two Testaments," says one, "may be likened to the double-doors of the
Temple--the Old is the New infolded--the New is the Old unfolded." The
New Testament distinctly recognizes the Old as a revelation from God;
and, referring to the Canon as received by the Jews, declares the
books of which it consists genuine and credible. And by God being the
author of the Bible we mean that it was "given by inspiration of Him."
It may be necessary here to define certain terms which either have
been, or may be, hereafter, employed in this essay. And these
are:--Scripture; Testament; Inspiration; Gospel; Christianity; and
Religion. Scripture, from scriptura, signifies writing--applied by way
of eminence to what is written in the Bible. Testament, from
testamentum, a deed or will; but according to another rendering the
appropriate name of the Bible is, the Old and New Covenants; namely,
the Mosaic and the Christian. Inspiration, from spiro, signifies I
breathe. "By the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures," says an
able writer, "I mean, such an immediate and complete discovery, by the
Holy Spirit to the minds of the sacred penmen, of these things which
could not have been otherwise known, and such an effectual
superintendency as to those matters of which they might be informed or
by other means, as entirely to preserve them from all error, in every
particular which could in the least affect any of the doctrines or
commandments contained in their writings." Gospel, from god, good, and
spell, a history, a narrative, or message; and which denotes good
news, glad tidings, news from God--applied emphatically to the book
which contains the recital of our Saviour's life, miracles, death, and
so on. Christianity, from christianitas, signifies the religion of
Christians. And Religion, from religare, signifies to tie or bind,
because by true religion the soul is tied or bound, as it were, to God
and His service. These things being premised, we shall be justified in
proceeding to establish our proposition; namely, that God was the
author of the Bible. And we hold this to be demonstrable.

_From its great antiquity._ It is acknowledged to be the oldest book
in the world. Its records embrace the creation of the world, the
origin of man, the introduction of evil, the fall and recovery of our
race; and it contains the only rational account ever given of these
momentous matters. We can trace the Bible to the time of the Caesars,
beyond that to the