Men believe in Christ because through him God speaks directly to them—because His life and His mission fill a place in the great hungry heart of humanity which no other could ever fill. In like manner they recognize God's voice in the teachings of the Book; they recognize His hand in the leadership of the world's moral forces and they surrender themselves to the loving in fluence of the Father.
Thus, the books of the Old Testament lead up to the full revelation of the Christ. They are Messianic in a large sense of that term, and those who have come to know the Master gladly obey His injunction to "Search the Scriptures . . . for these are they which testify of me." (See The Bible in the Conditions Created by Modern Scholarship, by Henry A. Stimson, Bib. Socr., April, t9oo, p. 366 sq.) 9. The 73ible Not Outgrown.
The general law controlling the productions of the human intellect is to the effect that they must soon be outgrown and superseded by something else. The uninspired literature of antiquity has all been lost except the clay pages which are found beneath the foundation stones of buried cities. The most of the classical works of Greece and Rome have been saved from complete obliv ion only by the allusions of later writers. Pliny wrote twenty books of history, but not one of them can be obtained to-day. There were one hundred and thirty comedies written by Plautus; only twenty are left. The most of Menander's writings are lost. Euripides wrote a hundred dramas, and they are all gone but nineteen, iEschylus produced a hundred dramas and only seven arc left. Varro wrote the biographies of seven hundred Romans, but not a fragment of this great undertaking remains. Thirty books of Tacitus are lost. Don Cassius wrote eighty books; only twenty remain, and Berosus' history is all lost.
The books of the Bible, however, have survived the wars of the ages and the storms of criticism. Marcion, who was expelled from the church for his wickedness, incidentally gives a catalogue of the books of the Bible, and that list, which was given in the second century, and that, too, by the hand of an enemy, is the same which we have to day. Not only literary works, but scientific pro ductions also are seen to be temporary. Indeed whole accepted systems of science arc rapidly supplanted by new theories.
No system originating in the human intellect can secure the full approval of succeeding ages, and this rule applies especially to human religions.
1 he religion of Buddha was an improvement upon that of the Brahmans, but the present con• dition of China shows that the theories of Buddha and Confucius have long since passed beyond their usefulness. The inability of China to make any moral progress is shown by the ruthless massacres which even to-day are stain ing the pages of her history. Such is her cruelty and such her barbarism that the presence of all the great powers of the world is required within her borders.
Mohammedanism at least flung the banner of theism into the face of idol-worshipers, but it rejected the only Teacher who ever came into this world for the salvation of men, and it has long since ceased to have any influence for good; it has been outgrown and is rejected by the intel ligent portion of humanity. It is still fostered in Turkey and the whole land shows the results. Her industries are discouraged, the property, lib erty and life of her citizens are in constant danger. "I he red hands of massacre seem to be restrained only by fear of the civilized nations.
The history of Islamism, like that of Brah manism, Buddhism and Confucianism, is that of rise, progress and decline. Their vitality is ex hausted. Their votaries can make no further progress while under their influence, and if they would improve they must renounce the institu tions of their fathers.
(1) Progressive. Biblical teaching, however, instead of holding the seeds of decay, has been progressive. Beginning with the object lessons of ceremonial law, every sacrifice pointed toward the "Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world." Every prophet pointed to him, and when he came into the world and the predictions of the prophets were verified by history, he used "the law and the prophets" as the basis of his teachings. The principles which he advocated and urged upon the sons of men can never know decay. The religion of the Bible has confronted the old civilizations and outlived them all. It has met with the magicians of Egypt and the astrologers of Babylon; it has withstood the paganism of Rona and of northern Europe; it has come out triumphantly after the attacks of French, English and American infidelity.