ON MODERN UNREST AND THE BIBLE. 



353 



Bible." In public belief, in the forum of the public conscience, the 

 Bible has stood as the symbol of supreme authority, as the expository 

 of the highest law. To " the man in the street," attacks upon the 

 Bible (as he knows it) are attacks upon that authority, attacks upon 

 that law. And here it should be borne in mind that disparagement of 

 part of the Bible is disparagement of the whole, for W. E. Gladstone 

 was unquestionably right in his contention that the Bible is an 

 organic whole — if a limb be cut off, there is danger that the whole 

 body bleed to death. 



Authority, if weakened at its source and fountain, is weakened 

 everywhere ; if respect be loosened for Divine law, it is loosened 

 generally for human laws — which are professedly in equity derived 

 from and based on the Divine. 



The indictment of the Higher Criticism (p. 346 and 347) is thus 

 thoroughly deserved. Not that Higher Criticism is necessarily bad. 

 But it becomes bad when, as is the case with that now dominant, it 

 mms at weakening Biblical authority, and is conducted with injustice, 

 unfairness in the interests of a preconceived theory, and without 

 competent knowledge. 



It is, in my judgment, evident that the restoration of Israel to 

 their own land will, by strengthening popular belief in the truth of 

 Scripture, tend to cure unrest and discontent. " The restoration of 

 this people, without ambassador to plead their cause, without an 

 army to enforce their claim, will remind the world of Christ. . . ." 

 This strange event, seen as the fulfilment of prophecy, may be 

 expected to arouse attention and thoughtfulness. The children of 

 Israel, going forth as evangelists, will lead men to the knowledge 

 and obedience of GOD, and thus to an increased respect for law and 

 liberty which is not licence. 



Yet the only complete cure for unrest in all the feverish workings 

 of its protean forms is Rest from the hands of the Eest-Giver who 

 says, not to the " Labour Party " only, " Come unto Me, all ye that 

 labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." 



We shall subscribe to the reasoning (p. 347) that the New Testa- 

 ment is unintelligible apart from the Old, so that, in logical 

 consistency, belief of the New involves belief of the Old ; and we 

 shall agree that " the strength of England is the Bible in the hearts 

 of the people." " Naught shall make her rue," if England to her 

 God, and therefore, to His holy word, " do prove but true." 



2 A 



