The perfection of the Scriptures

The perfection of the Scriptures is necessary, for the purpose they were intended to serve. "The heavens declare the glory of God ; and the firmament showeth his handy work." Psalm xix. 1. "By the things that are made" God's eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen, so as to render men "without excuse," Rom. i. 20; and there they leave him under condemnation. But "The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple: the statutes of Me Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." It is not, then, by the works of creation, — it is not by his dealings towards either holy or fallen Angels, that the glory of God is fully displayed. This honor is reserved for the history of the incarnation of his Son. It is here, and here only, that mercy and truth meet together, that righteousness and peace embrace each other; — truth has sprung out of the earth, and righteousness has looked down from heaven. Here justice and judgment are seen to be the habitation of Jehovah's throne, — and mercy and truth to go before his face.

"Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it." Isaiah xlv. 8. Here is something far more glorious than all that ever was seen before in the universe of God! It is a righteousness exalted to absolute perfection, and rendered infinitely glorious by the union of the divine with the human nature. God charged his Angels with folly, and the heavens are not clean in his sight; but with him who wrought this righteousness, he is "well pleased."

The righteousness of Adam in innocence, or the righteousness of Angels in glory, was the righteousness of creatures, and therefore a limited righteousness. It consisted in the love and service of God, which they rendered with all their heart and strength; but farther it could not go. Their righteousness was available in the time only while it continued to be performed, and it might cease and be lost. But that righteousness which the skies have poured down, is a righteousness that is infinite, and that shall never be abolished. Isaiah li. 6, 8. It is a righteousness that was performed in a limited period of time, by Him who is "CALLED JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS;" but the glory of it was contemplated from eternity, while its efficacy extends back to the fall of man, and forward through all the ages of eternity. It is the "everlasting righteousness" which the prophet Daniel predicted was to be brought in by the Messiah. It is "the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ," 2 Peter i. 1, the ministration of which was committed to the Apostles. 2 Cor. iii. 9. Through eternity it shall be the delight of the Father, the admiration of angels, and the song of the redeemed.

It is in the Bible that this righteousness is made known. In the Bible the Gospel is recorded, which is the power of God unto salvation, because therein is the righteousness revealed. Rom. i. 17. The Bible contains the record of the eternal purpose of God, which he purposed in Christ Jesus, — of the unsearchable riches of Christ, — of the eternal election of Him to be the Mediator between God and man, and of the eternal election of his people in Him, — of his incarnation, humiliation, and exaltation to glory. And "inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house," insomuch is there a higher display of the glory of God, in the history contained in the Bible, of Him who was "God manifest in the flesh," than is afforded in the creation, and the discovery of all the other works of God in the universe, animate and inanimate, of which Jesus Christ is the Creator and the Head. Hence is that preference justified which is given to the Bible above them all, "Thou hast magnified thy WORD above all thy name." The earth and the heavens shall perish, — "As a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed, — But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you."

Such, then, is the perfection of the Bible, for the writing of which, the most complete inspiration was absolutely indispensable, in order that it should be entirely the word and the work of God, — in thought, — in meaning, — in style, — in expression, — in every part, and in the strictest sense, the word or voice of God to man. Each part is necessary in its place to, complete the whole, — and if any one part were wanting, however inconsiderable it may appear, that absolute perfection, that complete adaptation to the end proposed, which belong to the Book of God, would be destroyed.

Christians ought to beware of giving up in the smallest degree the inspiration of the Bible. That precious deposit is now delivered to their keeping, as the first portion of it was committed to the Jews. The Jews were constituted the "witnesses" of Jehovah, Isaiah xliii. 10, 12; until the time arrived, when, in his sovereign pleasure, he appointed other "witnesses." Acts i. 8. The nation of Israel was his peculiar treasure, — a holy nation, Exodus xix. 5, 6; till, by their final rejection of his Son, they forfeited that title, and he gave his vineyard to other husbandman. Matt. xxi. 41. They possessed the peculiar name which he had conferred on them, till the prophecy concerning it was fulfilled, when it was left "for a curse," Isaiah lxv. 15; and when a new name was bestowed on those who were henceforward to be acknowledged as the people of God. Acts xi. 26. 1 Peter iv. 16. Having become the depositaries of the whole volume of inspiration, let Christians regard it with the same unshaken fidelity, with which, before being completed, "the WORDS which the Lord of Hosts sent in his Spirit by the former prophets," Zechariah vii. 7, 12, were preserved by the Jews. Let them not weaken by vain reasonings the impression produced upon their minds by the testimony of the Bible itself, concerning its full inspiration in every part, nor substitute for it a book which, in their imagination, is only partially inspired, — which contains sometimes the words of God, and sometimes the words of men, who spake not as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, but who were only preserved from error, or who wrote it as "any other plain and faithful men might do." By such sentiments, the offspring of philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, has the Bible been degraded, and its high title to the designation of "the oracles of God" made void. In opposition to these heretical opinions, be they ancient or modern, let every disciple of Him whose command it is to "search the Scriptures," regard it as a faithful saying, and not liable to doubtful interpretations, that "ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for  reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."