136 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1868-1870] 



piety, so long we must fall into distress and terror, when 

 [those doctrines seem to be impugned].&quot; 



The secret of the equanimity of our newer theology, 

 even in the dangers of critical operations, lies precisely 

 in the clear knowledge that faith in the inspiration of the 

 ecclesiastical canon is not the condition, not the necessary 

 first step, in coming to faith in Christ that with such a 

 faith in Scripture Christian faith is not yet given or even 

 grounded. We draw our conviction of the authority of 

 Scripture from the authority of Christ ; after His re 

 demptive power and worth has been made certain to us 

 in faith, Scripture and the Word of God are never given 

 to separate us from Christ or to fill the place of Him and 

 His Spirit. Were communion with the Bible to fill for us 

 the place of communion with Christ, we should treat the 

 Bible with superstition and be guilty of sin against 

 Christ who is Lord and Master of the Scripture, and not 

 less against Scripture which seeks only to be His minister 

 to lead us up to Christ and to keep us close to Him. 



