i8 7 o] CHRISTIANITY AND SUPERNATURAL 123 



changes these conceptions. From the modern stand 

 point such a course would entail inextricable confusion. 

 The Bible is not revelation but the record of divine 

 revelation the record of those historical facts in which 

 God has revealed himself to man. That God really has 

 so revealed Himself to man not that we possess an 

 inspired record of this revelation is the point on which 

 Christianity stands or falls. Of course on this view we 

 can no longer speak of revelation as a revelation of 

 truths. The knowledge given in revelation is not the 

 knowledge of facts but the knowledge of a Person. What 

 God reveals is simply HIMSELF His own character and 

 His disposition towards men. Thus the death of our 

 Lord is not a fact of revelation. The apostles believed 

 it on the evidence of their senses ; we believe it on their 

 testimony accredited to us by their known character. 

 But in this historical fact God revealed Himself as the 

 God who so loved the world, that He gave His only be 

 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not 

 perish, but have everlasting life. 



It cannot be too strongly urged that our Christian 

 faith is no mere subjective feeling no mere self-con 

 sciousness, but essentially consciousness of God. &quot; Is 

 it correct/ asks Dorner, &quot; that we first come to a know 

 ledge of God and Christ by syllogism from the fact of our 

 being redeemed and enlightened ? Much rather we are 

 led by the Son to the Father through the Holy Ghost, who 

 illuminates us with His gifts. To the religious process 

 which culminates in the atonement belongs not only an 

 act of God but consciousness of God and Christ. In 

 faith and to faith the eye of the understanding is opened, 

 and God is revealed to this eye namely, God in Christ.&quot; 

 The immediate object of faith is thus no act of God, no 

 truth about God, but God Himself. 



Such a faith, in which we feel ourselves brought into 

 personal knowledge of and fellowship with God, becomes 

 possible only in virtue of the work of redemption, for 



