The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-06
TESTIMONIES IN FAVOUR OF THE
DIDT Il
BIBLE
By celebrated Characters.

lowing words -" have regularly and
attentively perused the holy scriptures,
and am OF opinion that this volume lin.
dependent of its divine origin) contains
more true sublimity, exquisite beauty,
more pure morality, more important
history, and finer strains of poetry and
eloquence, than can be collected from
all other books in whatever age or Ian
guage they may have been written.
The mstrained application of them TO
events which took place long after the
publication, IS solid ground for belief
that they are genuine productions, and
consequently inspired"
Mr.. Addison, speaking of the superb
| our perfection of the sacred volume to
every work, says, /" The great and
glorious truths which ii discovers to us,
are compared with those which we else
where acquire, as the Creator contrast
ed with his works. Had Cicero, SAYS
he, lived TO see all that Christianity has
brought TO light, how would he who so
iondly hoped for Immortality, have law
ished out all the force of eloquence in
those noblest of contemplations-the
resurrection and the judgment that will
follow ii ! How had his breast glowed
with pleasure, when the whole COM
pass of futurity revealed in these pages
lay open to his view How would he
have entered, with the force oflightning,
into the affections Of his hearers, upon
those glorious themes contained in the
bible-themes, which, when enlarged
upon by a skilful Christian orator, make
US break out into the same expressions
as those of the two disciples, who met
our Saviour after he arose. from the
dead Did not our hearts burn with
in US, when he talked with us bv the
way, and when he opened to us the
scriptures p"
The learned Mr.. Locke, after demon
strating the truth of the holy scriptures,
in various ways, thus expresses himself
in letter to friend, just before he
died =" Study the holy scriptures, es-
pecially the New-Testament for in
them are contained the words of eter-
nal life. The bible has God for its
author, salvation for its end, and truth
for its matter, without any mixture of
error"
Similar testimonies in favour of the
bible might be adduced in the immortal
Bacon, Lord Verulum, in the great Sir
Isaac Newton, who wrote to prove the
excellency of the scriptures-in Mr..
Boyle, who instituted means to eluci-
date their truth--in Mr.. West, who
wrote treatise on the subject of the
resurrection---in Lord George Little
ton, whose illustrious rank received
splendor from his talents, and who has
done essential service to the Christian
cause, by his admirable work on the
conversion of st. Paul. All these, it
will be observed, were laymen, and
therefore cannot be suspected of any
undue partially for the scriptures and
to such distinguished names might be
added those of Milton, Hale, a John
son, Cowper, Bryant, a .Beattie,
Cumberland, Washington, Jay-lay-
men, also most emfnently distinguished
for their learning and science, yet who
deemed all their learning, alb their
science, of little worth, compared with
what they derived from the book cf
God
The excellent DR.. Watts, in his adj
vice to young man, says, Whatev-
ever your circumstances may be in this
world, value the bible as your best
treasure; and whatever be your en-
ployment, look upon your religion as
your best business. The bible contains
eternal life in it, and religion is the only
way for you to become possessed of it."
Or. Leachman, upon his death-bed,
thus addressed the son of a nobleman
who hadbeen under his care: "Yousee,
my young friend, the situation IN which
lnow am. have not many days to
i've, and am happy that you witness
the, tranquility of my last moments
But it is not tranquility alone it is joy
and triumph-nay it is complete exulta-
ton" His features frightened, and his
voice nose. in energy as he spoke ::
G. And whence, said he, does this exul-
tation spring |? from that book-(point-
ing to- bibleJ from that blessed book,
too much neglected indeed, but which
contains invaluable MISUNDERSTANDING
Of bliss aud rejoicing !; for it makes us
certain that this mortal shall put on i'm
mortality
Judge Hale, in letter to his chill