Viil PREFACE 



a sort of "inspiration with limited liability," the 

 limit being susceptible of indefinite fluctuation in 

 correspondence with the demands of scientific 

 criticism. Where this advances that at once 

 retreats. 



This Parthian policy is carried out with some 

 dexterity ; but, like other such manoeuvres in the 

 face of a strong foe, it seems likely to end in 

 disaster. It is easy to say, and sounds plausible, 

 that the Bible was not meant to teach anything 

 but ethics and religion, and that its utterances on 

 other matters are mere obiter dicta; -it is also a 

 specious suggestion that inspiration, filtering 

 through human brains, must undergo a kind of 

 fallibility contamination ; and that this human 

 impurity is responsible for any errors, the exist- 

 ence of which has to be admitted, however 

 unwillingly. 



But how does the apologist know what the bib- 

 lical writers intended to teach, and what they did 

 not intend to teach ? And even if their authority 

 is restricted to matters of faith and morals, who is 

 prepared to deny that the story of the fabrication 

 of Eve, that of the lapse from innocence effected 

 by a talking snake, that of the Deluge and the 

 demonological legends, have exercised, an,d still 

 exercise, a profound influence on Christian theo- 

 logy and Christian ethics ? The very apologists 

 who put forth this plea are never weary of 

 declaring that the Divine authority for the moral 

 law is the only safe foundation of ethics. But if 



