The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-04-02

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Lrcrukx The eighth lecture before The
'.young Mens' Christian Assocission," by Rev.
j. b. JnTnR. WINS delivered ut trinity Church,
on Friday evening, and was well attended.
The subject wss-"The claims OF the Bible to
the stteetive perusai and careful study of Young
Men" To many, said Mr.. J the perusal of the
Bible was a cherries aud gloomy task, In child
hood and youth they had grown weary OF It, and
10 later years had heard u made jest-ridculed
as an imposture book suited TO the imbecihies
of superstitious age; but not adapted to meet the
necessities of the present enlightened period: He
did not suspect the young men OF the Association
OF entertaining such views of the sacred volume,
but amid the many temptations of light literature
and amusement there was danger that 1t would be
laid aside aoe ether or read eareessly and without
profit.
First, he continued, the antiquity Of the Bible
entities It to attentive perusai and careful study
The Pentateuch Is the oldest book In the world,
except the book of Job, which is supposed also to
have been written by Moses. If Homer may be
called the father OF Poetry and Herodotus OF HIS
tory, Moses, who proceeded them both, Is the
father of record which embraces poetry, history,
politics and revelation Apart from his inspiration,
the circumstances of Moses life and the wisdom
and scantty of his character en:itle him to our re-
gard We navigate seas and traverse mountains
to gather from crumbling ruins illustrations OF the
past but the Bible presents us the noblest OF all
monuments In it, we find truth venerable for It's
age, yet vigorous with the bloom OF immortal
youth--rch treasures OF the past and glorious
boues of the future Omitting several interesting
remarks under this head, we pass to the second
| topic OF the lecture, viz
The poetry and eloqueuce of the Bible God
delights In the beautiful. Our duties might have
been conveyed to in dry language; but as In the
natural world. flowers and landscapes gorgeous
forests and majestic mountains adorned he earth,
blending the beautiful with the useful; 80 in the
sacred writings, the beauties OF eloquence and
poetry had been profusely scattered Where
Gpd jrne
Isaiah more touching pathos than In Judahs plea
| for Benjamin. nobler defence than that OF Paul,
the prisoner which had extorted from Agrippa the
confession "Amost thou persuadest me to be
| Christian 2" He could gather but few of the
flowers of the Biblical pasture. AS the description
of an effort most magnificent In language, simple
and strong he cited from the rst chapter of Gene
sis "God said let there be light and there was
light" He quoted also from the 139th Psalm and
various passages from Isaiah and other prophets
Passing to the New Testament, he said the Apoca'
| lypse was radiant with splendid imagery he
quoted the beautiful description there given of the
| new Jerusalem.
Under the third topic of the lecture the historical
information contained in the Bible, many Interests
| ing facts were detailed. The harmony OF modern
discoveries among the ruins OF ancient cities with
| the scripture record was conclus1yeiy sheWn ana
several striking incidental illusions In the sacred
writings were noticed illustrative OF The history
of Egypt and Babylon and other cities. Inc val
lev Of the Nile was at the time of the Patrarchs the
| seat of civilization and arts. The patriarcaS were
nomadic and dwelt in tents. The sons OF JACOB
went down into Egypt for corn with asses ana bags,
but when Joseph sent for Jacob he sent aoGg0nS--
Achaps crime at the seiee of jericho was the steal
| ing Of a goodly Bdbyl0aish garment. We have
reason from this circumstance to infer the attain
ment Of skill ut Babylon in the arts or weaving dy
| ing and embroidery.
Mr. letter presented, foNTthlg, the moral lnfiu.
ence of the Bible. He showed that good men love,
and bad men hate the Bible He asserted that those
who ascribe to it corruptng Influence know that
| 81 10 end at
its precepts is to make men pure and trustworthy
| in all the relations of life.
In the fifth place, he asserted the highest claim
Of the Bible its religious influence He did not pro-
pose sermonize. but could not omit this iDpor-
tant head What gospel will you have II you reject
To receive the benefit of its truths we must
| daily receive, study and obey them
Sirthky he brous hit forward the testimony of wise
and good men In favor of the Bible. This kind of
evidence he knew light but all were more or
less swayed by it. He cited the names of Milton,
Hale, and Chief Justice Marshall-men who vene-
rated the Bible, and who, without its influence,
would never have been what they we've. He quo
ted the words of Locke: STUDY the Holy Scrip
tures especially the New Testament, for it has God
for its author, salvation for its end, and truth with
out any mixture of for its matter" and the
celebrated eulogy of Sir William JOKES upon the
Bible.
Lastly, said he the more this Book is studied the
more it will be przed-and the more desirable will
it seem 10 be when acquainted with it. True, after all
our study, we shall be compelled to confess as did
Newton
have only been gathering pebbles on the shore ofihe
great ocean of truth. But if the bible has depths
where an elephant may swim, II has shailows where
a lamb NAV wade" Light and shadows are blended
here as in ell the works of God If some things
yet hidden view Others revealed as clear
" as sunlight Amid the temptations that beset the
young man. especially In cities from bad books,
bad coropGny, and vicious emusements, leading to
idleness Drunkenness profanity, licentousness and
scepticism, how needfui this preservative against
evil Three thousand years ago the question had
been asked "Wherewithal shall young man cleanse
his WAYS" and inspiration had answered it-"By ia
king heed thereto according to thy word.
TIE path of him who shall regard this injunction
shall be as the light that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day"
close said the lecturer with the words of cele
brsted poet who it lie be feared did not exhibit in
his practice that of the Importance of this
Book. which he here expresses. He alluded to Lord
Byron.
Within this awful volume lies,
The M stery of Mysteries
Oh, blessed forever, blessed are they,
Who read to hope and read to pray,
But better had they me- ar been born
Who read to doubt read 20 scorn.
| We Lave omitted much of Mr.. Js brief but In
structive lecture
The next lecture is to be delivered by Rey'd Mr.
| Kepler. In consequence of his absence from the
city, it is postponed to the eek after next.
On Saturday last, We had the melancholy
pleasure of pericip sting in the last dinner the
,Ja. 81 rtn;o Of ol