SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND THE BIBLE. 299 



The first work in the way of higher criticism of the Bible, 

 Eichhorn's Introduction to the Old Testament, was not published till 

 nearly one hundred years later. 



But that very modernness of the work brings it with some into 

 disfavor. " If that is the true way of investigating the biblical 

 writings," they say, "why are we so long in finding it out? Why 

 did not the fathers of the Church mighty, indeed, as many of them 

 were, with keenness of insight into the Bible, with profound knowl- 

 edge of its characteristics, with substantially the same evidence be- 

 fore them as we have now why did not they give us the principles 

 of the higher criticism, if those principles are true?" 



For the very same reason as science in general has not until 

 very lately begun to do its true work. How meager is all the scien- 

 tific work done in the ages of the past in comparison with that done 

 during the last three hundred years! Men were not up to it; they 

 were only learning the scientific method. So, the scientific method 

 of examining literature, men have not learned till within the past two 

 hundred years. Having all the facts before them which we have 

 now would avail nothing without the knowledge of how to observe, 

 to classify, to deduce, to verify, any more in the field of letters than 

 in the field of Nature; any more in the Bible than in other literary 

 works. Among the immense benefits which science has conferred 

 upon the world, surely this should not be accounted the least, that it 

 has taught us a method by which we may find out with ever-growing 

 certainty the truth concerning the Bible itself. 



What, then, should be the attitude of lovers of truth toward the 

 higher criticism of the Bible? It can be only one openness of 

 mind to the ready acceptance of its work. Not that all its present 

 results are to be accepted as final, for its work is still confessedly 

 incomplete. Moreover, we can not fail to see that all investigations 

 into the sacred Scriptures have not been prompted by a genuine 

 love of truth, nor carried on with that judicial mind that should 

 characterize every one working in the name of science. So that not 

 all that has been done in the name of the higher criticism has been 

 according to scientific method. Nevertheless, there are results 

 already obtained, bearing the stamp of truth such as the composite 

 character of the Hexateuch ; the double authorship of Isaiah ; the post- 

 exilic date of many of the Psalms results which to a scientific mind 

 have the practical certainty of a demonstration, but which the great 

 majority of Christian ministers, who are supposed to look at such 

 things intelligently, are not ready to accept. 



Are not the ministry in general more zealous to do as St. Paul 

 says, " Hold fast that which is good," than either to do, as he also 

 says, " Prove all things," or to make sure that what they hold fast is 



