94 



THE REV. A. H. FINN ON 



not entered yet into the life of Israel ? What is the meaning of 

 this absence of any mention of cymbals, timbrel, harp and Sacred 

 Song from the ritual of the Pentateuch ? Is it not this ? That 

 the Mosaic code, enjoining no music but the simple sounding of 

 the trumpet-blast, stands far behind these niceties of music and of 

 song — seeming to know nothing of them all ? What is the explana- 

 tion of the absence from the Pentateuch of the Divine title " Lord 

 of Hosts " (which occurs for the first time in the Bible in 1 Sam. i, 3) ? 

 Is it not this ? That the Pentateuch was complete — before this title 

 for Jehovah was ever used in Israel ? And in view of these and 

 other undeniable facts, modern criticism — the " Graf-Wellhausen 

 Theory " of the composition of the Pentateuch — like so many 

 other of the cunning sophistries hatched in Germany, is — no 

 matter what number of scholars should endorse it — logically, and 

 absolutely, impossible to be true. 



And therefore the order of the history and ritual of the people of 

 Israel, as we have it set forth in the Old Testament, is undoubtedly the 

 true order : and the paper written by Mr. Finn gives, I am convinced^ 

 a true and an eloquent exposition of the Bible's majestic silences. 



The Rev. Chancellor J. J. Lias writes : — I congratulate the 

 Institute on getting another paper from Mr. Finn. I take this 

 opportunity of expressing my gratitude to Mr. Finn's grandfather, 

 the Rev. Alexander McCaul, D.D., late Professor of Hebrew at 

 King's College, London, and Rector of St. Magnus the Martyr, London 

 Bridge, from whom I learned Hebrew. Our Church owes much 

 to Mr. Finn's family. The cause of Missions was energetically 

 supported by his father. Consul Finn of Jerusalem, and I can well 

 remember his vigorous advocacy of C.M.S. work some fifty years 

 ago, during his visits to England. 



The first part of his paper has a strong evidential force, of which 

 he says nothing. The remarkable " silences " in Scripture of which 

 he tells us makes it clear that the sacred historian had a purpose 

 in writing to call attention to God's ancient promise, and its 

 marvellous — and let me add, miraculous — fulfilment. 



There is only one more remark I wish to add. It is the warning 

 he gives as against paying too much attention to theories on the 

 subject of unfulfilled prophecy. I remember more than one occasion 

 when grievous injury to religion has been done by ignoring our 

 Lord's bidding not rashly to intrude into things unseen. 



