the Bible is the true and trustworthy Word of God:

There is a presumption in its favor.-If there is a God anywhere in the universe, and if we are his children, he would surely not leave us in doubt respecting the great problems which have to do with our spiritual and eternal life. If an earthly father advises his sons and daughters, in their distress and bewilderment, assuring them of his plans and purposes concerning them, is it reasonable to suppose that our heavenly Father would do less?

Plato lamented that he was adrift on a raft upon an open sea with no rudder, no star above to guide him; yet he, pagan though he was, ventured the hope that in good time "the gods would give us a staunch boat to sail in." This was but the expres

sion of a universal instinct. If there is a God he must reveal himself to his children. There is, then, somewhere in the world, a clear and authoritative Word of God. Where is it?

Its own claim.-The Bible claims to be inspired; nor does it leave the meaning of "inspiration" in doubt. The word is theopnustia, "breathed of God." It says, in explicit terms: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." And it speaks no less definitely as to the method of its inspiration: "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit."

If the Bible is not true, then it sets up a fraudulent claim; but if that claim can be verified we have no alternative but to receive it at its face value and frame our lives accordingly. The question, pro or contra, must be determined by internal evidence. We proceed, therefore, to open the Book: and we shall find that the proof of its inspiration is as complete and satisfactory as that which it furnishes to substantiate the immortality of the soul, the divinity of Christ or any other fundamental truth.

Its claim is verified.-An examination of the contents of the Book discloses the following facts: Its unity. Here is a volume made up of sixty