IT may, perhaps, be objected that we permit the Bible to speak for itself. We answer, this is no uncommon objection. If a stranger were passing through our community and we were desirous to know who he was and whence he came, the most natural thing would be to direct the inquiry to the man himself. Such inquiries have been propounded thousands of times and no one ever thought strange of it. If the man had no evil design to accomplish and no interest to promote by deceiving us, and if there was about him the marks of honesty and sincerity, we would rely on the information we received from him.

The Bible speaks for itself. It disclaims human authority. It declares that it came forth' from God. It has no evil design and no interest to promote by deceiving mankind. Why may we not rely on its testimony concerning itself? It does not come as a stranger, but as our best friend, our familiar companion. It is among us as a teacher of truth and righteousness, and wherever its teachings have been heeded, truth and righteousness have abounded. By it, the greatest of all miracles has been many times performed, — the regeneration of the lost. An old Highlander said to Claudius Buchanan, "I cannot argue, I cannot present any theological facts or reasons, I cannot explain the process or philosophy of revelation; but I know this, that when I was a man with an ungovernable temper and an evil character, this Book got hold of me and quelled the tiger in me." Can it be that a book like this is a deceiver and an imposter? No! A thousand times, No! It is God's Book.

Let us consider its claims: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21).

"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" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

From the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Malachi we find the expressions constantly occurring, "God said," "the Lord said," "thus saith the Lord." It is plain to every unprejudiced reader that the writers of the Old Testament sought to make the impression that they were using the exact language which the Lord directed them to employ.

Let us look more definitely at the claims of divine authorship. "Now these be the last words of David . . . The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me" (2 Sam. 23:1-3).

In the opening sentences of Isaiah's prophecy we hear him exclaim: "Hear the word of the Lord." Then he proceeds to give the words of Jehovah. Coming to Jeremiah, chapter 1:1, 2. "To whom the word of the Lord came." In the ninth verse we read, "And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth/' Throughout this prophecy the author declares that his messages were first spoken by the Lord.

Ezekiel says, "The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel" (Ezek. 1:3). When we turn to the minor prophets we find them recognizing God as the giver of their messages.

Hosea says, "The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea" (Hos. 1:1).

Joel, in chapter 1:1, says, "The word of the Lord that came to Joel."

Amos says, "Hear thou the word of the Lord" (7:16).

Jonah says, "The word of the Lord came unto Jonah" (Jonah 1:15-3:1).

Micah says, "The word of the Lord that came to Micah" (1:1)

Zephaniah says, "The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah" (1:i).

Zechariah says, "In the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah" (1:1). In verse 3: "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts."

In Malachi 1:1, "The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi."

Coming to the New Testament we find Jesus Christ our divine Lord vouching for the inspiration of the Old Testament by quoting it with the formula: "It is written" (Matt. 47); by declaring that "one jot or one tittle" of it "shall in no wise pass away" (Matt. 5:18); and by calling it "the word of God," which "cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

Paul declares, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God"; that is, it is all God breathed (2 Tim. 3:i6). Peter affirms that "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). Jesus Christ promised his apostles the supernatural aid of the Holy Spirit. He said, "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). See also 15:26, 27.

In John 17:8 Jesus said, "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me."

The apostles claimed to speak under the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13): "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth." Again in 1 Cor. 11:23 the apostle says, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you." In 1 Thess. 4:2 and 8: "For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus." "He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."

Now let us consider some of the names and titles by which the Bible commends its claims.

It is Called the Word of God.

"The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). "And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God" (Acts 13 44).

It is Called the Word of Life.

It alone reveals the way of life. The apostles exhorts the saints at Philippi to hold forth the word of life (Phil. 2:16).

It is Called the Word of Christ.

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Col. 3:16).

It is Called the Word of Truth.

In his intercessory prayer for his disciples our Lord says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). "Rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

It is Called the Oracles of God.

The word means to speak, because therein God's voice is heard giving utterance to his authoritative direction. "Because that unto them (the Jews) were committed the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:1, 2).

It is Called the Scriptures.

"He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). "While he opened to us the scriptures" (Luke 24:32).

Here then is a book claiming to be the Word of God, the Word of Life, the Word of Christ, the Word of Truth, the Oracles of God, the Scriptures. It claims to be of divine origin. It has the sanction of Jesus Christ and of his apostles and of all good men through the ages. Bad men have always hated it and have constantly endeavored to destroy it. Here it is, — the most loved and the most hated book in the world. God's Book, our Bible, speaks with authority. It tells of man's lost and ruined condition by sin, of Christ's wonderful love and redemption, of salvation from the shame and bondage and penalty of sin for all who truly repent and believe on Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, Lord and Master.

"How precious is the book divine
     By inspiration given;
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
     To guide our souls to heaven."

How truly every saved one can say:

 "Holy Bible, book divine,
     Precious treasure thou art mine."