Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-08-30
For The Vermont TeiegdDLh.
THE BfRIH


What is the Bible2 Ii is 66 writings
bound together, which long since were Sc
lecied from the many religions works then
exlant. Does the word Bible occur ia the
Scriptures 2 No,-lhe term Bible, hence
The phrase Holy Bible" men have Coined
descriptive Of the views they entertained of
those wrllings-a wold on The phrase !" holy
scriptures" hereafter
How is the true character Of the Bible 10
be known? Of course by penetrating its
contents, and testing its declarations and doc
trines. Why are the views Of men at such
variance in respect 10 the character of the
Bible; not only between professed christians
who approve, but between them and the inf
del2 Principally because the things chron-
icled therein are not understood; men no,
having considered or perceived, to what
height, and depth, and length, aud breadth,
| 10 other words, they have not been aware &c
what extent, Figure, Alegory, Personifi:a
lion, Sublimily and Hyperbole, are employ
ed in that Book Of all books-as though eve
ry writer desired to outslrelch his predecesso,
10 enlarged expression.
From whence is the Bible? Aud wha
is its characler7 Al the close of protract
ed meeting, Foo'e, noted revivalist of the
| New school, some nine or ten years since
took OPP the Bible and made the following
asserlion--"The contents Of this book is the
word Of God. Yes, every book and epistle
between the lids Of the Bible is Iheword o
God. And every chapter in each book, il
the word ofGod. So is every verse 10 eacI
chapter, the word Of God. And each qrort
Of every verseis the word Of God.
| The preceding is the declaration Of man
but what DO these books claim for them
selves2 They claim, and .purport to be al
honest history Of the word Of God, angel:
good men, bad men, and devils-hence les
!. lily as TO the character Of each.
What is the character Of the Old testament
Notwithstanding that, TO love God with al
the heart ADD thy neighbor as myself. a
since enforced by Jesus, is found, or appear
dimly in the first Iestament-I say Giml,
on account Of lis mixture and appendage
) which allowed, nay commanded the Jew
3 10 make war Upon their neig hbofing nation
: I say Notwithstanding all that can be said
tils favor, as whole, the old testament,
must be confessed, is bloody book. r.
The character Of The last testament, whe
!, used 10 the more limited sense Of will, GOV,
!. naut and law, cite the words Of the Aposrl
: who says,-"Our sufficiency is of Gld, wh
: hath made disable ministers or The New le
lament; not Of the letter but of The spirit
: = But il the ministrarion Of death written al
: engraven 10 stones was glorious" Again
j "lf that which is done away was gloriou
D, auch more that which remainethis glorious
II lie. the law Of Christ. See Cor. 3 o
d ward. So Heb. s:7-"lf that first GOV
nant had been faulless, then should no pla'
= have been sought for The second"
! I have not cited these passages TO dispu
$ the authority Of the law during the life Of Il
ID FIRST testament; nor 10 prove that Il was o
ID from heaven. but simply, to show that il W
I'd a "school master until Christ" a tempora
n system suited to their darkened state Of mil