The Historical Scriptures [pp. 484-504]

The Ilistorical Scriptures.
would these others be to us, without the key afforded by the
history? This difference is not fortuitous or arbitrary, but
arises from the peculiar relation which the history sustains to
all the other elements involved in the structure of the sacred
volume. If the history has been correctly represented as the
basis upon which the other parts are built, the frame in which
they are inserted, or the thread on which they are strung, the
relation indicated by these figures necessarily implies, that the
historical Scriptures are more absolutely necessary to the correct interpretation of the others, than the others are to it.
This might be easily exemplified and proved by showing how
the incidents of David's life illustrate, and in some cases render intelligible, some of his most interesting compositions; and
in like manner, how obscure the writings of Paul would be,
without some knowledge of his personal history. And yet the
converse of this proposition is not true, at least in any similar
proportion; for, although the writings of these holy men, in
many cases, strikingly illustrate their biography, it can hardly
be said that they are ever needed to give that biography a sense
or meaning. And apart from these particular examples, the
main fact alleged is easily deducible from the very definition or
idea of all history, as the science of events or actual occurrences, which from their nature and the constitution of our
minds, must serve as the basis, or at least define the area and
sphere, of our more profound and abstruse speculations.
Both from their absolute intrinsic value, then, as a substantive and prominent ingredient in the composition of the Bible,
and from their relative importance and necessity as keys to the
true meaning of its other contents, the historical Scriptures are
entitled to a very different treatment, both in kind and in degree, from that which many are content to give them. It is
not, however, from too low an estimate of their importance,
either absolute or relative, that this practical abuse of them invariably springs. It often arises from an equally erroneous,
but entirely distinct impression, that this part of Scripture,
though its value and authority cannot be denied, happily calls
for very little exegetical research or labour, being so extremely
simple, that the youngest child can comprehend it without
effort. This illusion, founded on the fact, that the difficulties,
1854.]
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