SECTION 3.-These Writers own to Scriptural Errors in every thing except Religion.

So then, according to the confessions of the rulers and overseers of the English Established Church, there may be errors of science, of history, and of morality in the Bible; but still the idea of Scriptural Infallibility, on matters of religion, must be maintained. Now, "the learned" few may be able to perceive the nice distinctions between the religious, and therefore infallible sections of the Bible, as contrasted with its non-religious and therefore fallible sections or meanings; but the unlearned many will surely not be able to perceive distinctly these shades of difference.

If, on the ground of these recognised and palpable errors in the science, history, and morality of Scripture, our bishops had said clearly and intelligibly, that the Bible was, however excellent, yet a fallible book, we should have admired their clear-sightedness and their courage even more than we now do; but, as it is, our ecclesiastical rulers seem to confess a great part of the truth, and then to stop short, and suddenly uphold the idea of religious infallibility being in a fallible book. We see the meaning of this distinction, and we can sympathize with the natural timidity of these dignitaries; but we cannot help fearing that in the case of a religion which, like the popular conception of Christianity, has its doctrines based for the most part on historical facts, the opinions advanced by these learned

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and truly venerable men deal with the sacred terms Inspiration" and "Infallibility," in a manner likely to be most injurious to the religious truthfulness and the Christian faith of ordinary intellects; and for ourselves, we, as part of the unlearned many, are ready to exclaim-Oh! enviable logical perception, never to confound morality with religion! and never to doubt the mysteries of the faith, whilst all the narratives of facts, on which those mysteries are based, are avowedly open to criticism and disbelief!

F

CHAPTER IV.

ARE THERE NO RELIGIOUS ERRORS IN HOLY WRIT?

WE cannot blame these prelates for their acknowledgments as to the partial fallibility of Scripture; for we have seen in the Bible itself abundant reasons which compel us to agree in their confessions. The question, however, still remains, as to whether the sacred volume is infallible in its religious teaching. When one has shown a Romanist that Popes, and Councils, and Churches have erred, and therefore cannot be infallible, the constant rejoinder is-"We never said they "were wholly infallible, but only we declare them to be "infallible in their official and regular teaching." Just so it too frequently is with the Protestant: one shows him that there are errors in the Bible, and therefore that the Bible cannot be infallible; and he, by the mouths of his choicest spokesmen, rejoins, "We do not "say the Bible is altogether infallible; but we assert "that Holy Writ is infallible in its religious teaching." Well, then, it is on this solemn question that, in the interests of truth, which we believe to be identical with the interests of Christianity, we are about to join issue with Dr. Hinds and his friends.

SECTION 1.-Does the Bible permit us to regard its Religious Teaching as Inspirationally Infallible?

A. THE HISTORY OF JAEL.

As a case in which it is not very easy (if at all possible) to separate the religious and the moral elements, let us look first at the history of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.

There had been a fierce battle between the longoppressed but now victorious Israelites, and the discomfited hosts of Jabin king of Hazor. Heber the Kenite was not an Israelite, and therefore was not necessarily one of the Canaanite's enemies. Nay, we are even told that "there was peace between Jabin, the king of "Hazor, and the house of Heber the Kenite." Sisera, the captain of Jabin's host, was compelled to flee away, on foot, for his life. In the tent of the friendly Heber he was affectionately received, with all the hospitality of the East. Relying on the good faith of his hostess, Jael, Heber's wife, Sisera composed himself to sleep. Then Jael, from some motive which is not assigned, stole upon the slumbering Sisera, and slew him by driving one of the tent nails into his forehead. Shortly afterwards she showed the smitten chief to his pursuer, Barak.

This whole transaction is recorded in the Bible in language worthy of the grandest tragedy; and, moreover, an inspired prophetess, Deborah, who had foretold the manner of Sisera's death, chants the glory and the

vengeance of the Canaanitish overthrow; and in this chant she recounts the deed of Jael, and sings, "Blessed "above women shall Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, "be; blessed shall she be above women in the tent."

We must leave Dr. Hampden to draw the lines of demarcation between the fallible morality and the infallible religion of this history and this teaching. For ourselves, we think it perilous to attempt teaching the purest religious principles by such questionable morality without designating the deed of Jael by its true name; and we put it to every conscience which knows humanity, or has been enlightened by the New Testament, whether the true and proper name of this scripturallyapproved deed be not treachery and murder most base, foul, and unnatural?

B. SOME OF THE IMPRECATIONS OF JEREMIAH, THE PSALMIST, AND PAUL.

*

THE too probable religious effects of this story appear in such passages as the following; for instance-in Jeremiah's dreadful imprecation of Divine vengeance on his enemies; or in Psalm cix. 6-20, including the words, "Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a "widow; let his children be continually vagabonds and "beg; let them seek their bread also out of desolate "places; let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and "let the strangers spoil his labour. Let there be none

* Jeremiah xviii. 21-23.