Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-16
Romance Of the Bible.


4 1t has been said that history is philosophy
teaching by example. But how much more
truthiuly il may be said the Holy Scripture is
religion teaching by examples. The truth OF
I Droiane history may sspctnnes be reasonably
doubted, because the writers may err as to
facts even with the best intentions while
many Of them sat down to write ialsehood 10
please a nation, to flatter prince or serve "A
friend. But the author ofthc Bible cannot be
charged with Ignorance or partaty.
The Holy Scriptures then may be regarded
ms teaching us by examples. ! am the more
careful in the enumeration OF this proposition
because the Holy Scriptures have been invcs-
ted with mystcrv--haye been described as so
pure, so elevated, 50 spiritual, so heayculy-as
speaking of things so far beyond the reach
and comprehension of men, that many persons
have learned to regard them as not giving a
practical illustration Of what man ought to
do.
There is no position in life, however mum
bic, however elevated, that does not find a
beautiful and lorclble illustration in this dtlpai
ha0rY Of man, the BIBLE. Here We have cx-
amples without theories-that peculiar element
which gives Zcst 70 what are called rOmances,
novels, the light literature ofyour day. Why
does the press pour out It's vast numbers Of
trashy literature, read IN almost every house
Of your city. 1t will not do To say that the
Whole people who read them arc corrupt.
Men of sense, of morals, ofreligon, read them
The only reason is this that whether true
or false, they profess to detail actions that man
and woman have done and thought aud felt
and said. And it is because they present
human beings acting, atthey have this power
over the human mind.
Now. everything that IS captivating in action
or critical IN circumstances; that awakened a
tragic influence, that can arouse or lead on the
human heart Is recorded in that book rs hay
ing actually taken place Why then should
not the word receive the heavenly slory-thc
record Of human actions under the appreciation
or disapprobation OF God And | regard the
New York Bible Society with peculiar interest
because they propose To present that record to
thousands Of people whO from their circum-
stances and education aud habits, ara unable To
reason out splendid spcculatCns and grea,
theories in religion and morals, but who can
see the beasy of r,ligicn in the single acts Of
individuals recorded in that book.
! There IRE JnOn.ynts ia lao lie Of every man
when he feels the need of resting upon, Of con-
fdng IN some unseen pswcr. Such amomcnt
comes 10 every man, at some stage of life or
other. In this respect the life of Abraham is
one Of the most romantic histories ever written.
lie heard the voice Of God bidding him to 80
10 distant country where, was not told him .
il was to the westward that was all the in ,
formation given HIM.
As he set at his tent door ore night, God .
called TO him and bid him look abroad and
count the stars i'll the sky, that beautiful sky
into which | nave looked, where the stars are
multiplied to the lmagination--io old aud child
less Abraham, whose wife too was well strck-
en- in years, God said "Thy seed shall be as
the stars of lle1yCn.n Aud Abraham staggcr-
ed not His faith was strong; his tootstep
firm; he took his staff and went FORTH not =.
knowing, whittier he went. Is there no lesson
in this
II we ask for an example Of mcekness and
We turn to Moses, than whom no
nobler example ever lived upon earth. See
him with the glory of the greatest kingdom,
and the crown Of Egypt laid down at his feet,
and the only nhcrltor Of that throne desiring,
asking, begging only 10 be called his mother,
Bet Moses found that it was not compatible
with his duty to God, and he "chose rather
TO suffer affection dc. is there any mag
nanimity like that on record And yet you
find that narrative in book that must be true
in every part of It's history. Look at his meek
ness. The people of Israel, mislcd by spies
who had not courage TO b. honest, rebelled \
and the anger of God was klndcd against
them. and he said to Moses, "Ict me alone,
that | may consume them and | will make Of
Ihee great nation" But Moses besought
the Lord for them and said, "Nay, Lord, for
hen the Egyptians will say thou vast not able
10 bring them into the promised land, will
not consent to dishonor Thee" No well in
'ucted youth can have read that story without
feeling his young soul grow larger and better.
Is there any tale IN romance equal To 1t
But some will say the Bible IS private
book II gives no narrative illustrative of public
life. Sir, there are nowhere illustrations of
public life equal To those found IN the Bible.
II fyou want an example of integrity in mag
lstrate. read the history of Samuel. Cod was
opposed to giving the lsraclIlcs a King, (and
though do not know that we are to under
stand thereby that God is opposed to all Kings,
| d. not remember that he las said anything in
heir favor. )and he told Samuel TO anont Saul,
Jehovah taking care that Samuel should re-
main his Prime Minister. When Samuel was
me hundred years old, he came to the door OF
his tent, blew a trumpet; and as a signal all
he people gathered around their venerable
magistrate. 4
And what wanted samuel There was no /,
nvason, no plague or evil IN the land no re-
'olt or outcry of the people. When silence was
obtained Samuel tosc-" am Old said he. i
and my head is grey. an about To 90 the n
way of all the earth have directed your
lllalrs for ten years, | am about TO step into
he grave. Whose oxen have | taken, or
whose asses OF whom have taken a hrbc /.
lmong YOU Let HIM speak, and ! will re-
urn him fouriold." And there came TAP an
answer from that multitude, "Ihou hast
Srongcd no man-'huu hast injured no man. - 7.
And hc turned and sld--"God Is witness and
pc are Witnesses A Il they rcpeatcd--"Nc I
are witnesses. And vet YOU say the Bible
las got no life m it-no elements of action
luu who say so have not read the Bible. IL
Would YOU sec the other sIdc--the reverse
If the picture Look 81 Absalom. lie was a
yoodly and beautiful Young man. But hc was \
and Tor forty long years he stood AT
he gate when the kmg WAS M the palace.
md when any one came 10 the hing Tor Ius-
ice. Absalom took hun ASIDE and sand to hlm.
% wish | were Judge IN the land, then would
do Justice to Won. SCI your cause is right N
&c. and thus dld h. TOR forty years. Ii YOU
ro tn the political meetings of vour country, ID