The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-04-29

excellent articles, one on "The Literature of
the New Testament" from which the fol-
lowing extracts are selected:
Tf
group together the peculiar literary elements,
the style and language, the age and country
of the sacred penmen, their personal obscu-
rity, and, with one exception, their previous
want of mental culture, the utter absence of
premeditation and concert, their employ
ment of the homelest methods of compost
ton, and their apparent Inconsistencies
that they were writing for all men and for all
times-if we study those strange character
istics, we cannot but feel that the whole en-
terprise, so foreign to the circle of mans
familiar operation, and so distant from the
range of his likeliest conjecturcs and fore
thought, must surely be ascribed to Him
who is "wonderful in counsel and excellent
in working"
/ For those books did not pine and perish
in the shades of Informative obscurity. With
every drawback in origin, structure, Ian
guage, and authorship, they have now won
their way to unparalleled ascendency No
volume ever commanded such profusion of
readers, or was translated into so many Ian
guages. Such is the universally of its spir-
it, that no book loses less by translation
none has been so frequently copied in manu-
script, and none so often printed. Kingand
noble, peasant and pauper are delighted
students of its pages. Philosophers have
humbly CLEANED from it, and legislation hat
been thankfully indebted to it. Its storie:
charm the child, its hopes inspirit the aged
and its promises soothe the bed of death
The maiden is welded under it's sanction
! and the grave is closed under its comfort
ing assurance. Its lessons are the essence
of religion, seminal truths of Theology, tn,
first principles of Morals, and the guiding
axioms of Political Economy. Martyrs hav,
often bled and been burnt for attachment t.
it. 1t is the theme of universal appeal. Ii
y the entire range of literature. no book is s,
frequently quoted or referred to. The ma
jority of all the books ever published hav
p. been in connection with it. The Father
commented upon it, and the subtle divine
of the middle ages refined upon its doctrines
1t sustained ORIGINS scholarship and Chry
sostom's rhetoric; it whetted the penetra
ton Of Abelard, and exercised the keen in
genuity of Aquinas. It gave life to the re
vival Of letters, and Dante and Petrarc
revealed in its imagery. 1t augmented til
crudition of Erasmus, and reused and ble
sed the intrepidity of Luther. It's temple
arc the finest specimens of architecture, an
the brightest triumphs of music are ass
ciatcd with It's poetry. The text of no al
Icent author has summoned into opcratio
such an amount Of labor and learning, and
Is has furnished occasion for the most mastcrl
IN examples Of criticism and comment, gran
NAUTICAL investigation, and logical analyst
1t has inspired the English muse with h
r. loftiest strains. It's beams gladdencd Nj
re ION in his darkness, and cheered the song
y Cowpcr in his sadness 1t was the st
which guided Columbus to the discovery
new world. 1t furnished the panoply
that Puritan valor which shivcred tyranl
~ in days gone by 1t is the magma char
10 # the worlds regeneration and liberties.
M Such benefactors as Francke, Nef, Schwar
and Howard, the departed Chalmers, a
the living Shaftosbury, are cast in t
i, mould Of the Bible The records of false
y f-iou, from the Koran to the Book of NJ
ma ii, have owned its superiority, and s.
rcptitigu@ly purI'incd its jewels. AmO
the Christian classics it loaded the treasu
Of Owen, charged the fulness of Hook
barbed the point Of Baxter, gave colors
Ia; the palette and sweep to the pencil of b
pr yam, enriched the fragrant fancy of Tayl
sustained the loftiness of Howe, and strU
&c the plummet of Edwards In short,
~ a.. r Al i IL
our collection OF arIIcSs ives ana reuters
les, changed the face Of the world, and enDOb
are are myriads of its population: Finally, and
any show the contrast, while millions bid it '
the comc-the mere idea of its circulation eau
tits the Pope to tremble on his throne,
Or brings fearful curses from his culver
lips