The favourite objections of the day come partly from without,--partly from within. The classification is not exact, but it may serve to assist the memory. One class of objections is, in a manner, destructive,--for it results in entire disbelief of the Bible:--the other class, suggesting imperfections, results in a low and disparaging estimate of its contents. When exception is taken against certain portions of Holy Scripture, on the ground of discoveries in Physical Science,--of the dictates of the Moral Sense,--of the supremacy of mechanical Laws,--and the like,--we consider that the supposed difficulties come _from without_. As much as we care to say on this class of objections has either been already offered, or must be reserved for a subsequent occasion[391].--When doubts are insinuated, arising out of the subject-matter of the Bible, we consider the difficulties to proceed _from within_. The apparent contradictions of the Evangelists, are of this nature. Supposed errors or misstatements, come under the same head. Very imperfectly, yet sufficiently for our immediate purpose, we have touched upon both subjects. Those portions of the Old Testament which savour in the highest degree of the marvellous, must be reserved for separate consideration[392]. To-day I propose to speak of another kind of objection; but which arises, like the others, out of the subject-matter of the Bible. Moreover, it is the kind of difficulty which most readily presents itself to any who listened with unwilling ears to my last discourse. Some here present may remember my repeated and unequivocal assertion that Holy Scripture is inspired from the Alpha to the Omega of it;--not some parts more, some parts less, but all equally, and all to overflowing;--that we hold it to be, not generally inspired, but particularly; that we see not how with logical consistency we can avoid believing the words as well as the sentences of it; the syllables as well as the words; the letters as well as the syllables; every "jot" and every "tittle" of it, (to use our LORD'S expression,) to be divinely inspired:--and further, that until the contrary has been _proved_, we shall maintain that no misapprehension or misstatement, no error or blot of any kind, can possibly exist within its pages:--that we hold the Bible to be as much the Word of GOD, as if GOD spoke to us therein with human lips;--and that, as the very utterance of the HOLY GHOST, we cannot _but_ think that it must be absolute, faultless, unerring, supreme. I. To this, it has been objected as follows:--