Chapter V

DIVINE AUTHORITY AND INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.--What
is to be understood by inspiration? None but an
atheist can deny its possibilities. The gift of inspiration
proved by the performance of supernatural works, and by
the foretelling of future events with preciseness. If these
signs accompanied the authors of the dispensations contained
in the Old and New Testaments, it must be admitted
that the Bible is a revelation from God. The performance
of miracles by the authors of these dispensations attests
their divine mission. A miracle defined. Mr. Hume's argument
against miracles. Lord Brougham's confutation of
the argument. Keith's demonstration of its fallacy. The
miracles of Moses, of Jesus Christ and his apostles accompanied
by evidences which cannot be brought to substantiate
any pretended fact whatever. Mr. Leslie's argument
in favor of this position. Mr. Olmsted's attempt to destroy
the force of Mr. Leslie's argument. Exposure of the
misrepresentations and falsehoods contained in Mr. Olmsted's
argument. Confutation of his argument 232