Romans, likewise, is of composite origin, patched up of older writings, epistles, and possibly various oral traditions. Galatians is "an adaptation of a letter previously read at a circle of the Marionites, although we are no longer in position to restore the older form."

Thus we might go on at great length, but our space forbids. Let us however, in conclusion, assure our readers that the promoters of this newer criticism, in many cases, strike at the very foundations of the Christian faith. Were they content to stop with making .Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Saul, David, etc., lunar or solar heroes, clan names or tribal gods, and not real personages, we might overlook their unscientific proceedings, but when we are assured by them that Peter, James, Paul, and even Jesus Christ were more symbolic than real, it is time for us to call a halt, and request the ministers of the so-called orthodox churches to examine their positions, before they foist the newer criticism upon their busy congregations. Indeed, it is inconceivable to us, how some clergymen who have solemnly taken upon themselves the vows of the church, and have subscribed to the creed of their denomination, can yet, in fairness to themselves and the church they serve, deny a large part of what they are supposed to believe. In cases of this kind, it is no longer a case of orthodoxy, but rather of morality.

Let no one think that new critics concern themselves chiefly about words and dates, style and textual criticism. It is not whether Genesis and several books of the Old Testament are history or myth, whether or no Israel was in Egypt, or whether the tabernacle with its extensive ritual during the wilderness journey had any existence save in the brain of some fanatic or pious fraud who wished to give authority to the temple service; but whether the doctrine of the Incarnation, the miraculous birth, the resurrection and the ascension. of Jesus Christ can be accepted as facts worthy of a sane, intelligent man's faith.

The kind of criticism indulged in by Schmiedel, Van Manen, Cheyne and those of like views " has no end save a complete destruction of the Bible and its religion,

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other words, it moves onward, and still onward, to nihilism." What Dr. Dale said years ago is true to-day. His words are: "It is not a theory of ecclesiastical polity which is in danger, it is not a theological system, it is not a creed, it is not the Old Testament or the New, but the claim of Christ himself to be the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. The real question is, Is Christendom to believe in Christ any longer, or no? "129

LACONICS.

BEST THOUGHTS ABOUT FAITH.

Faith affirms many things respecting which the senses are silent, but nothing which they deny. It is superior to their testimony, but never opposed to it.—Pascal.

Faith and works are as necessary to our spiritual life as Christians as soul and body are to our life as men; for faith is the soul of religion and works, the body.-Colton.

All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as a ruined edifice, before one single word

faith.-Napoleon.

Some wish they did, but no man disbelieves.-Young.

In actual life, every great enterprise begins with and takes its first forward step in faith.-Schlegel.

Faith must have an adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition.
-A. A. Hodge.

Faith marches at the head of the army of progress. It is found beside the most refined life, the freeest government, the profoundest philosophy, the noblest poetry, the purest humanity.-T. T. Munger.

Faith makes the discords of the present the harmonies of the future.

-Collyer.

Never yet did there exist a full faith in the divine word which did not expand the intellect while it purified the heart; which did not multiply the aims and objects of the understanding, while it fixed and simplified those of the designs and passions.-Coleridge.

Faith is not reason's labor, but repose.-Young.

Man is not made to question, but adore.-Young.

Faith evermore looks upward and describes objects remote:

reason can discover things only near

but

sees nothing that's above her. -Quarles.

The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief.

-Thomas Russell.

Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of faith, for it assumes the permanence and uniformity of natural laws thing which can never be demonstrated.-Tryon Edwards.

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Faith in order, which is the basis of science, cannot reasonably be separated from faith in an ordainer, which is the basis of religion. -Asa Gray.

Naturally, men are prone to spin themselves a web of opinions out of their own brain, and to have a religion that may be called their own. They are far readier to make themselves a faith, than to receive that which God hath formed to their hands; are far readier to receive a doctrine that tends to their carnal commodity, or honor, or delight, than one that tends to self-denial.-Baxter.

While reason is puzzling herself about the mystery, faith is turning it into her daily bread and feeding on it thankfully in her heart of hearts.-F. D. Huntington.

It is faith among men that holds the moral elements of society together, as it is faith in God that binds the world to his throne.

-W. M. Evarts.

I prefer a firm religious faith to every other blessing. For it makes life a discipline of goodness; creates new hopes, when those of the world vanish; throws over the decay of life the most gorgeous of all lights; and awakens life, even in death.—Sir Humphrey Davy.

Ignorance as to unrevealed mysteries is the mother of a saving faith; and understanding in revealed truths is the mother of a sacred knowledge. Understand not therefore that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand. Understanding is the wages of a lively faith, and faith is the reward of an humble ignorance.

-Quarles.

Faith is like love: it cannot be forced. As trying to force love begets hatred, so trying to compel religious belief leads to unbelief. -Schopenhauer.

Strike from mankind the principle of faith, and men would have no more history than a flock of sheep.-Bulwer.

All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.-J. F. Clarke.

"Faith is the pencil of the soul that pictures heavenly things. -T. Burbridge.

There is one sure criterion of judgment as to religious faith in doctrinal matters: can you reduce it to practice? If not, have none of it.-Hosea Ballou.

Faith in an all-seeing and personal God, elevates the soul, purifies the emotions, sustains human dignity, and lends poetry, nobility and holiness to the commonest state, condition and manner of life.

-Juan Valera.

Faith is not only a means of obeying, but a principle act of obedience; not only an altar on which to sacrifice, but a sacrifice itself, and, perhaps, of all, the greatest. It is a submission of our understandings; an oblation of our idolized reason to God, which he requires so indispensably, that our whole will and affections, though seemingly a larger sacrifice, will not, without it, be received at his hands.-Young.

Much knowledge of divine things is lost to us through want of faith.-Heraclitus.

There is a limit where the intellect fails and breaks down, and this limit is where the questions concerning God, and free will and immortality arise.-Kant.

We cannot live on probabilities. The faith in which we can live bravely and die in peace must be a certainty, so far as it professes to be a faith at all, or it is nothing.-Froude.

The saddest thing that can befall a soul is when it loses faith in God and woman.-Alexander Smith.

Epochs of faith are epochs of fruitfulness; but epochs of unbelief, however glittering, are barren of all permanent good.-Goethe.

Faith makes all evil good to us, and all good better; unbelief makes all good evil, and all evil worse. Faith laughs at the shaking of the spear; unbelief trembles at the shaking of a leaf: unbelief starves the soul; faith finds food in famine, and a table in the wilderness. In the greatest danger, faith says, I have a great God." When outward strength is broken, faith rests on the promises. In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble, and takes out the bitterness from every affliction.-Quarles.

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BEST THOUGHTS ABOUT DOUBT.

The doubter's dissatisfaction with his doubt is as great and widespread as the doubt itself.-J. Dewitt.

A bitter and perplexed "What shall I do?" is worse to man than worse necessity.-Coleridge.

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest and bent on thorough investigation, it may soon lead to full establishment in the truth.-Tryon Edwards.

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.-Shakespeare.

Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is it is her shadow.-Bailey.

In the hands of unbelief, half truths are made to do the work of whole falsehoods. The sowing of doubts is the sowing of dragon's teeth, which ere long will sprout up into armed and hostile men.

-E. B. Burr.

When you doubt, abstain.-Zoroaster.

Beware of doubt faith is the subtle chain that binds us to the infinite.-E. O. Smith.

Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any, but keep your doubts to yourself, for I have enough of my own.-Goethe.

The doubts of an honest man contain more truth than the profession of faith of people under a worldly yoke.-G. Saville.

Doubt is hell in the human soul.-Gasparin.

Misgive that you may not mistake.—Whately.
Doubt is brother devil to despair.-O'Reily.

BEST THOUGHTS ABOUT HUMILITY.

Humility, that low sweet root,

From which all heavenly virtues shoot.-Moore.

Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues.-Confucius. Humility is the root, mother, nurse, foundation and bond of all virtue.-Chrysostom.

Humility, like darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.-Thoreau.
Humbleness is always grace, always dignity.-J. R. Lowell.

Humility is the first lesson we learn from reflection, and selfdistrust the first proof we give of having obtained a knowledge of ourselves.-Zimmerman.

After crosses and losses, man grows humbler and wiser.-Franklin.
The street is full of humiliations to the proud.—Emerson.

I believe the first test of a truly great man is humility.-Ruskin.
It is in vain to gather virtues without humility; for the spirit of
God delights to dwell in the hearts of the humble.-Erasmus.

To be humble to superiors, is duty; to equals, is courtesy ; to inferiors, is nobleness; to all, safety; it being a virtue that, for all its lowliness, commandeth those it stoops to.-Sir T. Moore.

True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.-Tryon Edwards. Humanity cannot be degraded by humiliation. It is its very character to submit to such things. There is a consanguinity between benevolence and humility. They are virtues of the same stock.-Burke. Sense shines with a double lustre when set in humility.-Penn. Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.-Spurgeon. It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment. -St. Bernard.

The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient. Augustine.