It is painful to anticipate what will be the fate of St. John's Gospel, on this principle,--together with most of the Divine Discourses therein recorded. Not, to be sure, that we shall lose the conversation with Nicodemus, nor that with the woman of Samaria; because St. John was not present when either of those conversations took place: but all, from the xivth to the xviith chapter inclusive; as well as the discourse in the vith chapter, must of course be dismissed. The matter of these discourses, it will be urged,--(with more of logical consistency, alas! than of essential truth,)--might have been faithfully handed down by St. John without any extraordinary gift. He was bound to our LORD by more than ordinary affection. He was ever nearest to Him. Is it not conceivable, (we are asked,) that these two causes, aided by a retentive memory, would at least _enable_ him to give us the record which he has given? Quite superfluous must it be to state that the Acts of the Apostles, under the expurgatory process which now engages our attention, will cease to be regarded as an inspired Book; and therefore must be at once disconnected from the confessedly inspired portions of Holy Scripture.--St. Paul's Epistles, you say, on the contrary, are probably inspired, and therefore are probably to be spared.... And I really think we need go no further. If your own handling of Holy Scripture,--your own method, by yourself applied,--be not a _reductio ad absurdum_, I know of nothing in the world which is.... Look only at that handful of mutilated pages in the hands of one who is supposed to be the impersonation of "common sense;" turn the tattered and mangled leaves over and over, which _you_ are pleased to call the Volume of Inspiration; and get all the comfort and help out of it you can. But be not surprised to hear that you are exposing yourself to the ridicule of the sane part of Mankind,--even while haply you are acting a part which makes the Angels weep.... How much of the Bible will remain, when _Science_, (Physical, Moral, Historical,) has further done _her_ work, I forbear now to inquire: but I shrewdly suspect that she will leave you very little beyond the back and the covers. Let us not be told, (as we doubtless shall,) that the human parts of Scripture need not be _ejected_ from the Canon because they are human: that they may be allowed to stand with the rest, although uninspired; and the like. About this, _we_ at least are competent judges. We are now bent on discovering how much of Holy Scripture is _the Word of GOD_; and we refuse, for the moment, to regard as such, and to retain, a single passage which, being (as you say) uninspired, is simply _the word of Man_.