n of the most intensely religious nation of antiquity, a great
race that has contributed more to the religious life of the world than
any other, is a credit to the intelligence of any one. To enshrine it
in superstition, and make it a fetish, is idolatry.

INSPIRATION AND REVELATION

I am a strong believer in inspiration. But I believe it to be, like
religion, natural, in a greater or less degree, to all peoples, in all
ages and at all times; and _not_ something miraculous and supernatural,
limited to a select few, of a single race, in a long past age, and
since then has forever ceased. It is perhaps hard to define
inspiration according to this view of it. Like religion, its very
simplicity and universality eludes any exact definition; especially by
one person for another. That it has often been manifest in much
greater degree in some persons than in others; and in these much
stronger at some times than at others, is not to be doubted for a
moment. It is no more a uniform condition than human attainment in
intelligence and character are uniform.

The simple dictionary definition will perhaps be adequate for our
purpose,--at least as a starting point: "The inbreathing or imparting
of an idea, emotion, or mental or spiritual influence; the elevating,
creative influence of genius; also, that which is so inbreathed or
imparted." It is that elevation of mental conception usually produced
by intense concentration of mind, deep earnestness of thought, intense
interest and zeal in a special subject or cause, or by some objective
environment. A few simple illustrations will convey my meaning better
than any lengthy metaphysical analysis. One night a long time ago,
some sage philosopher was looking out upon the heavens, contemplating
the beauties of the stars in their majesty and glory. These _inspired_
a train of thought in his mind that found utterance in the nineteenth
Psalm: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth
his handiwork...." This is inspiration if there ever was such a thing;
and yet there is nothing miraculous or supernatural about it. It is as
natural as the raindrops that fall from the clouds.

On another occasion some devout and intensely religious saint, but at
the same time probably a great sufferer from some adverse fortune,
beheld a shepherd taking care of his sheep, providing for them food and
water, caring for the sick and lame and nursing them back to strength,
lea