ation of Himself in the work of redemption; that
they are written by men, under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit,
and that they constitute an authoritative standard by which religious
teaching and human conduct are to be regulated and judged."

This is the creed of the Congregational Church; that is, it is the
result of the high-joint commission appointed to draw up a creed for
churches; and there we have the statement that the bible was written
"by men, under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit." What part of
the bible? All of it; all of it; and yet what is this old testament
that was written by an infinitely good God? The being who wrote it did
not know the shape of the world He had made. The being who wrote it
knew nothing of human nature; He commands men to love Him, as if one
could love upon command. The same God upheld the institution of human
slavery; and the church says the bible that upholds that institution
was written by men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then I
disagree with the Holy Ghost upon that institution.

The church tells us that men, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost,
upheld the institution of polygamy--I deny it; that under the guidance
of the Holy Ghost these men upheld wars of extermination and
conquest--I deny it; that under the guidance of the Holy Ghost these
men wrote that it was right for a man to destroy the life of his wife
if she happened to differ with him on the subject of religion--I deny
it. And yet that is the book now upheld in this creed of the
Congregational Church. If the devil had written upon the subject of
slavery, which side would he have taken? Let every minister answer,
honor bright. If you knew the devil had written a little work on human
slavery, in your judgment would he uphold slavery or denounce it?
Would you regard it as any evidence that he ever wrote it if he upheld
slavery? And yet, here you have a work upholding slavery, and you say
that it was written by an infinitely good, wise and beneficent God! If
the devil upheld polygamy would you be surprised? If the devil wanted
to kill somebody for differing with him would you be surprised? If the
devil told a man to kill his wife, would you be astonished? And yet,
you say, that is exactly what the God of us all did. If there be a
God, then that creed is blasphemy. That creed is a libel upon Him who
sits upon heaven's throne. I want--if there be a God--I want Him to
write in the b