That marvellous concrete fact, the Bible,--has next to be encountered. Unmethodical as it seems to be, the Bible arrests a man in his impatient course with many a significant History,--many an unmanageable precept. Much of its contents, it is true, are of such a nature that they may be glossed over,--explained away,--ignored,--set aside. The reading is doubtful: or there are two opinions, (perhaps twenty,) concerning it: or the language may be figurative: or the words are not to be pressed too closely: or a perverse logic may pretend to find in it agreeable confirmation, instead of stern reproof. Not a few places there are, however, which defy any such handling; stubborn rocks which refuse to yield a single trace of the wished-for vegetation, in return for the most determined husbandry. Nothing of the kind ever will or can be made to germinate upon them. They are absolutely unmanageable, and hopelessly in the way of the man who is determined to cast off restraint,--whether spiritual, intellectual, or moral. He is for being lawless; or at least, without law: but _the Bible_ is unmistakably _an external Law_, and is opposed to him. The Bible is his enemy, and the Bible claims to be Divine.... What need to state that to deny the Inspiration of the Bible, and to undermine its authority, and to explain away its statements, becomes the next object of the unbeliever? It is precisely at this stage of his downward progress that public attention is excited, and public indignation aroused. The Church, (like its Divine Author,) may be outraged, and few will be found to remonstrate. The Creeds may be assailed, (especially "one unhappy Creed!"), and it is hinted that these are speculative matters, on which none should pronounce too dogmatically. But (thank GOD!) Englishmen yet love their Bible; and Common Sense is able to see that an uninspired Bible is _no Bible at all_. At the assault upon the Bible, therefore, as I said, an indignant outcry is raised,--as _now_.