Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-04
ERRORS IN RELATION TO TIE
SCRIPTURES,


Scripture phraseology, are, by some persons
imagined 10 be in the Bible. ssGod iempers
the wind TO the shon lamb is a smooth
line OF Sterne's which has no parallel in-ihe
Scripture. The nearest approach TO this sem
ument, is TO be found In the beautiful language
of the Hebrew Prophet.-"He siayeth his
rough wind in the day of his east wind Isai-
ah, n IS. sin the midst Of life we are in
death,'' is reflection derived from the burial
service in the Book Of Common Prayer, and
yet il is said that the Rev. Robert Hall had
chosen 1t as text for funeral sermon, and
there are mulutudeS who now imagine that
they could find II within the covers Of the BIZ
bic. BREAD and wine which the Lord hath
commanded TO be received,n is a sentence
from the Church ct England Caieehism
which was once quoted 10 our hearing to prove
from the Bible thattotal abstainers Were wrung
IN Directing to the use OF wine at the sacra-
ment OF the Lords Supper. The admontioE
-"Not 10 be wise above what is written" we
are sometimes told, is enioined upon US in the
Sacred Scriptures, and il is generally used 10
repress any undue anxiety 10 comprehend the
higher mysteries of Christianity. The parties
who thus employ the Injunction, may be sur
prlsed 10 find that it has no place in the Word
OF God. Many OF the pious, gifted Brethren
10 our churches, pray for the recompense Of a
pastors toll iE uncouth figures, when they
express the wish that God would give him
"seals 10 his ministry, and souls for his hire. .
This metaphorical language NAV be admired,
or otherwise, but let it be remembered that the
phrase is not Scriptural. A very objectona-
bic form of expression is sometimes used in
prayer, when persons entreat that the Spirit
or the Lord, "woud 60 from heart to heart, as
oil from vessel to vesselp Il tends 10 lower
our conceptions OF the omnipresence OF the
Being invoked, and i conveys anything but
correct conception OF divine grace in individ-
ual minds and hearts.
Many OF the spurious phrases which pass
current in the Christian world for sacred truth
are obviously formed in some way or other on
the model OF Biblical passages. Thus. kind.
ness to animals IS often enforced by the orac-
ular saying, which is regarded as Scripture,
The mercliul man is mercilul TO his beast"
This, however, is not in the Bible, but some
thing like II may be found 10 Proverbs, IL; 10,
where il is written, "a righteous man re-
gardeth the life of his beast" In speaking Of
the rapid increase of the Messiah's subjects in
the latter times, il is often affirmed that God
has sand, "a nation shall be born in day"
There IS however no such prediction either in
the Old or New Testament, but it is probable
that some floating impression of the inquiry
pu: forth by the Prophet Isaiah. 46; 8, "Shall
nation be born at once ~ led TO the construc-
ture Of saying which has formed the chief
foundation TO many, OF the hope of millennial
glory. Had the theory no sureT basis, it would
certainly cover its advocates with confusion.
There are several passages of Scripture fire.
quenlly SO quoted, that, by the alteration OF a
word or the modification OF a sentence, they
convey totally different impression 10 that
which the Inspired Writing teaches. For in
stance, Solomon said-'.Iron sbarpene,h iron!
so man sharpeneth the countenance OF his
friend. Proverbs 27--l6 The common,
but by no means improved version OF this say
ing is, ''As iron sharpenelh iron. so doth the
countenance OF d man his friend"
The expression "That he who runs may
read" is misquotation founded Upon mis-
apprehension OF the meaning OF Scripture
The popular, but erroneous form, conveys the
notion of a writing exhibited by me wayside,
the characters of which are SO large that he
who runs along the path may comprehend its
meaning, and accelerate his speed This,
however, is notthe reading. nor the applica-
ZION of the Scripture injunction. In Habakuk,
z; 2, il is enjoned, wv rite the vision, and
make II plain upon the tables, that he may run
that readeth it," Here the reading is to be
deliberate, and previously 10 the running or
in order TO it. We have heard the advice CIV
en- as sacred, TO lowe no man anything but
love )" as If we were ever 20 withhold from
our fellows the important and valuable mani
iestation of right feeling towards them. This
is a maDgled quotation of the twoiold apostol
&c Injunction 10 ''owe no man anything, but
TO love one another" Roman, 1858.
The most serious damage and dishonor are,
however, done 10 the Bible by interpretations
which have gradually crept into many Of the
passages in common use. These, probably,
originated in the desire 10 make more plain the
supposed meaning of the text, or TO express
the theological sentiments of the persons "a
doping it. Nevertheless, as may be seen in
the following examples: The memorable
promise the Saviour, Matt Is; 20, "Where
two or three are gathered together in my name.
there am in the midst Of them" is often used
with the addition, ''and that to bless them."-
This additional sentence is probably a mutt
lated fragment of the promise Of Jehovah,
Exodus, 20; "a, Gin all places where record
my name | will bless thee" But it is a SUI
PSibbOuS aPINuNdpcs hOt III IdI ihOby WIN
the design OF the Redeemer's promise, and,
when attributed TO Him as His Word is incor
rect. The wish expressed by the Apostle
Paul, 2 Thess. 3; /, THAT the word of the
Lord may have free course and be glorifed,"
is often quoted with the addition, "and run"
This appears 10 be an incorporation ofthe pro.
posed marginal reading, for Stree course" is
mere tautology, and consequently, should be
avoided. The cheering declaration, Eph. 3 !;
90, that God sis able to do exceeding album
dainty above all that we ask or Think has
often apprehended to it the somewhat I'M
meaning and unscnp;ural sentence, s'or are
at all worthy TO receive" Now, as salvation
is Of grace we are not worthy Of any mercy at
the hand of God, and this addition is conse-
quendy incongruous with the passage. The
beautiful and affecting declaration, Psalm 1870;
Z, that "With the Lord there is Mercy, and
with Him is plenteous redemption," is some
times encountered with the ungraceiul appen-
dage, that "ile may be sought unto" which
is certainly not in the text, nor IN the ode nom
which it is taken.
All sorts of emendation have been attempt
ed Of the LORDS prayer, and ofthe Apostolic
benediction, 2 Cor, Is, Ia with which our
public religious services usually conclude
Indeed, so common are the alterations IN the
latter, that in a majority OF instances in which
ii is used in some places OF worship. it is EN-
ployed with some interviewer commentor adj
dition. Surely the beautiful, comprehensive,
and universally appropriate words of the
Christian form oil benedictIon might be allow