Mr. Jowett's formula may be cheerfully and entirely accepted,--_apart from the sinister glosses which he immediately proceeds to put upon it_. By all means "Interpret the Scripture like any other book." Let us see to what result this principle will conduct us. As for the formula itself, I take the liberty to assume that it _ought to mean_ somewhat as follows:--"Approach the volume of Holy Scripture with the same candour, and in the same unprejudiced spirit with which you would approach any other famous book of high antiquity. Study it with at least the same attention. Give at least equal heed to all its statements. Acquaint yourself at least as industriously with its method, and with its principle; employing and applying either, with at least equal fidelity, in its interpretation. Above all, beware of playing tricks with its plain language. Beware of suppressing any part of the evidence which it supplies as to its own meaning. Be truthful, and unprejudiced, and honest, and consistent, and logical, and exact throughout, in your work of Interpretation. 'INTERPRET SCRIPTURE LIKE ANY OTHER BOOK.'" Now, (not to be tedious,) if _this_ were Mr. Jowett's principle, all further discussion would be at an end. The general question of the right method of interpreting the Bible would be easily settled; but it would be hopelessly settled--_against the Regius Professor of Greek_. As I have briefly shewn, (from p. 144 to p. 160 of the present volume,) our LORD and His Apostles openly and repeatedly claim for Scripture that very depth of meaning, that very extent of signification, which Mr. Jowett so strenuously maintains that it does _not_ possess.--This great fact, he prudently takes no notice of. He simply ignores it. Either he has overlooked it, through inadvertency: or he has omitted it, as not perceiving its force and bearing on the question: or he has disingenuously kept it back. He must choose between these three suppositions. If he has overlooked the fact on which I lay so much stress,--he is a careless and incompetent reader. If he has failed to see its force and bearing on the question,--he is a weak and illogical thinker. If he has deliberately suppressed it, knowing its fatal power,--he is simply a dishonest man. To prevent offence, I may as well state freely that my entire conviction is that he is simply a weak and illogical person. My warrant for this opinion is especially the very sad performance of his now under consideration. It is clear however that the paraphrase above hazarded does _not_ express Mr. Jowett's principle. "Interpret the Bible like any other book," means with him something else. And what it _does_ mean, the Reverend author does not suffer us to doubt. He shews that his meaning is, _Interpret the Bible like any other book_, FOR _it is like any other book_. I proceed to shew that this _is_ Mr. Jowett's meaning.