The Miracles of Unbelief

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... FACTS OF HISTORY AND THEIR EXPLANATION The gross enormities of contradiction which arise in the realm of physics from the rejection of Christian verities, have an impressive parallel in the sphere of mind. Here we are concerned no longer with the origin of inanimate nature or even the evolution of life, whether animal or vegetable, but with matters distinctively human. Dismissing now the future by reason of its uncertainty, we note that the minds of men are continually busied not only with the present, in sensation and perception, but with the past, through personal memory and written records. The former process comprises the realm of psychology, the latter that of history. This last it will be convenient to consider first. Even when we limit the term history to the consideration of the human past, it is manifest that we can only touch upon a few salient points of so vast a theme. In every case mentioned below, however, the argument would be only strengthened by elaboration in detail. I. Let us consider, first, the case of the Jews, in reference to their past origin, present condition, and national idiosyncrasies. Their whole history, as summarised in the Bible, forms confessedly the natural and necessary basis of Christianity. In order to appreciate this relation it is not necessary here to estimate the effects of what is now known as the " higher criticism." Its concern is with literary matters, ours with theological. Whatever may be ultimately the findiugs of literary criticism, they cannot seriously affect what here is the main point, namely, that the Biblical account of the origin and history of the Jewish nation manifestly involves not only the personal existence, the supreme rule, and the holy character, of God as Creator,...