The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-12-04
L OF TIE BIBLE.
By JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Addressed to one of the Literary Associations
of RoJtinorO

d. JOhN QIlNC1 ADARos
Addressed to one Of the Literary Associations
of Baltimore.
The first and almost the only book deserving
such universal recommendation, is the Bible
and in recommending that, | fear some of you
will think am performing a superauous, and 9th
ers, q very unnecessary ofice---yet such is my
deliberate opinion. The Bible is the book of
all others to be read at all ages and in all con-
ditions Of human life; not to be read once or
twice or thrice through, and then to be laid a.
side, but to be read in small portions of one or
two chapters, every day, and never to be inter-
mitted, unless by some oyerruling necessity.
This attentive and repeated reading of the
Bible in small portions, every day, leads the mind
to habitual meditation upon subjects of the high
est interest to the welfare of the individual in
this world, as we'll as 10 prepare him for that
hereafter TO which we are all destined, 1t fur
nisheS rules of action for our conduct towards
others in our social relations. In the command
ments delivered from Sinai, in the inimitable SUI
blimity of the Psalms and of the Prophets, in
the profound and concentrated observation of
human life and manners embodied in the Pro-
verbs Of Solomon, in the Philosophical allegory
so beautifully set forth in the narrative of facts,
whether real or imaginary, of the Book of Job,
an active mind cannot peruse a single chapter
and Law aside the book TO think, and take it up
again Tomorrow, without finding in il, advice for
our own conduct, which we may turn TO useful
account in the progress of our daily pilgrimage
upon earth---and when we pass from the Old
Testament to the New, We meet at once a syg-
TEN of universal morality, founded upon one
prscept of universal application, pointing US to
peace and good will towards the whole race Of
man for this life, and to peace with God, and an
ever blessed existence hereafter.
My friends, if all or any of you have spiritual
pastors to guide you in the paths of salvation, do
not imagine that | am encroaching upon the field
of their appropriate services:---l spake as a man
of the world, and | say to you, Search the Scrip
lures If ever you tire Of them in seeking for
a rule of faith and Standard of morals, search
them as records of History. General and COM
pendous history is one of the fountains of human
knowledge to which you should all resort with
steady and preserving pursuit. The Bible con-
taius the only authentic introduction to the his
tory of the world; and in storing your minds
with the facts Of this history, you will immedi-
ately perceive the need of assistance from Geog-
raphy and Chronology. These assistants you
may find in many Of the Bibles with commen-
%taries, and you can have no difficulty in procu-
ring them. Acquaint yourselves with the Chro-
nology and Geography Of the Bible--that will
lead you to a general knowledge respecting the
globe which you inhabit, and respecting the race
of man, its inhabitants to which you y~ouIself be-
long. You may pursue these inquiries just Sc
far as your time and inclination will permit.
Give one hour Of mental application, (for you
must not read without thinking or you will read
to little purpose,) give an hour of joint reading
and thought to the Chronology, and one to the
Geography of the Bible, and if it introduces you
10 a hard study, stop there. Even for those two
hours, you will ever after read the Bible, and ev-
cry other history, with more fruit, more intelli.
gence, and more satisfaction. But if those two
hours excite your curiosity, and tempt you 10 de,
vote part of an hour every day for a year OF
years, 10 study thoroughly the Chronology and
Geography Of the Bible, it will not only lead
you far deeper than you will otherwise ever pc
~netrate into the knowledge Of the book, but il
will shed floods of light upon every step you
shall ever afterwards take in acquiring the know.
ledge of p%rofane history, and upon the local hab-
~itation of every tribe of man, and upon the name
of every nation into which the children of Adam
have been dividided.