The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-01
Miscellaneous.
The Bible.

The Bible, supposing il to be other than
il pretends TO be, presents us with singu-
lar phenomenon in the space which it oc-
cupies throughout the continued history of
literature. We see nothing like it; and it
may well perplex the infdel to account for
it. Nor need his sagacity disdain to enter
little more deeply into its possible causes
than he is usually inclined TO do. II has
not been given to any other book of re-
ligion thus to triumph over national preju-
dices, and lodge itself securely in the
heart of great communites-varying by
every conceivable diversity of language,
race, manners, customs; and, indeed,
agreeing in nothing but veneration for
itself. 1t adapts itself with facility to the
revolutions of thought and feeling which
shake to pieces all things else; and tlexibly
accommodates itself to the progress of So
ciety and the changes Of civilization.
Even conquests--the disorganization of old
nations, the formation of new-do not af-
feet the continuity Of its empire 1t lays
hold Of the new as of the old, and trans
migrates with the spirit of humanity; at
tracing to itself, by It's own moral power,
in all the communities it enters, cease
less intensity of effort for its propagation,
illustration and defence.
Other systems of religion are usually
delicate eXotics, and will not bear trans
planting. The gods of the nations are local
deities, and reluctantly quit their native
soil at all events, they patronise only
their tavorite races, and perish at once
when the tribe or nation Of their worship
pers becomes extinct-often long before
Nothing, indeed, is more difficult than to
make foreigners feel any thing but the ut
most indifference Except as an object of
philosophic curiosity about the religion Of
other nations; and no portion of their ma
tional literature is regarded as more te-
dious or unattractive than that which
treats of their theology. The elegant my
thologies of Greece and Rome made no
proselytes among other nations, and fell
hopelessly the moment they |. The Ko-
ran of Mahomet has, it is tn been prop
agated by the sword; but has been
propagated by nothing else; its do
minion has been limited to those nations
who could not reply to that logic
If the Bible be false, the facility with
which it overleaps the otherwise impassa-
bic boundaries of race and cline, and
domiciliates itself among so many different
nations, is assuredly far more striking
and wonderful proof of human ignorance,
perverseness and stupidity, than is afford
ed in the limited prevalence of even the
most abject superstitions; or, if it really
has merits which, though fable, have
enabled il to impose so comprehensively
and variously on mankind, wonderful in
deed must have been the skill in its com
position; so wonderful that even the inf
del himself ought never to regard it but
with the profoundest reverence, as far toe
successful and sublime.
In his last illness, few days before his
death, Sir Walter Scott asked Mr. Lock
hart to read to him. Mr.. Lockhart in
CURED what book he would like Z" Can
YOU askf' said Sir Walter; s'there is but
one" and requested him to read chapter
of the gospel of John. When will an
equal genius, to whom all the realms Of
fiction are as familiar a. to him, say the
like OF some professed revelation, orig
mating among a race and associated with
history and a cline a. foreign as those
connected with the birthplace of the Bible
from those of the ancestry of Sir Waite
Scott Can We, by any stretch of imagl
nation, suppose some Walter Scott Of
new race in Australia or South Africa say
ing the same of the Vedas or the Koran
Edinburg ReUiew.