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FACTS OF CHRISTIANITY.

fer and expire on the cross.

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He was laid in a

tomb; on the third day he rose from the dead, dispensed to his disciples his final commission and ascended on high. His disciples, a handful of uneducated men, went forth in the face of all the learning, pride, cast, prejudice, and idolatry of the earth, and unfolded the truths and precepts of the gospel, preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified. Through them the moral and religious world was shaken. It was a new and peculiar era. Antiquated forms, rites, and superstitions began to pass away, like morning mists before the rising sun. A series of moral causes commenced operation, which have decended from age to age, redeeming the human character, and blessing every nation and every soul over which they have gained dominion.

These are facts for philosophy, not less than religion, to account. In the language of Mr. Croly, they are the "mightiest phenomena on which the spirit of man can gaze, the stars of our moral twilight, and worthy of our loftiest admiration, till the gates of the grave shall be unbarred, and the vision of glory shall spread before us without a cloud."

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CHAPTER IX.

INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."

HAVING proved the authenticity and genuineness of the Scriptures, we are now prepared to examine the evidence of their inspiration. If you receive a letter written by the factor or agent of some gentleman abroad, in whose service you are engaged, communicating important facts and instructions, you may first inquire whether his agent really wrote the letter, and whether the facts which he communicates are authentic. But there yet remains another question. Did he write under the special authority and instruction of your employer; so that if you act in obedience to this letter, you will act in obedience to his will? This is what is meant by the inspiration of the Scriptures. They are not only genuine and authentic, but they were written by the authority and under the infallible guidance of God; so that when you have ascertained what they teach, you know his will and your duty.

DEGREES OF INSPIRATION.

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Some theological writers make three degrees of inspiration. The first and highest is that of revelation; by which the Spirit of God reveals new truths to the mind of the writer. The second is that of elevation; by which the writer's mind is elevated and inspired to call to remembrance truths already known, and to present them with superior energy and effect. The third is that of mere guidance; by which the mind of the writer is so superintended and directed in reporting historical facts, as to insure their being reported correctly. This division is adopted merely for convenience ; there is essentially but one and the same inspiration. It is the Spirit of God so directing and illuminating the minds of the writers, that what they write is according to his will, the perfect rule of our religious faith and practice.

Let us then proceed to the evidence that the Scriptures are thus given by inspiration of God.

1. We have the testimony of the sacred writers themselves to their own inspiration. "Which things," says Paul, "we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." "The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." "He therefore, that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God; who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit." "All

Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work." "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

When our Saviour was about to leave his disciples, he said to them, "The Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance." By the assistance of the Holy Spirit, they were enabled to remember and accurately to report those important instructions and facts which related to the kingdom of Christ.

Turn now to the Old Testament. The Psalmist says in reference to the Sacred Scriptures there written, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." God said to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee." "To the law and to the

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testimony," says Isaiah, "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

The inspiration of the Apostles is further evident from their office. They were chosen by Christ to be his witnesses and ambassadors, for the express purpose of promulgating his gospel. They.communicated many facts respecting Jesus Christ and his religion, which they could not have learned but by divine inspiration.

The inspiration of the apostles proves the inspiration of the whole New Testament; because it was all written by the apostles, as we have previously shown. Mark and Luke were companions with Paul, and wrote under his instructions.

The inspiration of the New Testament proves also the inspiration of the Old; for both Jesus Christ and his apostles quoted freely from the Old Testament, and ascribed to it divine authority. If therefore, the Scriptures of the New Testament are divinely inspired, the Scriptures of the Old Testament are inspired also.

2. The facts of the Bible are incontestible proof of its inspiration. That is, they are such facts as can be accounted for in no other way but by admitting the special inspiration of God. Of these the most important in this connection are miracles.

A miracle is something out of the ordinary course

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