The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-02-23

Zion, that the philosophers and erudite mon Of
other nations and Of other times, lighted with
their torch, and cnkindied 6res upon the altar Of
Literature.
No one has written much for oil time as he,
who has awaited himself Of the advantages Of
primitive sacred literature-the literature Of the
Bible. The art Of Inscribing with the hand was
tedious and laborious. Hence, the limited records
Of events. for thousands Of years previous TO The
year Of our Lord, l440 when The art Of printing
was invented. With this invention opened new
era in the history Of Literature. The stone, the
brazen and leaden sheets, the Egyptian muslin
and the parchmen,s were all brought before the
daguerrean-iike invention, the press, that they
might receive a touch and 50 become the common
stock Of the literary world.
Since then books have multiplied like the drops
Of the morning. To read and property digest
them all IS out Of the question. Hence the I'M
portance Of discriminating well in he choice and
use of materials for literary pursuits Among
the countless hooks Of this world the Bible is $50
lated, unique and peculiar. Ia respect to the or
der of lis literature, it is like Tabor-'sa noun
tain apart" Ii is not only the original source.
but ii is the standard of polished aud useful lite
nature. Compare with it, if you please, the
most ancient account of the Chadeans, tout hing
the creation Of the world Is no, the latter sutli-
cieniy ridiculous, to betray the fact that is fall
u Gus in The extreme,
The Phoencian rheosony, by Sanconia,han
IS, if possible, still more ludicrous and ia buous
The Egyptian, given by Dldorus Sicuus is as alb
snrd ridiculous. As for the Tbeosony Of the
Greeks-the learned Greeks, ITS gross impurities
forbid rehearsal in your presence. |, is shock
insly base.
| But how simple, concise and rational the ac-
count given by Moses ''ln the beginning God
created the heavens and the EARTH Here we
have mighty cause revealed, equal 10 The effect
produced.
! The most authentic ancient historians abound
| in chronological Inconsistencies. The chronology
of the Bible is both definite and rational The
Sacred Scriptures furnished with the two eyes
of history, without mote or blur
We have then literary STANDARD OF the first
order, by which, ihs chronological errors ard ge-
| ogra phical fables, may be detected aud certain
dates and events determined. The literary mer-
it of the historical compositions Of the Bible are
without parallel. Hence it is from the Bible, The
great store house Of literature, that historians hi,
drawn the model OF such writings as will stand
the test Of time and the march of intellect
And il is from this Sacred Volume as from the
gallery Of the Universe, that the finest subjects
for historic painting within the entire circle of the
fine ar,s have been selected. Ancien, History
especially ancient Pagan literature should he
studied and priced only as it harmonizes with
truth. The study Of the classics should be prose-
culed not only for intellectual but also for moral
Improvement and for the more perfect understar-
ding OF the or glnal language Of the Bible.
Shakespeare, Byron and Burns, although not
perfect IN holiness, were mighty in intellect, and
may be taken up with prof, in your intellectual
pursuits. Milton, Cowper, Pollock, Addison,
Pope, Steele, Montgomery and Young, and kin
dred spirits, Bacon, Lock, Newton and host OF
such worthless not on y Ct Europe, bu; of our own
loved country, shine forth the meteors Of our lit
erary ornament, and the elite for genera ions lo
come. These are The men, who frs, taking held
Of God were enabled to take fast hold upon their
feow-men. On the other hand Pagan writer's,
and The Nol,aires, and the Rosseaus Of athei,iic
memory, with their co-adjutors, are fast waxing
old and are disappearing from The armament OF
Letters. What they bui beacon-lights, SET
for The warning of all, who would escape the
shoals and rocks, upon which others have wreck
ed
! Much Of the literature OF the press al the pres
ent day, IS not only not worth the reading, but
highly preJudicid TO the hes; interests of society
and, should not therefore obtain at The lire-sides
IN the family, nor find resting place for mo-
nent, IN the literary archives of an enlightened
and christian people.
! Ii therefore you would avoid Sylla and Char
rybdis--the fatal rocks and dangerous surf, lei
The light Of Divine Revelation be your candle IN
all .our researches lie, it be a lamp to your
feet and light to your path in all your studies,
and in all your Investigations.
In 50 doing, you Will not only be made wiser
but hOIcr, and secure the ultmatunl, Ii.era-
iure with which you may with all the ou.nipo,ence
OF words, point the way 10 heayen-to God.