The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-04-20

vi tho men SOos nave shed Juooeo over
ages and nations, tho purcst and the noblssg
arc those who have been most deeply i'm
hrucd with the literature Of the Bible
The divines Of the sovcniecnth century.
those gigantic pillars Of English literature
have been celebrated for their lovc q ~
excellence Of scripture composites. AZ
this fountain the most distinguished poets
and orators have drank deepest. What
but the literature Of tho Bible has soa6sssd
immortal the writings Of Milton and Ysssrs
or those Of Chatham and Burke, the mod,
Gle Of modern eloqucncc? What else has
given interest and power to tho writings OF
Jones, Butler, Hall and Edwards, the admi.
ration Of every scholarf Il 10 tho lisera-
turc Of the Bible which has cent out a re-.
dccming influence through our whole sys.
tcm-an influence which pcrvsdss and
strengthens the public mind There 10
spirit in the literature Of the Bible, before
which the lurid fires ofimpure passion, kim
died u the shrine Of hcsthsn literature, 70
out. Tho whole atmosphere Of tho Bible
is pure and sslutary; its cline 10 . region
Of strong thought; the place for giant minds
to thrive in. Il ID On cxhsusslsss treasury
Of truths
"Truths that have power TO mako
Dur noisy years seem moments in he being
Ofctcrnal silence; truths that wake
To perish never"
Let tho Bible be studied in ito original.
40 We study the llliad Of Homer, or tho his
tory Of Livy, and giauts in intellect will
rise up TO suspsss The loliiest gsoiusos of
past ages. Let the student study tho in.
comparable histories Of Moses and Luke,
and tho sententious writings VI Solomoo--
men Of wonderful grasp Of mind, Of strong
massive style, Of deep re6ection-nlso tho
writings Of Psul, another name fas The per-
lection Of condensed eloquencc--ihs unsi.
vailed poetry Of David, lssish, Ezekicl, lIa-
bakkuk and b will find such discipline a.
dapted to ind0rste bis mental consti tu,ion, to
give il muscle and energy; 10 grid tho in.
telloct With power; and TO ssd him 10 con
centrating ito snergics % - 10 bring vase
regions At once to the mind; 10 comprehend
almost the infinite in tho finite, 40 the
"copo Of heaven 10 imagcd in tho dew
Drop"
Such il tho literature az tho Scriptures
written ny 10 numerous authors, during
the space Of fifteen hundred years in the
sands Of Arsbia, in The deserts Of Judah,
in tho rustic schools Of tho prophets, ia tho
sumptuous palaces Of Babylon, in tho bo-
som Of panthoism and ito cad philosophy, tho
Bible comes to 10 the oldest Offering Of saac-
titled intellect, tho highest effort of genius.
tho ctf'nsions Of truth and nature, the over
flowings of genuine feeling, tho utsessnce
Of undisguised sentiments. i 10 osscasial
truth, the thoughts of heaven. This vol.
umc was conceived in the councils Of ctcr.
nal mercy. ]. contains the wondrous sto-
ry If rcdceming love. Il blazss with tho
lustro Of Jchovah's glory. Il IL calcu-
lated TO soflon tho heart; to sancsify tho
affections; to elevate tho soul. Il 10 sdap-
ted 70 pour the balm Of heaven into tho
wounded hoart; TO cheer the dying hour;
and to shcd tho light Of immortality upon
the darkness Of the tomb. The force Of its
truth compelled tho highly gifted but infidel
Byron to testify that,
"Withn this awful volume lies
The mystery Of mysteries.
O! happicss they Of human race,
To whom our God has given grace
To hear, 20 read, 10 fear, to pray,
To lift the latch, and foTco the way;
But bestcs had thcy no'er boon horn,
Who read 10 doubt or read TO scorn.''