54 



REV. A. H. FINN, ON THE 



the search of their fathers, for we are but of yesterday, and know 

 nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. Shall not they 

 teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart ? " and 

 so on. How could one inquire of the former age if the records were 

 not written in a book ? 



Mr. E. Walter Maunder, F.R.A.S. : Some years ago a friend 

 of mine, who was very much attracted by the Higher Criticism, 

 wrote me several letters on the subject, and in one of these he referred 

 to the account of the Flood, sa}dng that it resolved itself into two 

 narratives, so distinct that the man who ran could detect them. 

 I wrote back and said. Take Genesis, and give me your analysis 

 of the Story of the Flood, without consulting any critic, and see how 

 your analysis agrees with that of the Higher Critics. I added, 

 I can give you a modern instance to work out. My wife and I 

 brought out a book between us. Will you go through and tell us, 

 how much and which chapters, each of us wrote ? He declined 

 to take up either challenge. 



A Member : I cannot imagine David ofieriiig up sacrifice or Solo- 

 mon offering sacrifices at the dedication of the Temple if they knew 

 they were absolutely forbidden to touch such things by the Law ; 

 and why should Hosea (ch. iii) have said there should be no king 

 and no prince and no sacrifice ? Those things are absolutely taboo 

 in the book of Deuteronomy. It certainly helps me to understand 

 the Bible much better if I conceive of the Pentateuch as growing 

 gradually, as the Law grew. 



Remarks on the subject were also made by Rev. J. Tuckwell, 

 M.R.A.S. 



TLu voce of thanks, having been seconded by the Rev. Bernard 

 W. Harvey, was carried with acclamation. 



Lecturer's Reply. 

 Mr. Finn : The time is short, and I must pass some of the points 

 raised. First, with regard to meekness being found in the Old 

 Testament, I was speaking rather of the general things in the Oriental 

 world as to what meekness might mean. References in Joshua 

 supporting the fact that Deuteronomy was written first, I can accept ; 

 and I also believe that the earlier part of the Pentateuch must have 

 been derived from earlier documents. With regard to the use of 



