Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-05-24
Communication.

! On Sabbath evening" the lith inst. the citizens
of Stroudsburg and lis vicinity had the pleasure
of listening to an address from the Hon. William
Jessup, OH the claims of the Bible Cause. He
commenced by stating--he supposed all present
would conCede the propEiety of the sentiment,
j that the Bible should be in the hands of all-One
! might be tempted TO ask, then, why stand there
/ to plead fer position which none would deny
1t was necessary on the same principle that il
necessary to reiterate the claims Of the Gospel.
/ The tendency Of fallen human nature is down
ward, and it requires the constant application Of
couneracttng motives, to resist that tendency. OF
this fact any one would be convinced by process
of self inspection.
! Of the various motives that address Christians,
in regard 10 the circulation Of the Bible he would
enurerate some of the principal. Gratitude for 50
excellent gift should induce spirit OF expansive
good will to our fellow men II we wish to honor
the word of God, how we do it so efficiently
as by rendering it TO the destitute It's perfect
adaptedness to man, whatever be his condition
to intelligence outward estate, or moral character
was powerful reason why he should have access
TO such Book. No other book could supply its
place. 1t was -emphaticay the book. The ele-
waiting influence of the Bible was another motive
Just in proportion as the Bible was possessed and
appreciated, was man raised in the scale of re-
spectabiity and happiness. Were he to adSise a
community, simply in reference 10 their temporal
well being, he would say TO them, take the Bible
for yonr guide. lie directed their attention to
those parts of the world destitute of the word Of
God. Spain for instance. He had just had his
attention forcibly drawn to that unhappy country,
by reading Borrow's Bible in Spain,' work Of
SURPRISING interest. Spain was not wanting In
natural resources. Her position was favorable.
She had many noble minded sons. What had
dragged her down from her eminence among the
states of the world What had put out the fire of
her enterprise, robbed her of freedom, saddened
the spirits of her children, extnguished the light
of her piety and learning, and drawn over her the
gloom of superstition Spain had no Bible.
fany one people on the earth had greater reas-
oIs than any other to prize the Bible; we were
that people. II any one nation needed the bible,
more than any other, were that nation. The
bible had brought US up our present commanding
posltlon--the Bible alone would keep there.
Americans therefore have peculiar reasons to urge
them forward in the work Of distribution. No
cottage in the most distant hamlet should be left
without the Bible The bible and civil freedom
go together-where the one is, there will be the
other. They will flourish together, and they will
fall together. So says the history of the world.
Americans should see to it then that the Bible is
sent abroad. 4 fearful struggle was coming.
The issue was soon TO be tried whether man was
accountable to God directly. or whether he was to
DOW his neck TO the priest, who arrogates TO stand
in the place of God. sect of Christians, so
called, was making progress among US, who had
assumed TO themselves, what properly belongs 10
God only. Wherever that sect has gained the
ascendency, IL has been at the cost of freedom, civil
and religious They are making strenuous efforts
to gain the balance of power in this get free land.
They nterdict the bible, except their own mu,ila.
ted copy, and accompanied by their own COM
ments. Americans should be broad awake to the
designs Of that sect Patriotism in the absence
OF higher motives, should mpel to this.
This is but an impartial outline of the address,
1t was listened to, throughout, with res pectful at
tention, and no doubt with interest and profit
1t is truly gratifying to see our educated public
men stand forth in the defence of great and noble
objects. The Bible cause presents a theme ade-
quate to fill the heart and task the mind Of the
highest angel. No man need to feel that he is
degraded when he stands up to plead for the BIZ
BILE. Degraded So far from that, he is positively
ennobled by the sincere attempt That which
God approves must confer the true glory upon
man. AB.