[304] Church, Discipline of the Christian Character, p. 57. This work seems to me the best existing answer to the question, in what does the inspiration of the Old Testament consist.
[305] Cf. pp. 161-167. In view of criticisms it may be explained that in the account of the prophet given above only that view of his inspiration is taken into consideration which appeals first to the enquirer (cf. the words in the next paragraph 'in this general sense at least'). When once this primary assurance of inspiration is gained the evidence of detailed prophecies will be found cogent. As we compare the anticipations of the Messiah or of the 'Righteous Servant' in such passages as Ps. xxii., Is. liii., vii. 14, or ix. 6, 7, with their fulfilment in Jesus Christ, we recognise a special action of the Holy Ghost, marking even in details the continuity of His method. Cf. p. 167 referred to above.
[306] See for instance Micah v. 2-6. On the subject of the limitations of prophetic foresight, as on the whole subject of prophecy, let me refer to Dr. Ed. Riehm, Messianic Prophecy (Clark's trans.) pp. 79, 86 ff., 114, 157-162.
[307] Acts i. 8. S. John xiv. 25, 26; xvi. 12, 13.
[308] S. John xix. 35; xxi. 24. 1 S. John i. 1-3.
[309] See Prof. Sanday's What the first Christians thought about Christ. (Oxford House Papers: Rivington.)
[310] 2 Tim. iii. 16.
[311] Mr. Horton's book on Inspiration and the Bible is almost naively lacking in this quality of impartial regard to inspired books.
[312] Prof. Robertson Smith, Prophets of Israel, p. 6.
[313] Cf. Prof. Robertson Smith, The Old Testament in the Jewish Church, Lect. vii. p. 207: 'Another point in which criticism removes a serious difficulty is the interpretation of the imprecatory psalms.'