This state of things is too notorious to require further argument. Rightly or wrongly, the popular mind regards infallibility as a conspicuous and essential element in the idea of Inspiration.

SECTION 5.-The Duty of promulgating Clear Views on this Subject.

Now, we believe Inspiration, and especially the Inspiration of the Bible, to be so holy and so true a thing, that we are most anxious to state for others as clearly as, by God's help, we have been able to ascertain for ourselves, what is the real and uncorrupted meaning of this very important term; which, though of so common occurrence, is yet, as we humbly think, a term but little understood and grievously misinterpreted.

We have already seen that the ordinary belief of Englishmen connects infallibility with Scriptural inspiration. If this belief be well founded, it is evident that the Bible, as an inspired volume, ought to be infallible. If the Bible be not infallible, and if yet it be, as we believe it is, divinely inspired, then evidently infallibility can form no essential part of the true idea of Inspiration. To the examination of the question, then, Does the Bible permit us to regard its teaching as infallible? the remaining part of this Book will be devoted. We shall discuss this question carefully and candidly. There will be parts of our argument that can hardly fail to surprise, and, we fear, to grieve the majority of our readers; but still, truth, and, above all, truth in religious matters,

though it should be spoken in love, must not be suppressed for fear of man's displeasure, or in order to avoid giving salutary pain. If we see important truth clearly, which we conscientiously believe our neighbours either do not see at all, or see so dimly that they lose the benefit that ensues from the living energy of truth clearly understood and felt, it is our bounden duty—as men and Christians, not to say as ministers of God-to tell forth plainly and boldly that which has done us good, and made us happier followers of the crucified and risen One.

It is under the persuasion that we see, and can help in showing others, most blessed and profitable Christian truth respecting the Inspiration of Holy Writ, that we have undertaken, and will unhesitatingly carry through our present inquiry-Does the Bible permit us to regard its teaching as infallible—that is, as being free from all error?

SECTION 6.-The precise Meaning of the term Infallible.

LET us be distinct as to the employment of this word "infallible." We do not use the term captiously or overstrainedly. We shall not call the Bible fallible because it contains a correct statement of the errors of men whom it represents as fallible; or a true record of the evil designs which were in the minds of wicked spirits, human or superhuman; though we cannot refrain from remarking here, that the observation of this

truth should make those readers very careful, who are accustomed to quote Bible words as settling any question, lest they should use the words of Satan, or some evil spirit or wicked man, and think that they are using the words of the Most High. It is in no narrow sense like this that we shall ask whether Inspiration has made the Bible infallible. But, on the other hand, we use this term "infallible" in no lax and trifling sense. We use it-indeed, we have already used it-and we have shown that lexicographers and the people use it, definitely and precisely as equivalent to "free from all "error," having no admixture of error. This is the popular acceptation of the word; and this is, necessarily, the only meaning that the word can admit of: for if you say of man that he is fallible, you mean that he is liable to one or more errors; but if you say of man that he is infallible, you mean that he is not fallible, or not liable to any single error. This universality of meaning is inseparable from every negative term like that which we are now considering. Thus, it would be incorrect and untrue to say of a man who had once, and only once, been worsted in battle, that he was invincible; or to say of a man who had committed one, and only one, sin, that he was impeccable; or to say of a man who had even once acted unjustly for a bribe, that he was incorruptible. Similarly, if a book consisting of a million pages had in it only one single error, you might say of that book that it was wonderfully free from errors, or amazingly correct; but it would be an improper and inadmissible use of language, to say that it was infal

lible, or wholly free from error.

ably, the true meaning of this term.

Such is, unquestion

In dealing with Scripture, however, we shall rest our allegation on no solitary passage, but on a tolerably broad collection of passages: only it is well that we should understand, at the outset, that there may be such a comparison as more or less fallible; but there can rightly be no such comparison as more or less infallible. A thing must be either wholly free from error, and then it is infallible; or it must be marked by one or more errors, and then it is fallible. Our present question then, is-Does the Bible permit us to believe that its teaching is infallible? that is, that in all which it states without disapprobation there is no error whatever?

CHAPTER II.

SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL ERRORS OBSERVABLE IN HOLY WRIT.

AND now to our task. As did the noble Bereans of old, so let us search the Scriptures, to see if these things, which are told us about the infallibility that is in the Bible, because of its Inspiration, be really so.

SECTION 1.-Our Investigation will not turn on the Bearing of Modern Science on the Theories of the Scripture-writers. We are not about to lay the chief stress of our argument on the fact, that geology contradicts the account of creation's history as given in Genesis. The establishing of our conclusions will not depend on the fact, that astronomy forbids our believing the earth to be surrounded by a transparent but solid case, (called "rakia"* in the Hebrew, "stereoma" in the Septuagint, "firm-ament" in the English,) in which the Sun and Moon and Stars are "set," by which the waters above the firmament are separated from the waters under the firmament, and in which there are windows by whose opening the world was once deluged. We shall not rest our argument on the truth, that geography is sorely puzzled to comprehend how a deluge, which is supposed

* Vid. Gesenius' Heb. Lexicon.