So，too，scientificbiblicalresearchhas，aswehaveseen，beenobligedtoadmittheexistenceofmuchmythicalandlegendarymatter，asasettingforthegreattruthsnotonlyoftheOldTestamentbutoftheNew。Ithasalsoshown，bythecomparativestudyofliteratures，theprocessbywhichsomebookswerecompiledandrecompiled，adornedwithbeautifulutterances，strengthenedorweakenedbyalterationsandinterpolationsexpressingtheviewsofthepossessorsortranscribers，andattributedtopersonageswhocouldnotpossiblyhavewrittenthem。ThepresentationofthesethingshasgreatlyweakenedthatswayofmeredogmawhichhassoobscuredthesimpleteachingsofChristhimself；forithasshownthatthemoreweknowofoursacredbooks，thelesscertainwebecomeastotheauthenticityof“prooftexts。”andithasdisengagedmoreandmore，astheonlyvaluableresiduum，likethemassofgoldatthebottomofthecrucible，thepersonality，spirit，teaching，andidealsoftheblessedFounderofChristianity。Moreandmore，too，thenewscholarshiphasdevelopedtheconceptionoftheNewTestamentas，liketheOld，thegrowthofliteratureinobediencetolaw——aconceptionwhichinalprobabilitywillgiveititsstrongestholdonthecomingcenturies。InmakingthisrevelationChristianscholarshiphasbynomeansdoneworkmainlydestructive。Ithas，indeed，sweptawayamassofnoxiousgrowths，butithasatthesametimeclearedthegroundforabettergrowthofChristianity——agrowththroughwhichalreadypulsatesthecurrentofanoblerlife。Ithasforeverdestroyedthecontentionofscholarslikethoseoftheeighteenthcenturywhosaw，inthemultitudeofirreconcilablediscrepanciesbetweenvariousbiblicalstatements，merelyevidencesofpriestcraftandintentionalfraud。ThenewscholarshiphasshownthatevensuchabsolutecontradictionsasthosebetweentheaccountsoftheearlylifeofJesusbyMatthewandLuke，andbetweenthedateofthecrucifixionanddetailsoftheresurrectioninthefirstthreeGospelsandinthefourth，andotherdiscrepancieshardlylessserious，donotdestroythehistoricalcharacterofthenarrative。EventhehopelesslyconflictinggenealogiesoftheSaviourandtheevidentlymythicalaccretionsaboutthesimplefactsofhisbirthandlifearethusfullofinterestwhentakenasanaturalliterarydevelopmentinobediencetothedeepestreligiousfeeling。[502]
[502]AmongthenewerEnglishworksofthecanonofScripture，especiallyasregardstheOldTestament，seeRyleinworkcited。
AstotheevidencesoffrequentmutilationsoftheNewTestamenttext，aswellasoffrequentchargeofchangingtextsmadeagainsteachotherbyearlyChristianwriters，seeReuss，HistoryoftheNewTestament，vol。ii，S362。Forareverantandhonesttreatmentofsomeofthediscrepanciesandcontradictionswhichareabsolutelyirreconcilable，seeCrooker，asabove，appendix；
alsoCone，GospelCriticismandHistoricChristianity，especiallychap。ii；alsoMatthewArnold，LiteratureandDogma，andGodandtheBible，especiallychap。vi；andforabriefbutfullshowingoftheminajudicialandkindlyspirit，seeLaing，ProblemsoftheFuture，chap。ix，onTheHistoricalElementintheGospels。
AmongthosewhohavewroughtmosteffectivelytobringtheleadersofthoughtintheEnglish-speakingnationstothishigherconception，MatthewArnoldshouldnotbeforgotten。Bypoeticinsight，broadscholarship，pungentstatement，pithyargument，andanexquisitelylucidstyle，heaidedeffectuallyduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcenturyinbringingtheworkofspecialiststobearuponthedevelopmentofabroaderanddeeperview。Inthelightofhisgeniusaconceptionofoursacredbooksatthesametimemoreliteraryaswellasmorescientifichasgrownwidelyandvigorously，whiletheolderviewwhichmadeofthemafetichandasupportforunchristiandogmashasbeenmoreandmorethrownintothebackground。ThecontributionstotheseresultsbythemosteminentprofessorsatthegreatChristianuniversitiesoftheEnglish-speakingworld，OxfordandCambridgetakingthelead，aremosthopefulsignsofanewepoch。
Verysignificantalsoisachangeinthestyleofargumentagainstthescientificview。Leadingsupportersoftheolderopinionsseemoreandmoreclearlytheworthlessnessofrhetoricagainstascertainedfact：meredoggedresistancetocogentargumentevidentlyavailslessandless；andthereadinessofthemoreprominentrepresentativesoftheolderthoughttoconsideropposingarguments，andtoacknowledgeanyforcetheymayhave，iscertainlyofgoodomen。TheconcessionsmadeinLuxMundiregardingscripturalmythsandlegendshavebeenalreadymentioned。
SignificantalsohasbeentheincreasingreprobationintheChurchitselfoftheprofoundthoughdoubtlessunwittingimmoralitiesofRECONCILERS。Thecastigationwhichfollowedtheexploitsofthegreatestoftheseinourowntime——Mr。Gladstone，atthehandsofProf。Huxley——didmuchtocompleteaworkinwhichsucheminentchurchmenasStanley，Farrar，Sanday，Cheyne，Driver，andSaycehadrenderedgoodservice。
TypicalamongtheseevidencesofabetterspiritincontroversyhasbeenthetreatmentofthequestionregardingmistakenquotationsfromtheOldTestamentintheNew，andespeciallyregardingquotationsbyChristhimself。Foratimethiswasapparentlythemostdifficultofallmattersdividingthetwoforces；butthoughhereandthereappearchampionsoftradition，liketheBishopofGloucester，effectualresistancetothenewviewhasvirtuallyceased；inonewayoranotherthemostconservativeauthoritieshaveacceptedtheundoubtedtruthrevealedbyasimplescientificmethod。Theirargumentshaveindeedbeenvaried。WhilesomehavefallenbackuponLeClerc’scontentionthat“ChristdidnotcometoteachcriticismtotheJews。”andothersuponPaley’sargumentthattheMastershapedhisstatementsinaccordancewiththeideasofhistime，othershavetakenrefugeinscholasticstatements——amongthemthatofIrenaeusregarding“aquiescenceofthedivineword。”orthesomewhatstartlingexplanationbysundryrecenttheologiansthat“ourLordemptiedhimselfofhisGodhead。”[504]
[504]ForMatthewArnold，see，besideshisLiteratureandDogma，hisSt。PaulandProtestantism。AstothequotationsintheNewTestamentfromtheOld，seeToy，QuotationsintheNewTestament，1889，p。72；alsoKuenen，TheProphetsandProphecyinIsrael。
ForLeClerc’smethodofdealingwiththeargumentregardingquotationsfromtheOldTestamentintheNew，seeearlierpartsofthepresentchapter。ForPaley’smode，seehisEvidences，partiii，chapteriii。ForthemorescholasticexpresssionsfromIrenaeusandothers，seeGore，BamptonLectures，1891，especiallynoteonp。267。ForastrikingpassageonthegeneralsubjectseeB。W。Bacon，GenesisofGenesis，p。33，endingwiththewords，“WemustdeclinetostaketheauthorityofJesusChristonaquestionofliterarycriticism。”
Norshouldtherebeomittedatributetotheincreasingcourtesyshowninlateyearsbyleadingsupportersoftheolderview。
Duringthelasttwodecadesofthepresentcenturytherehasbeenamosthappydeparturefromtheoldermethodofresistance，firstbyplausibilities，nextbyepithets，andfinallybypersecution。
TothebitternessoftheattacksuponDarwin，theEssayistsandReviewers，andBishopColenso，havesucceeded，amongreallyeminentleaders，afarbettermethodandtone。WhileMatthewArnoldnodoubtdidmuchincommending“sweetreasonableness“totheologicalcontroversialists，Mr。Gladstone，byhisperfectcourtesytohisopponents，evenwhensmartingundertheirheaviestblows，hassetamostvaluableexample。NorshouldthespiritshownbyBishopEllicott，leadingaforlornhopeforthetraditionalview，passwithoutatributeofrespect。Trulypatheticisittoseethisvenerableandlearnedprelate，oneofthemosteminentrepresentativesoftheolderbiblicalresearch，evenwhengivingsolemnwarningsagainstthenewercriticisms，andunderallthetemptationsofexcathedrautterance，remainingmildandgentleandjustinthetreatmentofadversarieswhoseideasheevidentlyabhors。Happily，heiscomfortedbythefaiththatChristianitvwillsurvive；andthisfaithhisopponentsfullyshare。[505]
[505]AsanexampleofcourtesybetweentheologicopponentsmaybecitedthecontroversybetweenMr。GladstoneandProf。Huxley，PrincipalGore’sBamptonLecturesfor1891，andBishopEllicott’sCharges，publishedin1893。
Tothefactthatthesuppressionofpersonalconvictionsamong“theenlightened“didnotceasewiththeMediceanpopestherearemanytestimonies。OneespeciallycuriouswasmentionedtothepresentwriterbyamosthonoureddiplomatistandscholaratRome。Whilethisgentlemanwaslookingoverthebooksofaneminentcardinal，recentlydeceased，henoticedaseriesofoctavosbearingontheirbacksthetitle“ActaApostolorum。”
SurprisedatsuchanextensionoftheActsofApostles，heopenedavolumeandfoundtheseriestobetheworksofVoltaire。AstoasimilarconditionofthingsintheChurchofEnglandmaybecitedthefollowingfromFroude’sErasmus：“IknewvariouspersonsofhighreputationafewyearsagowhothoughtatthebottomverymuchasBishopColensothought，whoneverthelessturnedandrenthimtocleartheirownreputations——whichtheydidnotsucceedindoing。”Seeworkcited，closeofLectureXI。
VI。RECONSTRUCTIVEFORCEOFSCIENTIFICCRITICISM。
Forallthisdissolvingawayoftraditionalopinionsregardingoursacredliterature，therehasbeenacausefarmoregeneralandpowerfulthananywhichhasbeengiven，foritisacausesurroundingandpermeatingall。Thisissimplytheatmosphereofthoughtengenderedbythedevelopmentofallsciencesduringthelastthreecenturies。
Vastmassesofmyth，legend，marvel，anddogmaticassertion，comingintothisatmosphere，havebeendissolvedandarenowdissolvingquietlyawaylikeicebergsdriftedintotheGulfStream。Inearlierdays，whensomecriticinadvanceofhistimeinsistedthatMosescouldnothavewrittenanaccountembracingthecircumstancesofhisowndeath，itwassufficienttoanswerthatMoseswasaprophet；ifattentionwascalledtothefactthatthegreatearlyprophets，byallwhichtheydidanddidnotdo，showedthattherecouldnothaveexistedintheirtimeany“Leviticalcode。”asufficientanswerwas“mystery“；andifthediscrepancywasnotedbetweenthetwoaccountsofcreationinGenesis，orbetweenthegenealogiesorthedatesofthecrucifixionintheGospels，thecogentreplywas“infidelity。”
Butthethinkingworldhasatlastbeenbornebythegeneraldevelopmentofascientificatmospherebeyondthatkindofrefutation。
If，intheatmospheregeneratedbytheearlierdevelopedsciences，theoldergrowthsofbiblicalinterpretationhavedroopedandwitheredandareevidentlyperishing，newandbettergrowthshavearisenwithrootsrunningdownintothenewersciences。ComparativeAnthropologyingeneral，byshowingthatvariousearlystagesofbeliefandobservance，oncesupposedtobederivedfromdirectrevelationfromheaventotheHebrews，arestillfoundasarresteddevelopmentsamongvarioussavageandbarbaroustribes；ComparativeMythologyandFolklore，byshowingthatideasandbeliefsregardingtheSupremePowerintheuniverseareprogressive，andnotlessinJudeathaninotherpartsoftheworld；ComparativeReligionandLiterature，bysearchingoutandlayingsidebysidethosemainfactsintheupwardstruggleofhumanitywhichshowthattheIsraelites，likeothergiftedpeoples，rosegradually，throughghostworship，fetichism，andpolytheism，tohighertheologicallevels；andthat，astheythusrose，theirconceptionsandstatementsregardingtheGodtheyworshippedbecamenoblerandbetter——allthesesciencesaregivinganewsolutiontothoseproblemswhichdogmatictheologyhassolonglabouredinvaintosolve。WhileresearchesinthesescienceshaveestablishedthefactthataccountsformerlysupposedtobespecialrevelationstoJewsandChristiansarebutrepetitionsofwidespreadlegendsdatingfromfarearliercivilizations，andthatbeliefsformerlythoughtfundamentaltoJudaismandChristianityaresimplybasedonancientmyths，theyhavealsobeguntoimpressupontheintellectandconscienceofthethinkingworldthefactthatthereligiousandmoraltruthsthusdisengagedfromtheoldmassesofmythandlegendareallthemorevenerableandauthoritative，andthatallindividualornationallifeofanyvaluemustbevitalizedbythem。[506]
[506]ForplaintivelamentationsovertheinfluenceofthisatmosphereofscientificthoughtuponthemosteminentcontemporaryChristianscholars，seetheChristusComprobator，bytheBishopofGloucesterandBristol，London，1893，andthearticleintheContemporaryReviewforMay，1892，bytheBishopofColchester，passim。Forsomelessknownexamplesofsacredmythsandlegendsinheritedfromancientcivilizations，seeLenormant，LesOriginesdel’Histoire，passim，butespeciallychaps。ii，iv，v，vi；seealsoGoldziher。
If，then，modernscienceingeneralhasactedpowerfullytodissolveawaythetheoriesanddogmasoftheoldertheologicinterpretation，ithasalsobeenactiveinareconstructionandrecrystallizationoftruth；andverypowerfulinthisreconstructionhavebeentheevolutiondoctrineswhichhavegrownoutofthethoughtandworkofmenlikeDarwinandSpencer。
Inthelightthusobtainedthesacredtexthasbeentransformed：
outoftheoldchaoshascomeorder；outoftheoldwelterofhopelesslyconflictingstatementsinreligionandmoralshascome，inobediencetothisnewconceptionofdevelopment，theideaofasacredliteraturewhichmirrorsthemoststrikingevolutionofmoralsandreligioninthehistoryofourrace。Ofallthesacredwritingsoftheworld，itshowsusourownasthemostbeautifulandthemostprecious；exhibitingtousthemostcompletereligiousdevelopmenttowhichhumanityhasattained，andholdingbeforeustheloftiestidealswhichourracehasknown。Thusitisthat，withthekeysfurnishedbythisnewraceofbiblicalscholars，thewayhasbeenopenedtotreasuresofthoughtwhichhavebeeninaccessibletotheologiansfortwothousandyears。
AstotheDivinePowerintheuniverse：theseinterpretershaveshownhow，beginningwiththetribalgodoftheHebrews——oneamongmanyjealous，fitful，unseen，localsovereignsofAsiaMinor——thehigherraceshavebeenborneontotheideaofthejustRulerofthewholeearth，asrevealedbythelaterandgreaterprophetsofIsrael，andfinallytothebeliefintheUniversalFather，asbestrevealedintheNewTestament。Astoman：beginningwithmenafterJehovah’sownheart——cruel，treacherous，revengeful——weareborneontoanidealofmenwhodorightforright’ssake；whosearchandspeakthetruthfortruth’ssake；wholoveothersasthemselves。Astotheworldatlarge：theracesdominantinreligionandmoralshavebeenliftedfromtheideaofa“chosenpeople“stimulatedandabettedbytheirtribalgodineverysortofcrueltyandinjustice，totheconceptionofavastcommunityinwhichthefatherhoodofGodoverarchesall，andthebrotherhoodofmanpermeatesall。
Thus，atlast，outoftheoldconceptionofourBibleasacollectionoforacles——amassofentanglingutterances，fruitfulinwranglinginterpretations，whichhavegiventotheworldlongandwearyagesof“hatred，malice，andalluncharitableness“；offetichism，subtlety，andpomp；oftyrannybloodshed，andsolemnlyconstitutedimposture；ofeverythingwhichtheLordJesusChristmostabhorred——hasbeengraduallydevelopedthroughthecenturies，bythelabours，sacrifices，andeventhemartyrdomofalongsuccessionofmenofGod，theconceptionofitasasacredliterature——agrowthonlypossibleunderthatdivinelightwhichthevariousorbsofsciencehavedonesomuchtobringintothemindandheartandsoulofman——arevelation，notoftheFallofMan，butoftheAscentofMan——anexposition，notoftemporarydogmasandobservances，butoftheEternalLawofRighteousness——theoneupwardpathforindividualsandfornations。Nolongeranoracle，goodforthe“lowerorders“toaccept，buttobequietlysneeredatby“theenlightened“——nolongerafetich，whosedefendersmustbepersecuters，orreconcilers，or“apologists“；butamostfruitfulfact，whichreligionandsciencemayacceptasasourceofstrengthtoboth。
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