Division ^S4-8^ 
 Section '-^^l 
 
THE 
 
 PLENARY INSPIRATION 
 
 OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, 
 
 BY DAVID DYER, 
 
 PASTOR OP THE VILLAGE CHURCH, DORCHESTER. 
 
 INTRODUCTION: 
 
 BY REV. R. S. STORES, D.D 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 TAPPAN, WniTTEMORE & MASON. 
 
 1849. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, 
 
 By Tappan, Whittemore & Masox, 
 
 in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 jBO.STON : 
 
 DICKIKSOX PRIXTIXO ESTABLISHMENT, 16 DEVONSHIBE ST. 
 
 DAMRELL & MOOKE. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Advertisement. 
 Introducti on . 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Nature and Importance of the Plenary Inspira- 
 tion OF the Scriptures. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Inspiration of the Old Testament. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Inspiration of the New Testament. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Objections to the Inspiration of the Scriptures an- 
 swered, and the Bearings of the opposite Sentiment 
 
 SHOWN. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 The Author of the follo^ving Treatise on the Inspiration 
 of the Holy Scriptures, having searched in vain for a 
 small, compendious, popular work on this subject, adapted 
 to the wants of young persons, and the ordinary members 
 of religious congregations, has endeavored to furnish such 
 a book. 
 
 How far he has succeeded, others will judge. In pub- 
 lishino; it, he has been influenced and cheered by the 
 advice and sanction of brethren to whose opinion he loveS 
 to defer. And should it have the effect of checking, in 
 any degree, the progress of insidious error, and promoting 
 a more enlightened and childlike deference to God's 
 AVord, he will be most amply repaid. 
 
 Dorchester, June, 1849. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 That the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures should 
 be called in question at any time, and by any class of 
 men professing faith in the Christian system, is to be 
 lamented ; but that it should be questioned in a day 
 like this, when the final struggle between Infidelity 
 and Christianity is far advanced ; when antichristian- 
 ism is bending beneath the death-blows dealt out to it 
 by the hand of Providence, and the results of its pro- 
 tracted reign are in rapid progress of development on 
 foreign shores ; when, too, there is a world-wide wak- 
 ing up to the question of emancipation from the thral- 
 dom of a thousand false religions, and the introduction 
 in their stead of a faith honorable to God and safe for 
 man ; — when the church of God is weeping between 
 the porch and the altar, and supplicating Heaven's 
 interposition, and putting forth her combined energies 
 
b INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to give the Bible to all nations, as the only Catholicon 
 for their moral diseases and physical sufferings ; I say, 
 at such a time, especially, the attempted diffusion of a 
 spirit of distrust and unbelief in the oracles of God, 
 on the part of any who yet profess to receive their 
 instructions, in the main, as reasonable and true, is 
 deeply to be deplored and as firmly resisted. The 
 ultimate success of such attempts is not indeed to be 
 feared ; the strong pillars of God's earthly abode are 
 not to be torn down, nor the foundations on which 
 the Church has stood these four thousand years, in 
 despite of earth and hell, to be broken up, by the 
 puny arms of modern infidels and neologists ; but the 
 labors of the believing must unavoidably be diverted, 
 more or less, from the direct enforcement of vital truth 
 on the conscience, to its defence against covert or 
 open assault, leaving many to " wonder and perish " 
 who might otherwise be led to the Rock that is higher 
 than they. In no form, however beautiful, and in no 
 livery, stolen even from heaven itself, can infidelity 
 triumph over the book of God ; but her meretricious 
 charms and feigned words, — her occasionally meek de- 
 meanor and habitually boastful pretensions may delude 
 
mTRODUCTION. i 
 
 the unwary, and encourage tlie daring to wrest the scrip- 
 tures to their destruction. This is to be feared, and 
 from the lowest depths of the soul to be deprecated. 
 The progress of truth is onward, and no speculations 
 of " philosophy, falsely so called," can arrest its march ; 
 under the direction of the Holy One it is omnipotent, 
 and the words of the prophet will apply to the spirit 
 of antagonism it meets — "Who art thou, great 
 mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a 
 plain ; " its progress occasions all the plagues and tor- 
 ments now filling the seat of the beast, and advanc- 
 ing the wondrous revolution within the domains of the 
 false prophet, and upheaving the despotic thrones of 
 Europe, and confounding the counsels that the wily 
 policy of centuries had matured for riveting the 
 chains of civil and ecclesiastical bondage on the neck 
 of man made in the image of God. Thus taught, and 
 not doubting the promise that " all men shall know the 
 Lord, from the least to the greatest," in the fullness of 
 time, we are ready to cry in the chief place of con- 
 course, at the opening of the gates, " How long, ye 
 • simple ones, will ye love simplicity, and the scornera 
 delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge," 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 rather than indulge the slightest apprehension of 
 ultimate injury to Zion from the efforts of Ration- 
 alism, in any form and under any disguise, to destroy 
 the confidence of men in the plenary inspiration of 
 the Bible. Still, the seven churches of Asia needed 
 not more the warning voice of the " beloved disciple " 
 than the churches of New England need the admoni- 
 tions of their pastors to " try them which say they 
 are apostles and are not ; " and also to repent and do 
 their first works, and labor in the cause of truth with- 
 out fainting ; for, though the doctrines of Balaam and 
 Jezebel and the Nicolaitanes are not yet avowed among 
 us, other doctrines impugning the authority of God's 
 word, are taught, which lead to consequences as disas- 
 trous as those which came upon Ephesus, Pergamos, 
 and Thyatira. 
 
 The author of the little volume here introduced to 
 the public, has endeavored, by this labor of love, to 
 discharge his individual obligations. It belongs not 
 to me to say how successfully he has done it. Others 
 will judge for themselves. I can only say that the 
 reading of the manuscript has afforded me much grat- 
 ification, and the reading of the printed copy cannot 
 
INTRODUCTION. \J 
 
 fail to be equally gratifying to as many as sympa- 
 thize in the author's love of truth. Of course, it 
 contains little more than a brief epitome of the 
 main arguments on which the claims of inspiration 
 rest. To expand, and illustrate, and defend against 
 captious criticism, these and kindred arguments, as 
 might be done, would require octavos and folios, more 
 than laymen or ministers could find time to handle in 
 this busy age ; nor did this form any part of the 
 author's design. He has aimed only at a clear and 
 condensed statement of the principal grounds of faith 
 in the Bible as the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the 
 very thing wanted at the present time, and at all times 
 when error is abroad, insidiously assailing the vitalities 
 of Christianity through forced breaches' in its outworks 
 — to fortify the believing mind, to arrest the presump- 
 tuous in their downward course, and confound the 
 gainsaying child of incredulity. That God may give 
 it favor with the wise, and make it the successful in- 
 strument of dispelling darkness and diffusing heaven's 
 light over the crowd of " the unlearned and unstable," 
 
 is the earnest desire and sincere hope of 
 
 R. S. S. 
 
PLENARY INSPIRATION. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Hie Nature and Importance of the Plenary Inspiration 
 of the Scriptures. 
 
 The inspiration of the Word of God is a subject 
 of the highest moment to us and to all mankind. 
 It affects us in all the sentiments we nurture, in 
 all the relations we sustain, in all the course we 
 pursue, and in all that concerns our spiritual hopes 
 and eternal interests. If that word is not divine- 
 ly inspired, we have no perfect and all-sufficient 
 directory for our faith and practice ; we have no 
 ground for hope in God, and we are in ignorance 
 of the attributes of his nature, the features of his 
 government, and all that relates to our own eter- 
 nal state. We are launched on the ocean of life, 
 having within us all the elements of eternal exist- 
 ence, without a compass or a pilot, without the 
 sun or even a star to direct us in our course, and 
 point us to the haven of safety and of peace. 
 
12 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 We are weak, beniglited, defenceless, and every 
 way distressed, without anything to allay our 
 fears or to excite our hopes. 
 
 If that word is only ^j«r^/a//^/, or not fully in- 
 spired, our situation is but little improved ; for 
 then, in reading the Bible, we shall not do it as 
 children receiving instruction from a wise and be- 
 nignant parent, but as jurors who are to judge of 
 the truth or falsehood of that which is presented 
 to the mind. Then, instead of receiving " with 
 meekness the engrafted word, which is able to 
 save the soul," we shall disregard or reject what- 
 ever may be unwelcome to our moral taste. 
 Then we shall be in doubt what to beheve and 
 what to disbelieve ; what degree of importance 
 to attach to the different statements of the Bible, 
 than which there can be no situation more un- 
 pleasant or dangerous. 
 
 This shows us at a glance how vastly im.portant 
 in itself, and m its bearings on the best interests 
 of the human family, is the subject before us. It 
 lies at the basis of revealed religion. Our opinion 
 on this will affect our estimate of every part of 
 that system. A distinguished theologian has well 
 said, " The particular decision which is adopted 
 on this question will have a direct and sensible in- 
 fluence upon the degree of reverence which will 
 be felt for the Holy Scriptures : upon the manner 
 in wliich they wiU be perused by the common 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 13 
 
 christian, and studied and interpreted by the critic 
 and the theologian; upon the manner in which 
 Christianity will be exhibited by the preacher, and 
 apprehended and received by the hearer. Every 
 thing which pertains to the doctrines and precepts 
 of religion, and to the behef and practice of those 
 who embrace it, will be colored by the particular 
 views which are entertained of the inspiration of 
 the Scriptures. And each of the different grades 
 of opinion which may prevail on this subject, from 
 the direct denial of all supernatural guidance, to 
 the belief of a plenary inspiration, will be found 
 to produce its appropriate effect upon those who 
 maintain it."* These expressions are true, and 
 have been fully confirmed by observation and ex- 
 perience. 
 
 Blessed be God ! we need not be in doubt on 
 this important subject. He has given us evidence 
 respecting it which is amply sufficient, definite, 
 and positive ; and which conclusively shows that 
 the holy Scriptures were fully inspired by God. 
 It is declared, 2 Tim. 3. 16-17, " All Scripture ' 
 is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable 
 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for 
 instruction in righteousness : That the man of 
 God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
 all good works." 
 . The two words in the original (Oeo nvioi^^ which 
 
 * Dr. L. Woods. 
 2 
 
14 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 are translated inspiration, properly mean that 
 God breathed into and pervaded the minds of the 
 sacred writers, as they wrote his will. This idea 
 is frequently and forcibly presented in the Holy 
 Book. David said, 2. Sam. 23. 2, " The Spirit 
 of the Lord spiake hy me, and his word ivas in my 
 tongue.''^ Jesus said to his disciples, Luke 12. 
 11-12, " When they shall bring you unto the syn- 
 agogues, and magistrates, and powers, take no 
 thought how or what ye shall answer or what 
 ye shall say ; For the Holy G-host shall teach 
 you in the same hour what ye ought to say.^^ 
 The apostle Peter said to those who waited for 
 the descent of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1. 16, 
 " Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs 
 have been fulfilled, which the Holy G-lwst, hy 
 the mouth of David, spake before concerning 
 Judas, which was guide to them who took 
 Jesus." Again, 2 Pet. 1. 21, "For the proph- 
 ecy came not in old time by the mil of men ; 
 but holy men of God spalce as they ivere moved 
 hy the Holy Ghost:' 
 
 In these and many other passages of Scrip- 
 ture, the idea suggested by the original words 
 rendered inspiration, is embodied and distinctly 
 urged. There is no mistaking it or escaping 
 from it. It is boldly asserted as the truth of 
 God. Hence this word inspiration, as used 
 in Scripture, means : that the Holy Spiiit so spec- 
 ially pervaded the minds of the sacred writers, 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 15 
 
 as that they wrote just what he pleased, and 
 as he pleased; so that the Holy Scriptures a7'e 
 a fall and perfect expression of the toill of Grod. 
 This special divine influence extended not only 
 to the thoughts, but to the manner of expressing 
 them ; — not only to the facts, precepts, and 
 doctrines presented, but to the language used. 
 In this, however, let it be observed, the Holy 
 Spirit did not supersede, or set aside the natural 
 powers of those persons he employed, for such 
 was not the case. They were not used as mere 
 machines, or simply as amanuenses, but while 
 employed to publish his will, they were left in 
 the full use of their own natural capacities and 
 tastes. " Instead of using these men as mere or- 
 ganic instruments of his power, he thought right 
 to leave them to the operations of their own minds, 
 and the dictates of their own knowledge, habits 
 and feelings, as to the manner of communicating 
 his will. The Divine Spirit guarded the sacred 
 penmen when they would otherwise have gone 
 astray ; superintended and watched every step 
 of their progress ; suggested, by direct discov- 
 eries, what lay beyond the reach of their means 
 of knowledge, and directed them to every topic, 
 which, to his infinite wisdom, appeared necessary 
 upon the whole, for the instruction of the 
 church and the conversion of mankind. Thus, 
 on the one hand, the inspiration did not su- 
 persede, but support, elevate, and direct them 
 
16 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 in the use of their natural faculties, of their 
 stores of knowledge, of their experience and 
 observation, and their efforts of recollection 
 and reasoning. The human agency, on the 
 other hand, did not weaken or defeat the super- 
 natural communications, but conveyed them to 
 men, moulded by the conceptions, and expressed 
 in the words, of common life. The facts of 
 the case by no means imply that man mingled 
 his frailties with the revealed truths of Chris- 
 tianity ; but simply that God was pleased to use 
 man as his instrument. The human agency was 
 subordinate to the divine. The Almighty Spirit 
 moved and gently led on ; the holy penmen fol- 
 lowed the guidance. God inspired ; man indited 
 and wrote."* The agency of the Holy Spirit in 
 this instance corresponded with that he exerts in 
 the conversion and sanctification of souls ; and 
 which is never exercised in the supplanting, but 
 in the employment of their powers. 
 
 This is the doctrine of inspiration which is 
 taught in the Bible, and which has been warmly 
 cherished by every evangelical denomination of 
 christians from the days of the apostles until 
 now. They have alwa3^s esteemed it an essen- 
 tial principle of their faith ; and the more vigor- 
 ous their piety, the more earnestly they have be- 
 lieved and advocated this doctrine. 
 
 Wilson on Inspiration. 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 17 
 
 Before showing that the Scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testaments are thus fully inspired,* it 
 is desirable to ponder the three following obser- 
 vations. 
 
 1. This complete msjnration is necessary to 
 justify and sustain the high claims of Scrijpture. 
 The Bible claims to be a perfect guide, and an 
 infallible test of truth. It is given to us as an 
 all-sufficient directory in all the relations of life, 
 and in all the duties we have to discharge. It 
 enforces rules for the highest monarch, as well 
 as for the meanest peasant ; and it urges them 
 as the dictates of infinite authority and love. 
 
 It is commended to us as the guide of the 
 perplexed, the solace of the bereaved, the sup- 
 port of the weary, the refuge of the distressed, 
 the strength of the weak, and the divine remedy 
 for all the wants and ills of life. Amidst our 
 moral darkness it appears as " the day star " from 
 on high : as " the sure word of prophecy unto 
 which we do well to take heed." In our guilt 
 and moral ruin, it comes to us as the word which 
 is " able to make wise unto salvation through 
 faith which is in Christ Jesus ; " and it says, 
 " whosoever believeth shall be saved." It claims 
 to be nothing less than a perfect, universal, and 
 permanent standard of truth, and its assertions 
 
 * To any who question the propriety of saying the 
 words of Scripture are inspired, I would say, See Chal- 
 mers on Christian Revelation, p. 374, vol. 4 : also, John 
 6. 63 : Heb. 4. 12. 
 2* 
 
18 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 are : " Thess are the true sayings of God." " The 
 oracles of God." " The Scriptures of truth." 
 " To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak 
 not according to this word, it is because there is 
 no light in them." It denounces the most awful 
 judgments on those who either pervert or reject 
 its statements ; or who add to them or detract 
 from them. It says, " Cursed is every one that 
 continueth not all things written in the book of 
 the law to do them." 
 
 Now how can these high and all-comprehen- 
 sive claims be justified and sustained, if the Bi- 
 ble be not thoroughly and perfectly inspired ? if 
 it be not, in the fullest sense, the word that pro- 
 ceeded out of the mouth of God ? So impor- 
 tant is this doctrine of plenary inspiration, that 
 we must choose between its reception and the 
 rejection of the Bible as the word of God ; for 
 a book that is but partially inspired, cannot main- 
 tain such superior and exclusive claims. 
 
 2. This complete inspiration of the Scriptures 
 is indispensable to their meriting our religious 
 veneration and imqualified deference. We are 
 required to regard the Bible, " not as the word of 
 men, but as it is, in truth, the word of God." It 
 is said, " Receive with meekness the engrafted 
 word, which is able to save your souls." " As 
 new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the 
 word, that ye may grow thereby." " Whosoever 
 shall not receive the kingdom of God, as a little 
 child, he shall not enter therein." These injunc- 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 19 
 
 tions require us to dierisli a religious reverence 
 for the sacred "\vord ; — to receive with childlike 
 docility its teachings ; — to bow with unqualified 
 submission to its authority, and to yield a cheer- 
 ful obedience to its commands. We are to 
 search it, not with a self-sufficient, captious spirit, 
 but that we may know what God the Lord has 
 said, and that we may do his will. 
 
 But is it just to demand this religious venera- 
 tion and deference of us, if the Bible is not fully 
 inspired ? Does it merit this at our hands, or 
 can we intelligently and justly comply with the 
 demand, if it is not the Word of God ? 
 
 Suppose that the assertion made by Dr. Priest- 
 ly be correct ; that the writers of the books of 
 Scripture were men, and therefore fallible, and, 
 hke all other historians, were liable to mistakes ; 
 — what justice would there be in this require- 
 ment ? What propriety in our regarding it ? 
 Suppose that the statements made by a profess- 
 ed teacher of Christianity in the present day 
 be true ; that " God is represented in a most un- 
 becoming manner throughout the Pentateuch," or 
 five books of Moses ; — '' that in the books of 
 Joshua and Judges there is a great mixture of 
 fabulous traditions, such as are found in the early 
 history of all other nations," and that " no one 
 who puts aside the notion of the divine authority 
 of all the Hebrew books, can doubt that extrav- 
 agant fables and false prodigies are found in all 
 those which relate the Jewish history antecedent 
 
20 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 to the time of Samuel ; " — and that " there seema 
 to be no good reason why the books of Samuel 
 and Kmgs should be regarded as exceptions to 
 this mixture."* I say, suppose these statements 
 .are true ; what shadow of justice is there in 
 this demand of the Bible for religious veneration 
 and deference ? What lover of truth can regard 
 it? What friend of honesty can commend a 
 book making such pretensions, yet containing 
 such fabulous matter ? Justice and propriety 
 would, in that case, demand the disregard of this 
 requirement, and the rejection of the book. 
 " We must, therefore, either admit these writings 
 to be the inspired word of God, and consequent- 
 ly free from imperfection and mistake, or con- 
 sider them as mere impositions. To pretend to 
 venerate them as the authentic records of his 
 will and dispensations, and yet deny their inspi- 
 ration, is absurd : it is believing the writers in 
 what they say of other subjects, and disbeheving 
 them in what they say of themselves. If their 
 writings be not what they profess to be, they are 
 impositions and deserve to be rejected. There is 
 no consistent medium between faith and unbelief." 
 
 3. This plenary inspiration of the Bible is in- 
 dispensable to its adequately meeting our spirit- 
 ual wants. 
 
 Suppose that it is not a perfectly inspired 
 book ; — that it is like the beclouded teachings 
 
 * Professor Norton, as quoted by Dr. Stuart. 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 21 
 
 of reason, or tlie dubious dictates of conscience ; 
 imperfect in its discoveries, uncertain in its con- 
 clusions, and sometimes erroneous in its direc- 
 tions ; TN'hat confidence could we then place in its 
 statements ? AY hat reliance could we put on its 
 promises ? What assurance could we have of 
 the faithfulness of its record, or the truth of its 
 decisions ? 
 
 If such was the character of the Eible, it would 
 be, at best, but a slight advance on the teach- 
 ings of nature. Then we should have no perfect 
 teacher to point out the way of life ; — no infal- 
 lible guide of opinions and practice; — no sure 
 rock of truth on which to build ; — nor any cer- 
 tain hght to lead us to the world of rest. Then 
 we should be as those are who have not the word 
 of God, burdened with obligations, yet know not 
 how to meet them ; — oppressed with guilt, yet 
 ignorant of the way of pardon ; — anxious for 
 peace, yet knowing not how to find it ; — sunk in 
 moral degradation, without the means of relief; 
 destined to eternity, yet in a state of miserable 
 uncertainty respecting what awaits us there. 
 Then the sweet assurance which we now have, 
 that there is a Father in heaven, that there is an 
 Almighty Sa^dour there, that there is pardon 
 for the guilty through his blood, — that whoso- 
 ever believeth in him is justified from all things, 
 — that all may come to him and obtain peace and 
 eternal life, and that the Holy Spirit will gra- 
 
22 PLENARY INSPIRATION, ETC. 
 
 ciouslj sanctify and lead them to everlasting 
 glory, ^ould not be possessed, but all would be 
 gloom, uncertainty, and distress. 
 
 Take away the divine inspiration of the Bible ; 
 — reduce this blessed book to a level with those 
 of men ; and we are deprived of all that is dear, 
 valuable, and essential ; — we are bereft of that 
 which alone is adapted to meet our spiritual and 
 immortal wants. The pearl of great price is gone. 
 The day star has disappeared. The sun of 
 righteousness, w^^th his enlivening and invigorat- 
 ing beams, is n6 more seen or felt ; but dark- 
 ness, coldness, and moral death prevail. Oh, 
 pitiable condition ! Oh, miserable state ! To 
 this, with all its horrors, would those systems 
 lead us which deny the plenary inspiration of the 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 TTie Plenary hispiration of the Old Testament 
 
 In investigating the correctness of any article 
 of our religious faith, it is desirable not only to 
 ascertain the opinions of others, but to obtain de- 
 finite ideas of our own. This, indeed, is indis- 
 pensable to our understanding and enjoying the 
 doctrines of religion, and to our being able to give 
 a reason for the hope that is in us. 
 
 Those who neglect this, deprive themselves -of 
 much intelligent satisfaction, hinder their useful- 
 ness, endanger their religious stabihty, and expose 
 themselves to be driven about by every wind of 
 doctrine. Their faith will stand in the wisdom of 
 men, net in the power of God. 
 
 The apostles, conscious of the importance of this 
 course, urged the disciples not to yield a blind re- 
 liance on their teachers, but to think for them- 
 selves — to examine the oracles of God ; and it 
 is said of the Bereans : " These were more noble 
 than those in Thessalonica, in that they received 
 the word with all readiness of mind, and searched 
 the Scriptures daily whether those things were so." 
 
24 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 This course every individual should pursue. 
 As the reasons for any doctrine or duty are pre- 
 sented, they should ask themselves, Are these 
 reasons scriptural? Do they harmonize with 
 the declarations of the sacred word ? Do they 
 commend themselves to our minds as reasonable 
 and accountable creatures ? Do they accord 
 with the wants of the immortal soul ? 
 
 The answer to these questions may demand ear- 
 nest and continued thought, and a close personal 
 application of the subject ; but this should not be 
 avoided, for it will promote spiritual health, and 
 be of invaluable service. Unhappily, individuals 
 generally shrink from this. They are content to 
 receive their religious opinions from others, to be 
 governed in the adoption of these sentiments by the 
 dictates of their carnal hearts, their intellectual 
 pride, the views of some prominent minister or 
 friend, or by the opinions which are prevalent 
 around them. Even those whose creed is evan- 
 gelical, and whose dispositions and aims are gen- 
 erally correct, are sometimes, in this particular, 
 culpably negligent, and consequently are far from 
 beino; either wise or strono; in the Lord. This is 
 to be deprecated as every way disastrous, and 
 unworthy a christian mind. Let it not be indulged 
 in relation to the subject discussed in this little 
 work, but let every reader feel that he has a per- 
 sonal interest in this theme, and that it becomes 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 25 
 
 him to seek enlightened view s, and to nourish a 
 firm and scriptural faith. 
 
 Having seen the nature and importance of 
 the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, we 
 are now to show that the Old Testament is thus 
 inspired. 
 
 This ivill appear from the perfection of its 
 teachings. On opening the Old Testament, we 
 are met at its commencement with an account of 
 the creation of this world, and the various beings 
 and things found therein. This account is brief, 
 simple, and comprehensive, adapted to the hum- 
 blest, as well as the most elevated mind. It was 
 written when the great facts of natural history, 
 and the great principles of natural science, were 
 but imperfectly, if at all, understood. It was 
 written, too, by an individual who made no preten- 
 sions to an acquaintance with those facts and prin- 
 ciples, and who belonged to a nation where the 
 study of them was not cultivated. 
 
 Now what is the character of this account ? 
 Has it borne the test of enlightened scrutiny ? 
 Has it received the confidence of those who were 
 prepared to judge of its truth ? Yes, verily. It 
 has been before the world for more than three 
 thousand years, and has been sanctioned by men 
 of all persuasions, not excepting those who, from 
 •their love of infidehty, would have been glad to 
 charge it with error. And though not a few, in 
 the immaturity of their knowledge, have assailed 
 
 3 
 
26 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 it as incorrect, yet, with more perfect information, 
 they have seen its exact accordance with truth, 
 and have paid it their warmest commendation. 
 So invariably and successfully have the assaults 
 made upon it been repelled by the advancing dis- 
 coveries of science, that we feel no solicitude re- 
 specting its correctness, and are sure that whatever 
 future developments may be made, they will be 
 found, when fully understood, to harmonize with 
 this statement of God's word. This account now 
 stands before us in all its simplicity and plainness, 
 as the acknowledged perfection of truth, and as 
 meriting universal belief and homage. 
 
 How shall we account for this perfection, if 
 Moses was not divinely inspired ? How, apart 
 from this, could he have known the facts detailed ? 
 How was it his information was so far in advance 
 of all other men ? How is it that the advancing 
 researches of the present enlightened age are 
 constantly confirming its truth ? And how is it 
 that in its inferences it is now in advance of the 
 best informed minds ? What reason shall we as- 
 sign for these things, if we deny the doctrine of 
 plenary inspiration ? 
 
 But, what is true of this, is true of the other 
 parts of the Old Testament. The character of 
 this may be taken as a just criterion whereby to 
 judge of them. For if they are not all inspired 
 in an equal degree^ they are sufficiently so to in- 
 sure infalhble correctness in the annunciation of 
 
OLD AXD NEW TESTAMENTS. 27 
 
 their predictions and principles, and in the record 
 of their facts. 
 
 Take, as an ilkistration, the entire book of Gen- 
 esis. In the record of its facts is found a depth 
 of knowledge, a brevity, a comprehensiveness and 
 power of statement, and a perfection of beauty, 
 which are superhuman, and have excited the hom- 
 age of the most cultivated minds. The predic- 
 tions found in this book, though given in a most 
 unenhghtened and idolatrous age, extended in 
 their application to the various divisions of the 
 human family, and to events which reach to the 
 very end of time, and they have been, or are now 
 being, confirmed by the experience of mankind. 
 There is, as every individual who has studied the 
 subject knows, a striking harmony between these 
 and the other predictions of the Old Testament, 
 and the events which have transpired in the his- 
 tory of our race. The one have answered to the 
 other and shown the divine wisdom which guided 
 the prophet's pen. 
 
 It has been truthfully said, " The book of Gen- 
 esis alone is a source of all knowledge. It is a 
 mountain where lofty cedars, the cedars of God, 
 strike their roots deep, in whose recesses there is 
 golden ore, on whose surface there is a wilderness 
 of native flowers and fruits, through whose ravines 
 run mighty rivers, and where ancient nations 
 dwelt that were many and strong. Men of learn- 
 ing have traversed it ; imagination has culled its 
 
28 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 purest flowers ; curious research has traced out its 
 time-worn channels ; and patient and discriminat- 
 ing toil has dug about its roots — and they are all 
 found fresh and pure, and the soil inexhaustible."* 
 
 In this and the other books of Moses are found, 
 plainly revealed and commended to us, all the 
 great principles of commercial and social inter- 
 course, of domestic happiness and prosperity, of 
 education, of government, and religion, which are 
 now receiving the homage of the most liberal and 
 enlif^htened nations. And it is not till those na- 
 tions have made a far greater advance in all these, 
 than is at present reaUzed, that they will reach 
 the happy state presented in the Old Testament. 
 They have only approached perfection ; but there 
 is perfection itself. Its teachings stop at nothing 
 short of the entire abohtion of oppression, in- 
 justice, and war ; the universal prevalence of 
 knowledge, purity, and peace, and the practical 
 predominance throughout the earth of equahty 
 and love. 
 
 Such are the teachings of the Old Testament. 
 They were given, be it remembered, when idola- 
 try almost universally prevailed ; when despotism 
 swayed its iron sceptre over the bodies and minds 
 of men ; when all was averse to the progress of vir- 
 tue, liberty, and knowledge; and when " darkness 
 
 * Spring's Power of the Pulpit. 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 29 
 
 covered the earth, and gross darkness the minds 
 of the people." 
 
 Now ask yourself, How can I account for the 
 perfection of these teachings ? Why did they 
 present such a marked contrast to the maxims and 
 information of the periods when they were deliv- 
 ered ? Why did they discover such a depth and 
 exactness of knowledge, and foretell with such 
 correctness events that were so far distant, and of 
 such extensive apphcation ? Why have they been 
 loved and reverenced by the purest and most ex- 
 panded minds that have ever lived ? And why 
 are they now so extensively revered, and so far 
 in advance of the world? Can any adequate 
 reason be assigned apart from the inspiration of 
 the Holy Spirit ? This oyily is the cause, and the 
 perfection of these teachings plainly declares the 
 possession of this gift by the holy men who wrote 
 this sacred book. 
 
 The plenary inspiration of the Old Testament 
 is asserted by its writers. The conviction that 
 they were inspired to declare the will of God, had 
 an abiding hold on their minds, and exerted a con- 
 trolling influence on their actions. 
 
 They both affirmed and displayed it, and they 
 taught others to regard their w^ords as the true 
 sayings of God. 
 
 Moses declared that the Lord said, respecting 
 himself and Aaron, Exo. 4. 15-16, — "I will be 
 with thy mouth, and be with his mouth, and will 
 
 3* 
 
30 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy 
 spokesman unto the people; and he shall be, even 
 he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou 
 shalt be to him instead of God." David said, 2 
 Sam. 23. 2, " The spirit of the Lord spake by me, 
 and his word was in my tongue." As we turn to 
 the writings of Isaiah and the other prophets, we 
 find them frequently saying, " The Lord said unto 
 me," or " Hear ye the w^ord of the Lord." They 
 usually commenced their respective books by say- 
 ing, " The w^ord of the Lord that came unto 
 Jeremiah," or Hosea, &c. 
 
 Guided by the Holy Spirit, they denounced 
 severe judgments against those who rejected or 
 disobeyed the instructions they gave. Moses 
 said, Deut. 28. 58-59, " If thou wilt not observe 
 to do all the words of this law that are written in 
 this book, that thou mayst fear this glorious 
 and fearful name, The Lord thy God ; then the 
 Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the 
 plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and 
 of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of 
 long continuance. See also, Lev. 26. 14-17 ; 
 Deut. 28. 15, &c. Isaiah said, 5. 24, " There- 
 fore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the 
 flame consumeth the chaiF, so their root shall be 
 as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as 
 dust ; because they have cast away the law of 
 the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the 
 Holy One of Israel." The truth of these denun- 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 31 
 
 ciatloFiS the sacred historians declare, has been 
 confirmed bj the punishments experienced by the 
 Jews. 
 
 What shall we say to these assertions ? To 
 suppose them forgeries is what no one can con- 
 sistently do. To deny their truthfulness, and 
 hence, the inspiration of the Old Testament, is to 
 charge their authors with deception and falsehood, 
 to affirm that the whole Jewish nation were de- 
 ceived, that the divine historians have uttered 
 untruths ; and it is to brand as false a book 
 which has received the unqualified approbation 
 of holy men and God. From this issue we turn 
 with thankfulness to the belief that this sacred 
 book is fully inspired by God. 
 
 Jesus and Ms Apostles taught and enforced the 
 divine inspiration and authority of the Old Tes- 
 tament. The Saviour was well aware of the re- 
 ligious veneration in which the Jews held the 
 Scriptures, and we cannot doubt but that he 
 would have condemned this spirit had it been er- 
 roneous. But instead of condemnation, he com- 
 mended it, both by precept and example, and 
 sought to make it more intelhgent and practical. 
 At the very commencement of his ministry he 
 publicly said. Matt. 5. 17, " Think not that I am 
 come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am 
 not come to destroy, but to fulfil." In resisting 
 the tempter he employed expressions taken from 
 the Old Testament, which are, the sword of the 
 
32 PLENARY INSPIRATION OP THE 
 
 spirit, and tlie word of God. When appealed to 
 on the subject of divorce, he referred to the de- 
 claration of Moses, in Genesis, as of divine au- 
 thority, and said, Matt. 19. 4-5, " Have ye not 
 read that he which made them at the beginning, 
 made them male and female, and said, ' Por this 
 cause shall man leave father and mother, and shall 
 cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one 
 flesh V " When the Sadducees, who said there is 
 no resurrection, tempted him with a question re- 
 specting the Mosaic law, he said. Matt. 22. 29- 
 32, " Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor 
 the power of God. Have ye not read that which 
 was spoken unto you by God, saying ; I am the 
 God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the 
 God of Jacob ? God is not the God of the dead, 
 but of the living." When the disciples expressed 
 astonishment at the events attendant on his death, 
 he said, Luke 24. 25-27, " fools, and slow of 
 heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! 
 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, 
 and to enter into his glory ? And hegiiining at 
 Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto 
 them in all the Scriptures the things concerning 
 himself. ' ' Referring to the common opinion which 
 the Jews entertained of the sacred word, he said, 
 John 5. 39, " Search the Scriptures ; for in 
 them ye think ye have eternal life ; and they are 
 they which testify of me." Again, in Luke 16. 
 29, he spoke of them as a sufficient guide to 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 33 
 
 heaven. And just before he ascended to heaven 
 he said to his disciples, Luke 24. 4445, " These 
 are the words "svhich I spake unto you while I "was 
 yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which 
 were written in tlie Icm of 3Ioses, and in the 
 prophets^ and in thepsalms* concerning me. Then 
 opened he their understanding that they might 
 understand the Scriptures." 
 
 No testimony to the divine authority of the 
 Old Testament could be more full or decisive. 
 It included every part of the sacred book, 
 and consisted, not only in expounding and en- 
 forcing its truths, but in a personal and universal 
 submission to its requirements. That individual 
 who can suppose that Jesus Christ could do all 
 this, and yet deny its perfect ins'p)iration^ must 
 have strangely mistaken both the Saviour's 
 knowledge and integrity. 
 
 It was precisely so with the Apostles. They 
 did not, when referring to the Old Testament, 
 speak with doubt or hesitation, but with a firm 
 beUef in its divine authority. They designated 
 it, " The word of God," " The lively Oracles," 
 " The Oracles of God." They quoted its asser- 
 tions as beyond appeal. If the doctrine or the 
 duty they enforced was confirmed by Moses and 
 
 • * That this designation of the Old Testament was 
 common among the Jews, and comprised the books it now 
 contains, and no others, see Chalmer's on Christian Rev- 
 elation, pp. 213-343, vol. 4, and Stuart on the Old Testa- 
 ment 
 
84 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 the prophets, that was deemed sufficient to prove 
 it divine. Asserting the doctrine of universal 
 depravity, Paul said, Rom. 3. 10, ''As it is 
 written; There is none righteous, no, not one." 
 Again, affirming the doctrine of justification by 
 faith, he said, Rom. 4. 3, " What saith the Scrii> 
 ture ? Abraham believed God and it was count- 
 ed unto him for righteousness." Again, respecting 
 the divinity of Christ, Heb. 1. 6, " When he 
 bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he 
 saith ; And let all the angels of God worship him." 
 Peter said, 1 Eph. 1. 15-16, " But as he which 
 hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all man- 
 ner of conversation. Because it is wntten ; Be 
 ye holy ; for I am holy." This proof was deci- 
 sive. It was unanswerable and complete. Thus 
 sustained, the doctrine, or the precept, was re- 
 ceived as God's. 
 
 But they 'positively asserted this all-important 
 fact. Peter dh-ectly said, Acts 1. 16, " The 
 Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before 
 concernins; Judas which was guide to them that 
 took Jesus." Again, 1 Pet. 1. 21, "The 
 prophecy came not in old time by the will of 
 man : but holy men of God spake as they were 
 moved by the Holy Ghost." Paul said, 2 Tim. 
 3. 16, " All Scripture is given by inspiration of 
 God.'* 
 
 * If any think that truth uttered by heathen writers, 
 was as much inspired, and of equal authority, as the 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 35 
 
 Here we have all, tlien, that can be reasonably 
 required. The doctrine is declared in every 
 way that can be justly wished. It was cher- 
 ished and practically honored by Jesus and his 
 inspired Apostles ; and they have commended 
 it to the world. " They never, in a single in- 
 stance, taught or said the least thing which im- 
 plied that there was any book, or any text con- 
 tained in the Scriptures, which was not the word 
 of God, and which had not divine authority. 
 And they never said anything which implied that 
 one part was the word of God in a lower sense, or 
 that it had less authority than other parts. They 
 never gave the least intimation which was calcu- 
 lated to make such an impression on the minds of 
 men. They never gave any caution to christians, 
 or even to Jews, against attributing too high an 
 authority, or attaching too much importance to 
 the Holy Scriptures. They were so far from 
 this, that they made it a great object to produce 
 among men a higher reverence for all and every 
 part of the sacred volume, and to excite them 
 
 declarations of Moses, Isaiah, &c., it may be well for 
 them to ask, Did Jesus teacli thus ? Did he ever submit 
 his claims to the decision of those writers ? Did he ex- 
 pound their declarations for the benefit of those who 
 listened to him ? Did he urge the Jews to search their 
 writinos, as he commanded them to ''Search the Scrip- 
 tures ? " Did he utter a single word enjoining deference 
 to them, as to ^'Moses and the Prophets f 
 
36 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 more diligently to search it, and more entirely to 
 confide in it, as containing truth unmixed -^ith 
 error."* This is the course we should pursue ; for 
 it alone is safe to man, and honorable to God. 
 
 The divine utility of the Old Testament de- 
 clares its complete inspiration. This sacred 
 book, like the New Testament, is designed to 
 meet wants and accomplish ends, which nothing 
 else can do. These wants are not pUysical, but 
 spiritual ; not limited, but extending to all man- 
 kind, and to all eternity. These ends are noth- 
 ing short of the spiritual illumination of the 
 world, and the everlasting salvation of those who 
 believe. 
 
 Now to effect these designs, it must be divine- 
 ly inspired. For here are depths which no 
 human eye can see ; — here are wants which no 
 finite mind can understand ; — and here are 
 bounds which no mortal intellect can reach. 
 None but divine words could discover to us the 
 glories of the divine character and government ; 
 — the awful nature and effects of guilt ; — the 
 sinful snares and hellish wiles to which we are 
 exposed ; — the duties we owe to God ; — the 
 kind designs he has formed respecting our race ; 
 and the ultimate destiny of the righteous and the 
 wicked in another world. 
 
 * Dr. "Woods on Inspiration. 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 37 
 
 None but divine words could renew the heart ; 
 — subdue the unholy will — give peace to the 
 troubled conscience — sanctify the nature — arm 
 the soul against the allurements of sin, and 
 strengthen it to resist all the temptations of the 
 devil. And none but divine words could enable 
 a single individual to rejoice in affliction : — to look 
 with intelligent composure and hope on death, or 
 give an assurance of waking up hereafter in the 
 likeness of Jesus, and participating in those eter- 
 nal pleasures which are at his right hand. 
 
 And yet all this, and more than this, the 
 precious words of the Old Testament have done. 
 Hence the sacred writers speak with frequency 
 and truth of their tendency to bless mankind. 
 No point was presented with greater decision 
 and power than this. The psalmist David said, 
 Ps. 19. 7-11, ' The law of the Lord is perfect, 
 converting the soul : the testimony of the Lord 
 is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of 
 the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart : the com- 
 mandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the 
 eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring 
 forever : the judgments of the Lord are true, 
 and righteous altogether. More to be desired 
 are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; 
 sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. 
 Moreover, by them is thy servant warned : 
 and in keeping of them there is great reward.' 
 The apostle Paul said, Rom. 15. 4, " What- 
 
88 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 soever things were written aforetime, were 
 written for our learning, that we through pa- 
 tience and comfort of the Scriptures might have 
 hope." Again, 2 Tim. 3. 15-17, " The Holy 
 Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise 
 unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ 
 Jesus. All Scripture is given bj inspiration of 
 God, and is profitable for doctrine, for repoof, for 
 correction, for instruction in righteousness. That 
 the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fur- 
 nished unto all good works." To consummate 
 the whole, the apostle Peter presented a striking 
 comparison between the assertions of the Old 
 Testament and the voice which he, and two of his 
 fellow disciples, heard, when with Jesus on the 
 mount. After speaking of the testimony they 
 received to the honor and glory of Christ, when 
 there came such a voice to him from the excel- 
 lent glory, saying, " This is my beloved son, in 
 whom I am well pleased," he added, " We have a 
 more sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do 
 well to take heed, as unto a light that shine th in 
 a dark place." By this he meant the Scriptures 
 of the Old Testament, for he immediately said, 
 " For the prophecy came not in old time by the 
 will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they 
 were moved by the Holy Ghost." 
 
 What force there is in this comparison ! How 
 immensely valuable must be this blessed book, 
 when its testimony is of greater worth than a 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 39 
 
 direct revelation from heaven, accompanied with 
 such overpowering manifestations of divine majes- 
 ty ! How utterly inadequate are all conceptions 
 and expressions of its value and utility ! How 
 greatly should we prize it ! How dihgently 
 should we study its precious truths ! 
 
 What now shall we think of those who deny 
 the plenary inspiration of this sacred book ? who 
 throw doubt on its statements, or affirm that 
 some of them are fabulous and unworthy of be- 
 lief? How shall we regard those who constantly 
 and systematically aim to undermine and destroy 
 its divine authority ? From all such we should 
 turn away. Their course is unscriptural and 
 criminal. It is plainly opposed to the teach- 
 ings of Jesus, and nothing short of an entire 
 submission to him in this, as well as other par- 
 ticulars, will be pleasing to God, or safe and 
 happy for ourselves. This is the book of God. 
 It is his voice speaking to man. It brings to us 
 saving knowledge. It points out the way to 
 everlasting life. 
 
 " 'T is like the sun, a heavenly light, 
 
 That guides us all the day, 
 And, through the dangers of the night, 
 
 A lamp to lead our way. 
 
 " 'T is a broad land of wealth unknown, 
 
 Where springs of life arise ; 
 Seeds of immortal bliss are sown, 
 And hidden glory lies." 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Plenary Inspiration of the New Testament. 
 
 An adequate conception of the subject before 
 us is indispensable to our earnest and prayerful 
 investigation of the truth. We have to examine 
 a question which is vitally important. It is 
 whether the New Testament is, or is not, the 
 book of God. And, compared with this, all mat- 
 ters of worldly interest dwindle into insignifi- 
 cance. 
 
 On a question of such magnitude it may be 
 reasonably supposed that we are not left to doubt- 
 ful and inconclusive testimony, but that we have 
 the fullest and most decisive proof. So it is. 
 God has graciously given us all we can justly 
 desire or demand. It is plain, convincing, and 
 abundant ; adapted to the humblest and the 
 loftiest mind. It only requires that we regard it 
 with impartiality and candor to feel that it is un- 
 answerable and complete. 
 
 The New Testament assumes to be the perfect 
 booh of God. Like the personal teaching of Jesus 
 Christ, it does not stop to reason this point with 
 
PLENARY INSPIRATION, ETC. 41 
 
 men, but proceeds throughout on the assumption 
 that its authority is divine. This of itself, how- 
 ever, is not sufficient to prove that authority, but 
 if it be sustained by the character of the book, 
 and by other decisive proofs, it must be deemed 
 worthy of regard. 
 
 In the preceding chapter we saw that the Old 
 Testament is thus inspired. But the New Testa- 
 ment is declared to be superior to that ; and this 
 superiority consists in its more extensive and per- 
 manent application, its more perfect discoveries, 
 and its clearer and richer manifestations of the 
 divine character, designs, and will. That, as 
 compared with this, was like the dawning before 
 the perfect day. That was altogether local in its 
 application — this is altogether universal. That 
 was in part temporary — this is entirely perma- 
 nent. That, like the numeral letters in arithme- 
 tic, presented the elements of truth — in this, 
 the truth is fully revealed. That, in the wisdom 
 and kindness of God, was suited to the then ex- 
 isting state of men — this conducts them on to 
 perfection. That indicated the approach, but 
 this announces the coming and reign of the Sun 
 of Righteousness. That declared the splendor 
 and solemnities of the mount that might be 
 touched, and that burned with fire ; but this re- 
 veals the grace and attractions of Mount Zion, 
 where we come " to the city of the living God, 
 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable 
 
42 PLEN-ARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 companj of angels, to the general assembly and 
 church of the first born, which are written in 
 heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the 
 spirits of just men made perfect ; and to Jesus, 
 the mediator of the new covenant, and to the 
 blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things 
 than the blood of Abel." The apostle Paul said, 
 2 Cor. 3. 7-10, " But if the ministration of 
 death, written and engraved in stones, was glo- 
 rious, so that the children of Israel could not 
 stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory 
 of his countenance ; which glory was to be done 
 away: How shall not the ministration of the 
 spirit be rather glorious ? For if the ministra- 
 tion of condemnation be glory, much more doth 
 the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 
 For even that which was made glorious had no 
 glory in this respect, by reason of the glory 
 which excelieth." This is decisive. If we had 
 no other proof of the inspiration of the New Tes- 
 tament, this would be sufficient, — its superiority 
 to the old. 
 
 The scheme of doctrine and morals ijresented 
 in the New Testament shows its perfect inspira- 
 tion. This scheme is so pure, exalted, and be- 
 nevolent, that it has always been the admiration 
 of all holy men. The more they have studied 
 it, the more they have been impressed and de- 
 lighted by its divine adaptation, its matchless pu- 
 rity, its surpassing kindness, its vast comprehen- 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 43 
 
 siveness, its ever increasing fresimess, and its 
 God-like sublimity. There tiie perfections, the 
 character, the laws, and the works of God, are 
 delineated in a manner that it was not possible 
 for man to do, and which could only be done by 
 that divine spirit, " who searcheth all things, yea, 
 the deep things of God." There the character of 
 man is described in its original perfection, and its 
 present lapsed and ruined state, as no one could 
 describe it who is not perfectly acquainted with 
 all the past history of our race, and all the disas- 
 trous operations and effects of sin. There the 
 salvation provided by Jesus is made known, in the 
 infinite benignity of its source ; the eternity of its 
 date ; the manner of its purchase, by the in- 
 carnation, obedience, death and intercession of 
 Christ ; the gracious mode of its application by 
 the Holy Spirit to the soul ; the way of its real- 
 ization through faith in Jesus, with all its glori- 
 ous and eternal fruits. And there the great 
 realities of futurity are fully presented to our 
 view, so that we know what will be the rule of 
 judgement in each individual case, who will be the 
 judge of all mankind, what the transactions of the 
 final day, what the destiny of the righteous and 
 the wicked, and with whom they will separately 
 mingle to all eternity. All these great doctrines 
 are there described with such simplicity, fullness, 
 and power, that every one who reads can readily 
 perceive and understand them. 
 
44 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 There, also, we are taught to " love the Lord 
 our God with all our heart, and all our soul ; to 
 love our neighbor as ourselves ; to fulfill perfectly 
 the relative duties of every particular station ; 
 to lay aside all malice, envy, hatred, revenge, 
 and other malevolent dispositions or passions, to 
 love our enemies, to render good for evil, bless- 
 ing for cursing, and to pray for them who de- 
 spitefuUy use us and persecute us." These laws 
 of universal purity and benevolence are there 
 prescribed with an authority proper only to God, 
 and extended to such a compass and degree as 
 God alone can demand : and Ijhose sins are for- 
 bidden which God alone could either observe or 
 prohibit. 
 
 The most powerful motives to duty and dissua- 
 sives from vice, are there wisely proposed and 
 powerfully urged ; motives drawn from the nature 
 and perfections, the promises and the threaten- 
 ings, the mercies and judgments of God ; par- 
 ticularly, from his overflowing benevolence and 
 mercy in the work of our redemption, and from 
 advantages and disadvantages, temporal, spirit- 
 ual, and eternal. And while the most excellent 
 means are employed of directing and exciting to 
 the exercise of piety and virtue, the most engag- 
 ing patterns of holiness are set before us, in the 
 example of our Redeemer, and of God as recon- 
 ciled in him, and reconciling the world to him- 
 self. 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 45 
 
 Such is the scheme of doctrine and morals^ 
 presented in the New Testament, and on it men 
 have never been able to improve. Though, 
 with two exceptions, it was written by a few poor 
 illiterate and despised men ; though it was writ- 
 ten in a most idolatrous age ; when the nations of 
 the earth were sunk in the grossest ignorance of 
 God and true religion ; when immorality of every 
 name was triumphant and encouraged ; still it 
 has ever stood before the world as surpassing in 
 adaptation, comprehensiveness, and perfection, all 
 the thoughts and works of men. There have 
 been numbers of learned men of diverse views and 
 dispositions, and belonging to different nations, 
 who have, in every age, applied themselves to the 
 study of religion and morals, with the attendant 
 obligations and privileges. Some of them were 
 friendly to the Christian system, while others were 
 its decided foes. Yet, with all their prolonged, 
 anxious, earnest study, they have neither been able 
 to make any improvement on this divine system, 
 nor find the least imperfection in it. After a trial, 
 in every possible way, and in every variety of cir- 
 cumstance, throughout more than eighteen hundred 
 years, it has always been found unequalled and 
 perfect ; and the more men hav« advanced in the 
 knowledge and practice of virtue, whether in re- 
 lation to each other, or the duty tSey owe to God, 
 the more they have seen of its divine perfection. 
 It has always been in advance of their spiritual 
 
46 PLENAEY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 discoveries and attainments, and it is now, as with 
 an angel's voice, calling them to higher degrees of 
 moral excellence and pleasure. 
 
 Now I would ask, is not this absolutely aston- 
 ishing ? How is it that after a scrutiny so severe 
 and prolonged, there has not been found the 
 least imperfection in this system of doctrine and 
 morals ? How is it that amidst all the improve- 
 ments which have been made in physical science, 
 and civil economy, none has been made in this ? 
 How is it that with all the progress which, within 
 the last century, has been made in the knowledge 
 and practice of christian benevolence, we still find 
 ourselves far behind both the spirit and precept 
 of the New Testament ? These things cannot be 
 accounted for apart from the inspiration of the 
 Holy Spirit. And, if there be anything convinc- 
 ing in an entire harmony of statement, in a per- 
 fect adaptation to all the mental and moral wants 
 of mankind, and in an invariable tendency to 
 elevate and bless them for time and eternity : — 
 if there be anything decisive in the expression of 
 spotless purity, in the declaration of all compre- 
 hending wisdom, and in the manifestation of in- 
 finite benevolence and truth, then we must re- 
 gard this sacred book as a full and adequate ex- 
 pression of the mind of God. 
 
 Jesus Christ promised that the writers of the 
 New Testament should he inspired. He said, 
 Luke 12. 12, " The Holy Ghost shaU teach you 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 47 
 
 in the same hour, what ye ought to say." Again, 
 John 14. 26, " But the comforter, which is the 
 Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my 
 name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all 
 things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have 
 said unto you ;" 16. 13, " When he, the Spirit of 
 truth is come, he shall guide you into all truth ; 
 for he shall not speak of himself ; but whatsoever 
 he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he will 
 show you things to come;" 15. 26, 27, "He shall 
 testify of me. And ye also shall bear witness, 
 because ye have been with me from the begin- 
 ning." 
 
 Here is a full and definite promise, given by the 
 Lord to his disciples, of divine inspiration, to assist 
 them to recollect what he had previously said to 
 them ; to guide them into all truth ; to show 
 them things to come, and to enable them to testi- 
 fy of him before the world. 
 
 Now, suppose for a moment, that these promises 
 were not fulfilled ; that the writers of the New 
 Testament, were not thus inspired ; and how does 
 this supposition bear on the character and work of 
 Jesus ? It places him in the situation of one who 
 has given a pledge, yet failed to fulfil it : — who 
 has excited expectations, yet suffered them to 
 fail. It implies, moreover, that he left them to 
 publish the great truths and rules of his kingdom, 
 which are of unspeakable importance to the best 
 interests of the human family, and the maintenance 
 
48 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 of his autlioritj, without affording them an infal- 
 lible guide, without giving them that aid which 
 would ensure their doing it with truth, and with- 
 out the mixture of human imperfections. Does 
 this accord with the Saviour's faithfulness ? with 
 his previous regard to their necessities ? with his 
 love to mankind ? or with his concern for the in- 
 terest of religion and the glorv of God ? would a 
 wise earthlj^ ruler thus act ? Do human legisla- 
 tors permit their laws to be thus pubhshed ? 
 Had Jesus done so, would it not altogether 
 change our conceptions of his character, and 
 declare that he is unfit to be the Mediatorial Sov- 
 ereign of the world ? 
 
 But from such a conclusion we instantly 
 shrink. It is dishonorable to God, and distress- 
 ing to man. Were it true, his claim to our con- 
 fidence and homage would be gone. Our hope 
 of salvation and peace would be blasted, and we 
 should be shut up in gloomy, hopeless despair. 
 
 But, blessed be Jesus, this is not true. He 
 did give his disciples the promised teacher and 
 guide ; and of it we have sufficient proof in the 
 writings they have left. The late Dr. Dwight 
 well said ; " No power of human memory could 
 enable them to retain such a mass of communica- 
 tions, for any length of time, much less for such 
 a length of time as intervened between their re- 
 ception of them, and the publication of those 
 writings in which they were conveyed to the 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 49 
 
 world. If we consider the numerous events in 
 the life of Christ Avhich they recorded, and still 
 more the numerous discourses which they have 
 professed to recount, we must either admit that 
 these records are very imperfectly true, because 
 necessarily not exact, or that the apostles had 
 such supernatural assistance as to make them ex- 
 act, and in this manner, true. This assistance 
 can be no other than inspiration." 
 
 " The gospel of St. Matthew was written, ac- 
 cording to the earliest calculation, eight years 
 after the death of Christ ; that of Mark and that 
 of Luke about the year 64, more than twenty 
 years after the death of Christ ; and that of 
 John, to say the least, at a much later period. 
 Nothing can be more evident than that these 
 writers could not, for such a length of time, re- 
 tain, by the mere natural force of memory, the 
 things which they have recorded. Particularly 
 is this impossibility manifest with respect to the 
 numerous discourses recorded by St. John, of 
 which, in so great a proportion, his gospel con- 
 sists ; discourses dilBfering from all others known in 
 this present world, strongly characteristical, and 
 therefore fairly presumed to be genuine ; — dis- 
 courses raised up by events distinctly recorded, 
 and perfectly suited to those events, composed of 
 questions and answers, arguments and objections, 
 so minutely specified as to wear the appearance of 
 having been taken down on the spot, and at the 
 
 6 
 
50 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 moment, with uncommon skill and facility. He 
 who believes St. John could remember these 
 things in his old age, by the mere natural force 
 of memory, certainly can find no difficulty in 
 admitting any proposition because it asserts 
 something miraculous ; for no miracle involves a 
 more absolute counteraction of the known laws of 
 nature than that which is involved in this sup- 
 position." Here, therefore, we have the proof 
 that the Saviour's promise was fulfilled, and that 
 the New Testament writers were divinely in- 
 spired. 
 
 The writers of this sacred hook believed them- 
 selves to he thus inspired. This is evinced 
 tiiroughout their writings, and is shown by the 
 claims they put forth. They affirmed that they 
 were the divinely appointed and special witnesses 
 for Christ. They said, 1. Cor. 4. 1, " Let a man 
 so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, 
 and stewards of the mysteries of God." They 
 urged their teachings as the truth of God, and 
 said, 1 John, 4. 6, " We are of God. He that 
 knoweth God heareth us ; he that is not of God 
 heareth not us." They placed themselves on a 
 full equality with the ancient prophets of the 
 Lord. The apostle Paul said, Eph. 3. 4-5, 
 " Whereby, when ye read ye may understand my 
 knowledge in the mystery of Christ. Which in 
 other ages was not made unto the sons of men, 
 as it is now revealed imto his holy apostles, and 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 51 
 
 prophets, by the spirit." See also Rom. l^. 
 25-27. They designated their instructions as, 
 *' The truth," " The gospel of Christ," " The glo- 
 rious gospel of the blessed God," " The word of 
 God ;" and the apostle Peter said, 4 Ep. 3. 1, 2, 
 " This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto 
 you ; — that ye may be mindful of the words 
 which were spoken before by the holy prophets, 
 and of the commandment of us, the apostles of 
 the Lord and Saviour." 
 
 This would have been sufficient to have shown' 
 the reality and power of their conviction, that 
 they were specially and fully inspired of God ; 
 but they went further, and directly affirmed the 
 fact. Luke says. Acts 2. 4, " And they were 
 all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to 
 speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave 
 them utterance." Paul said, Gal. 1. 11, 12, 
 " I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which 
 was preached of me is not after man. For I 
 neither received it of man, neither was I taught 
 it but by revelation of Jesus Christ." Again, 
 1 Cor. 11. 23, " For I have received of the 
 Lord that which, also, I delivered unto you." 
 Again, 1 Cor. 2. 12, 13, 16, " Now we have 
 received, not the spirit of the world, but the 
 spirit which is of God. Which things, also, we 
 speak not in the words which man's wisdom 
 teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth. 
 We have the mind of Christ." They enforced 
 
52 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 their instructions as of divine authority on the 
 church. Peter, in the passage already quoted, 
 spoke of his epistles, " as the commandment of 
 us the Apostles of the Lord.' John said, 1 Ep. 
 1. 4, " These things we write unto you, that 
 your joy may be full." Paul said, 2 Thess. 
 
 3. 6, '' Now we command you^ brethren, in the 
 name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Again, 1 Thess. 
 
 4. 8, " He, therefore, that despiseth, despiseth 
 not man, but God, who hath also given unto us 
 of his Holy Spirit." And referring to the last 
 great day, he said, " In the day when God shall 
 judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, accord- 
 ing to my Gosjoeiy 
 
 Guided by the Holy Spirit, they, like the 
 writers of the Old Testament, denounced heavy 
 judgments against those who should take from or 
 alter the sayings of this sacred book. Paul said, 
 Gal. 1. 3, " But though we, or an angel from 
 heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than 
 that which we have preached unto you, let him 
 be accursed." John said. Rev. 22. 18, 19, 
 " For I testify unto every man that heareth the 
 words of the prophecy of this book, if any man 
 shall add unto these things, God shall add unto 
 hun the plagues that are written in this book ; 
 and if any man shall take away from the words 
 of this prophecy, God shall take a^Yay his part 
 out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, 
 and the things which are written in this book." 
 
OLD AXD NEW TESTAMENTS. 53 
 
 Here we have evidence of the fact that the 
 writers of the New Testament believed them- 
 selves inspired, as complete as can he thought of 
 or desired. It must carry conviction to every 
 capdid mind. And when it is remembered that 
 Jehovah attested the correctness of their claims 
 and assertions by his own miraculous gifts, so 
 that they were enabled to heal the sick, raise the 
 dead to life, and speak in other tongues the won- 
 derful works of God, the argument must be 
 regarded as unanswerable and sufficient of itself 
 to sustain the doctrine that the New Testament 
 is the perfect work of God. 
 
 Once more ; the inspiration of this sacred 
 book is shown by the use ivJdch Grod has made of 
 it, or ivhat he has effected by it. 
 
 The Gospel is peculiarly the sword of the 
 spirit. By it Jehovah works in the subjugation 
 of sin, the conversion and sanctification of souls, 
 and in the fulfilment of his purposes of grace. 
 Through his blessing it has prevailed, not only 
 without any compromise with the world, or aid 
 from its secular powers, but in direct opposition 
 thereto. It has been " mighty, through God, to 
 the pulling down of strong holds ; casting down 
 imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth 
 itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing 
 into captivity every thought to the obedience of 
 Christ." It has " triumphed over the craft, rage, 
 and power of the infuriated Jews, over the pride 
 5* 
 
54 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 of learning, and the obstinacy of ignorance, 
 hatred, and lust ; — over the hardened inclinar 
 tions, deep rooted customs, and long estabhshed 
 laws, of both Jews and Pagans, — so that, not^ 
 withstanding every conceivable form of opposi- 
 tion, within a few years after Christ's ascension, 
 it prevailed, in a greater or less degree, in almost 
 every corner of the Roman empire, and in the 
 countries adjacent, and multitudes, at the hazard 
 of every temporal loss or punishment, readily 
 behoved, constantly adhered to, and cheerfully 
 and strictly practised its pure and holy precepts." 
 Nor has the success of Christianity been confined 
 to the early ages only ; for during the period of 
 eighteen centuries, notwithstanding innumerable 
 persecutions, together with the wickedness of 
 many of its professors and ministers, it has been 
 successful in reforming the hearts and Hves of 
 multitudes in almost every nation imder heaven ; 
 and at the present tune there are hundreds of 
 thousands who by it, have been quickened from a 
 death in sin to a life in Jesus Christ, who, " being 
 made free from sin, and become the servants of 
 God, have their fruit unto holiness and the end 
 everlasting hfe." 
 
 The Gospel has been, from the very first, the 
 efficient instrument of civilization, intelligence, 
 and happiness. By it, peace, liberty, and right- 
 eousness have been difiiised among mankind. 
 By it, ihey have been raised from the depths of 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 55 
 
 wretchedness and sin, to the enjoyment of distin- 
 guished temporal blessings, and to the possession 
 of spiritual health. By it, they have been 
 brought nigh to God, and made meet for the in- 
 heritance of the saints in light. 
 
 " This remedy did wisdom find, 
 To heal diseases of the mind ; 
 This sovereign balm, whose virtues can 
 Restore the ruined creature, man. 
 
 " The gospel bids the dead revive, 
 Sinners obey the voice and live ; 
 Dry bones are raised and clothed afresh, 
 And hearts of stone are turned to flesh. 
 
 " Nations, the learned, and the rude. 
 Are by these heavenly arms subdued ; 
 While satan rages at his loss. 
 And hates the doctrine of the cross." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Objections to the Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures 
 ansioered, and the Beatings of the opposite Sentiment 
 shown. 
 
 In the preceding chapters we have seen the 
 nature and importance of inspiration, with the 
 plenary inspiration of both the Old Testament 
 and the New. It is necessary now to notice 
 some of the objections to this doctrine with the 
 consequences involved in its rejection. 
 
 It is no valid objection to this doctrine, that ive 
 do not understand liow^ or in ivhat manner^ the 
 minds of the sacred ivriters ivere affected hj the 
 Holy Spirit; for neither can we tell how he 
 works in the regeneration of the soul. All we 
 know is, that Christ has said, John 3. 3, " The 
 wind bloweth Avhere it listeth, and thou hearest 
 the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
 Cometh, and whither it goeth : So is every one 
 that is born of the Spirit." 
 
 Neither is it any good objection to this doc- 
 trine, that the writers ivere not confined to the 
 communication of new truths. For it was quite 
 as necessary to re-assert, and record with infallible 
 correctness those truths which God had previously 
 
PLENARY INSPIRATION, ETC. 57 
 
 stamped on the soul, as to declare those new doc- 
 trines, or precepts, he wished to reveal. This 
 inspiration was therefore employed to assist the 
 memories of the sacred writers in relation to 
 what was previously known, as well as to enable 
 them to foretell things to come. 
 
 It is no objection, that the saci^ed writers urote 
 some expressions which seem of little hwportance. 
 For this is in harmony with God's operations in 
 nature. He has created the blade of grass, as 
 well as the spacious fruitful tree ; — the insect 
 as well as the man. These expressions were, 
 not unfrequentlv, indispensable to the impartial 
 and perfect presentation of the truth ; and though 
 they may appear to us, at this distance of time, as 
 of but little moment, they probably were, when 
 written, of great consequence in the estimation 
 of the saints, and for the promotion of the truth. 
 
 It is not a sound objection to this doctrine, 
 that there are found occasional inaccuracies in 
 the statements of Scripture^ or instances of ap- 
 parent disagreement among its writers. For 
 these inaccuracies are, at best, but slight. They 
 never refer to predictions, doctrines, or precepts, 
 but to matters of limited application, and of com- 
 paratively little moment, and should be attributed 
 to transcribers, and not to the original writers. 
 As to instances of disagreement, many have found 
 these, with more enlightened and earnest study, 
 to be only imaginary, and, did we more fully see 
 
68 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 light in God's light, we should find that all is 
 harmony, beauty, and perfection. 
 
 Neither, finally, is it any valid objection to the 
 perfect inspiration of the Scriptures, that there 
 are found recorded in them some expressions 
 which were not true. Such a record was indis- 
 pensable to the perfection of the holy word. An 
 individual who undertakes to give a correct rep- 
 resentation of some event which has transpired, 
 may find himself obhged to repeat some un- 
 righteous expressions ; but in doing tliis he is 
 influenced by a strict regard to truth, and, instead 
 of approving or endorsing them, he may at the 
 same time abominate them as most untrue. 
 
 So it is with the Scriptures of truth. God 
 saw that it was necessary for our instruction that 
 the expressions and deeds, not only of good men, 
 but also those of bad men, should, in some in- 
 stances, be recorded ; therefore it has been done. 
 But in making this record, the object was, not to 
 express approval^ but to give a faithful and infal- 
 lible representation of what transpired. This 
 fact it is very important to observe, for it will 
 explain what otherwise would be perplexing to an 
 inquiring mind. 
 
 The following illustrations will make this point 
 more plain. In the book of Job we are informed 
 that Satan said to God respecting that holy man, 
 " Put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he 
 hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." But 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 59 
 
 the result showed that this expression bore the 
 characteristic of its author ; it was false. For 
 though all Job had was smitten, yet it is said, 
 " In all this he sinned not, nor charged God 
 foohshly." 
 
 Again, Satan said to the Lord, " Skin for skin, 
 yea, all that a man hath Tvill be given for his life. 
 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone 
 and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.'* 
 Job was then smitten " with sore boils from the 
 sole of his foot unto his crown ; and he took a 
 potsherd to scrape himself withal ; and he sat 
 down among the ashes." Yet it is declared, " In 
 all this did not Job sin with his lips." In both 
 instances the assertions of Satan were false, yet 
 they are inscribed on the sacred page, to give us 
 a faithful dehneation of the character of this 
 accuser of the brethren, and of the integrity of 
 patient Job. So it is with other expressions 
 found in this book ; they are recorded, not be- 
 cause their authors were inspired by the Holy 
 Spirit, or spoke truthfully, but to give us a faith- 
 ful record of what was said, and to lead us to a 
 just regard of God, of his designs, and of his 
 administration. 
 
 So it is in the New Testament. There are 
 recorded the reproaches and accusations of the 
 Jews against the Lord. They said of hii^a, Luke 
 7. 33, " Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine- 
 bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners." — 
 
60 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 Again, Mark 3. 22, " He hath Beelzebub, and 
 by the prince of devils caste th he out devils." 
 Who believes these expressions are true, as appli- 
 ed to the Holy Jesus ? Yet they are written in 
 the sacred book, and it was necessary they 
 should be, that the world might have a perfect 
 history of the life of Christ. Bj this record we 
 see how the blessed Redeemer was assailed, and 
 how severe the trials which he endured. By it 
 we are prepared to receive and bear the frowns 
 of the world, and to look up with hope and sym- 
 pathy to him, who " w^as in all points tempted as 
 we are, yet without sin." And the record of 
 these expressions, instead of being regarded as 
 an objection to the perfect inspiration of the 
 Scriptures, should be esteemed as a delightful 
 proof of its reality, for it shows the regard 
 which the Holy Spirit had to our comfort and 
 instruction. 
 
 These are the principal objections to this doc- 
 trine. Others may be mentioned, but they are 
 b}^ no means unanswerable, nor of sufficient force 
 to justify the rejection of any part of this book 
 as uninspired, for divine testimony says, " All 
 Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 
 
 It is now necessary to consider the hearings of 
 the sentiment that the Scriptures are not fully in- 
 spired. These are most momentous, and apply 
 to every article of our faith, to the vigor of our 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 61 
 
 piety, and to the very existence of our religious 
 hopes. 
 
 Think of its bearings on the jjractice and cliar- 
 acter of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have al- 
 ready seen that he regarded the instructions of 
 the Old Testament with unqualified reverence, 
 enforced them as of divine authority, and exhort- 
 ed the Jews to search them as the words of eter- 
 nal life. Never, in a- single instance, nor in the 
 most indirect manner, did he say or do any thing 
 which conflicted with these instructions, or indi- 
 cated a doubt of the divinity of this part of the 
 sacred w^ord. But, if they were not divinely in- 
 spired, he either did or did not know it. If he 
 did not know it, then it follows that he was sub- 
 ject to ignorance and error, that he was less wise 
 than the sceptical critics of our own day, and 
 that his teaching is erroneous and unworthy of 
 our regard. If he did know it, then it follows, 
 that though bound to teach faithfully the truth of 
 God, he did not do so ; that he fostered one of 
 the greatest errors and superstitions of the Jews ; 
 that he presented as a divine book that which is 
 not so ; taught his disciples to do the same, and 
 condemned the Jews for not regarding with 
 greater reverence its words. One of these con- 
 clusions is inevitable. There is no possibiUty of 
 escape. And either one, if true, would show 
 that Jesus Christ does not deserve the unquaU- 
 
62 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 fied confidence of mankind, and that he is not fit 
 to be the Saviour of the world. 
 
 The behef that the New Testament is not thus 
 perfectly inspired, appHes with similar efiect to 
 the character of Jesus. He did unquestionably 
 promise that his servants should be inspired to 
 teach his will ; that the Holy Spirit should bring 
 all things to their remembrance whatsoever he 
 had said unto them ; should tell them what to 
 say, and show them things to come. The fulfil- 
 ment of this promise was indispensable to fit the 
 apostles for the duties they had to discharge, and 
 to give perfection and authority to the instruc- 
 tions of the New Testament. But suppose the 
 sentiment is true that they were not thus mspir- 
 ed ; then it follows that the promise of Jesus was 
 not fulfilled ; that he was not faithful to his 
 word ; that he sent forth his servants on an em- 
 bassage which most intimately concerned the 
 maintenance of his authority, and the highest 
 welfare of his creatures, without giving them 
 the necessary quahfications and instructions, and 
 without furnishing them with infalhble rules, for 
 the perfect publication and enforcement of his 
 will. 
 
 Do these things accord with the declaration of 
 the gospel, that Jesus is ''full of grace and 
 truth 9^^ Do they not reflect most painfully on 
 his wisdom, integrity, benevolence, and entire 
 character ? Would they not, if true, compel us 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 63 
 
 to change altogether our ideas of Jesus ? de- 
 stroy our confidence in him, and place us in a 
 state of the most painful uncertainty respecting 
 the requirements of God, and the way of peace 
 and salvation ? 
 
 Such are the bearings of the sentiment, that 
 the Bible is oiAj ijartlally inspired on the prac- 
 tice and character of Jesus Christ. It not only 
 denies his divinity, but it destroys his claim to be 
 regarded as an infallible teacher of truth, and a 
 perfect pattern for the imitation of mankind. 
 
 Think of the bearings of this sentiment on 
 those who indulge it in relation to Christ. A 
 great number of those who refuse to receive the 
 Scriptures as wholly and perfectly inspired, pro- 
 fess to admire the perfect character and wisdom 
 of Jesus, to receive his sayings as the truth of 
 God, and to follow him as their teacher and pat- 
 tern. They call themselves his disciples, and 
 enjoin the duty of believing and doing as he did. 
 
 But where do we find that Jesus expressed the 
 least doubt of the divine inspiration of the Bible ? 
 Where shall we look for the least indication of 
 this ? Where in all his teachings shall we find a 
 single word, which, fairly construed, can be re- 
 garded as encouraging the disbelief of this doc- 
 trine ? 
 
 I hazard nothing in saying that there is no 
 such proof. He not only did not question this 
 doctrine, but he boldly, continuously, and in the 
 
64 
 
 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 most decisive mannner, affirmed it. As of di- 
 vine authority, he personailv received and obey- 
 ed the Scriptures ; — as sudi, he submitted his 
 claims to their decision ; — and as such, he en- 
 forced a childlike deference to their teachings. 
 1 he Rev. Prof. Stuart, after an extensive exam- 
 ination of this subject, says, " I have fully shown 
 that Christ and his apostles did receive the Old 
 Testament Scriptures as divine and authoritative. 
 If this be not fully shown, then I must despair of 
 ever seeing any point established in sacred criti- 
 cism, either in respect to facts or opinions. There 
 is not a circumstance in all the history of religion, 
 appertaining to ancient times, that is capable of 
 more absolute demonstration than this." 
 
 Now, I would ask, are they who disbelieve the 
 plenary inspiration, either of the Old or New Tes- 
 tament Scriptures, the consistent followers of 
 Christ ? Are they obediently receiving his in- 
 structions ? Are they imitating his perfect pat- 
 tern . Nay, they are acting in direct opposition 
 to his example, and, no matter what their profes- 
 sions, they are the opponents of Jesus and the 
 rejecters of his authority. The distinguished 
 theologian just quoted, says : " It is no light 
 matter what judgment we form on a subject of 
 such high and holy import as this. It is a case 
 m which a direct demand is made upon us for 
 submission and deference to Christ and his 
 apostles; and we cannot thrust it aside. The 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 65 
 
 simple and ultimate question is : Are we to admit 
 their authority and example^ or to gainsay the 
 one, and shun an imitation of the other ^ 
 
 Think again, of the bearings of this sentiment 
 on ourselves, and the best interests of society. 
 Every individual who has earnestly thought on 
 the subject, knows that mankind need, in matters 
 of faith and practice, a perfect and infallible 
 guide. Such a guide the Bible is, and the more 
 elevated and Christ-like our moral dispositions 
 are, the more disposed we shall be to receive its 
 teachings with child-like homage and deference. 
 Then it will be our delight, and we shall feel that 
 the loftiest act of the human intellect is to receive, 
 with unfeigned and unqualified submission, its 
 divine statements. 
 
 But if this blessed book be not thus received ; 
 if we doubt its entire inspiration, and question 
 the divine authority of any of its declarations, 
 how shall our spiritual necessities be supplied ? 
 How shall we know what is truth ? How shall 
 we obtain religious comfort and stability ? How 
 shall we guard ourselves from the growing influ- 
 ence of error and sin ? 
 
 I once knew an individual of considerable 
 mental attainments, of great amiability of temper, 
 and of high standing in the church, who, after 
 professedly regarding the whole Bible as the 
 book of God, began to doubt the correctness of 
 this opinion. Then he disbeUeved it. Then he 
 
66 
 
 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE 
 
 would not admit as true those principles which 
 are based on this doctrine. Then he openly 
 and bitterly opposed certain truths of the Bible. 
 Then he separated himself from his previous 
 religious connections, united himself with the 
 advocates of error, and became an open enemy 
 of the truth. Throughout this whole process he 
 seemed in a most uncomfortable state of mind, 
 and he was, I fear, ever after, a stranger to holy 
 peace, and firm assured faith. This is not an 
 ^ uncommon case. Many have taken a similar 
 course, and found a similar end. 
 
 " When our confidence in God's word is im- 
 paired, however slightly, we are left in uncer- 
 tamty and peril. It must be perfect and entire, 
 else it has no element of safety. If one portion 
 is cast away, the whole revelation may soon be 
 doubted or discarded. Cut a single strand of 
 the rope which raises the collier from his dark 
 mine, and the rest may soon part, and leave him 
 to be dashed in pieces below. Break a sino-le 
 line in the connected revealings of God, and yon 
 leave them a heap of fragments, to be picked 
 away by every pilfering hand. The process 
 once started in a sceptical mind, can thence- 
 forward be traced, only as the spiral currents 
 of the whirlwind, by the desolations they leave 
 behind." 
 
 Similar, in a great degree, will be the influ- 
 ence of this sentiment on society. That is made 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 67 
 
 up of separate individuals, and what their opinions 
 and habits are, its prevailing features will be. 
 Let the impression generally prevail that the 
 Bible is not wholly true ; that it is not entirely of 
 divine authority, and, if the influence of this sen- 
 timent is not controled by opinions previously 
 held, or by the rehgious views and habits of other 
 persons around, it will soon appear that the word 
 of God is but little read and reverenced by the 
 members of that community, and that they pay 
 little regard to its institutions and requirements. 
 Deeply inlaid in their minds will be the seeds of 
 error, which, if allowed to bring forth their appro- 
 priate fruit, will appear in the practical rejection 
 of the Bible as a divine book ; in the abandon- 
 ment of its peculiar doctrines ; in the repudiation 
 of its high prohibitions and sanctions ; in the dis- 
 regard of its obligations ; in the profanation of 
 the sabbath ; and in the indulgence of a prevail- 
 ing scepticism which will be the bane of private 
 and social happiness and virtue. There the 
 foundations of the social fabric will be under- 
 mined ; its securities will be weakened ; its moral 
 power will be broken ; the source of its strength 
 and happiness will be discarded ; and it will be 
 controled by influences which will inevitably lead 
 to misery and ruin. 
 
 Such are the bearings of this sentiment that 
 the word of God is not perfectly inspired, on the 
 character of Jesus Christ ; on the conduct of men 
 
68 PLENARY INSPIRATION OF TUE 
 
 in relation to him ; and on the moral welfare of 
 the individual, and of society. And can this 
 sentiment be true ? Was the blessed Saviour 
 chargeable with deceit ? Is he unworthy of our 
 imitation and confidence ? Are his instructions 
 undeserving our regard ? Shall we cast aside 
 the light of heaven and plunge ourselves into 
 worse than midnight darkness? Shall we dis- 
 card, what experience, as well as divine asser- 
 tion, declares is the infallible and perfect guide, 
 for the dubious, conflicting, and insufficient dic- 
 tates of reason ? May God forbid ! But with a 
 more enhghtened and firmer faith, with increased 
 docility of spirit, and with a stronger desire to 
 know and do the will of God, let us earnestly 
 cleave to the lohole Bible, as the perfect, infalh- 
 ble, ever-enduring word of the Lord. 
 
 " Most wondrous book ! bright candle of the Lord ! 
 Star of eternity ! the only star 
 By which the bark of man could navigate 
 The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss 
 Securely ; only star which rose on Time, 
 And on its dark and troubled billows, still. 
 As generation drifting swiftly by. 
 Succeeded generation, threw a ray, 
 Of heaven's own Hght, and to the hills of God, 
 The eternal hills, pointed the sinner's eyes ; 
 By prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards, 
 Evangelists, apostles, men inspired. 
 And by the Holy Ghost anointed, set 
 Apart and consecrated to declare 
 To earth the counsels of the Eternal One, 
 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 69 
 
 This book — this holiest, this sublimest book, 
 
 AVas sent, — Heaven's will, Heaven's code of laws entire. 
 
 This book, this holy book, on every line, 
 Marked with the seal of high divinity, 
 On every leaf bedewed with drops of love 
 Divine, and with the eternal heraldry 
 And signature of God Almighty stamped 
 From first to last, — this ray of sacred light, 
 This lamp from off the everlasting throne, 
 INlercy took down, and in the night of Time 
 Stood casting on the dark her grcxcious bow ; 
 And evermore beseeching men, with tears 
 And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live." 
 
 KiRKE White. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
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 The plenary inspiration of the Old and 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
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