194 HUXLEY 



inchoate materials priestly and prophetic hands gave 

 shape, the one laying stress on the ceremonial law, 

 the other laying stress on the moral law, but both 

 emphasising the supremacy of Jahveh, who, after 

 slow emergence from the nature-stage as a mountain- 

 god, manifest in fire and burning-bush, had become 

 invested with an awful holiness. Every song and 

 saga was adapted to u the law, the prophets, and the 

 writings," and charged with the conviction of the 

 mission of Israel as the chosen nation ; and hence its 

 religion must be studied in the light of its history, 

 and its history in the light of its religion. Despite 

 these admissions, of which sufficing examples have 

 been given, we find Canon Driver and his brother 

 theologians still justifying Huxley's gravamen in de- 

 voting themselves 



to the end of keeping the name of " Inspiration " to 

 suggest the divine source, and consequent infallibility, 

 of more or less of the Biblical literature, while care- 

 fully emptying the term of any definite sense. For 

 " plenary inspiration " we are asked to substitute a 

 sort of " inspiration with limited liability," the limit 

 being susceptible of indefinite fluctuation in corres- 

 pondence with the demands of scientific criticism. 

 When 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, 



