Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-22

her of facts, images, sentiments and rehec
lions, this cosmopolitan cast of the Bible, con-
nected with the fact that it was not the work
of critical or analytic age, that it excels 9TH
er books in its tendency to excite intellectual
inquiry and elicit profound emotion. We
are apt to estimate the value of book in
system of education by very false standards.
Ii is not the book in which all the results of
knowledge in a particular department, have
been deliberately wrought up by a great think
er, so as to be Immediately available for the
purposes of practical instruction, which is most
valuable in education. A stream of ideas
may be thus poured into the mind, ofwhich
however it will be as speedily emptied The
stimulus administered to the fancy and the
reason, is so gentle, that these powers are not
called into active play The Bible is book
of on opposite character. 1t brings the world
home to a man, supplies him with the scenes,
the thoughts and the characters, which travel
and experience would furnish, but leaves him
to discipline his faculties by weaving out of
the material thus collected, his own intellec-
leetnal garniture.
The Bible also contains code of morals,
the most perfect in theory and operative in
practice which has been ever discovered
| History teaches no truth with more startling
distictness, than the necessity of an authorita-
tive system of morals to the perpetuity of
government. Sociey cannot exist except in a
savage state, without the cohesive power of
religion. Why did the ancient republics
melt, like the icicle even in the raw in which
they glittered ? The debasement OF the
ancient spirit was not only owing to the lux
urioui habits which followed foreign con-
quest but to those advances in knowledge and
PHILOSOPHY, which reduced the national reli-
gion TO shadow and thus robbed it of its
authority, over the conscience The Bible
excels all other systems both in the purity of
its precepts and the sanctions which attend
them. 1t not only commends whatever is
honest, just, true, lovely and of good report, 4"
hut it speaks in the tone of authority, and
with the voice of law giver. 1t commands
attention by the majesty of its claims, and
enforces obedinence by the rewards which it
promises to virtue, and retributions which it
assures us, will follow vice.
Even the sceptic who denies the validity
of its claims, acknowledges its precepts to he
worthy of God. Examine fora moment,
the ten commandments. 1t can be shown
by the testimony of profane historians, that
theDecalogue must have been delivered to the
Isrealites, nine hundred years before any of
the early systems of morals such that of
Confucius or Zaheucus or Pythogora were
published. And vet the contrast between the
Decalogues and these early PHILOSOPHERS is as
great as that between the sun, and the broken
and glimmering fragments of his glorious
image that are reflected in the running stream.
The Decalogue was not only in Unreasonable
advance of the age in which it was delivered,
but it still remains after the lapse of more
than three thousand years, a faultless and un-
approachable model of excellence, so simple
that the most unlettered can understand it. so
concise that the most stupid can remember
it, so comprehensive that human wisdom can
not add another precept to its code OF
duty, so practical that it comes home to the
business and bosoms of men, in every rela-
ton of life, and under every form of society,
so pure that the criticism of all time has been
unable to detect in it, any alloy of human pre-
judge, or passion.
But the Bible has contributed most largely
to the amelioration of society, by the dignity
and grandeur with which its revelations have
invested hpnlan nature. Intellectual illumin-
alton, moral reconstruction, civil, social and
religious freedom are seen to be proper and
necessary means of making secure his title &c
a bright reversion in the sky. Ii is to the
Bible that we owe our free institutions. 1t j,
the concuning testimony of all historians
that English liberty was born in religious ex-
element; the great struggle in which the op
pressive prerogatives of the crown were re-
shicted, and the rights of Englishmen unal
terably established, was emphatcally reli
gious struggle At the birth of Christ there
was not in the whole Roman empire, single
benevolent society. Human nature wasted
its entire energies in selfish pursuit of wealth
power or pleasure. That event introduced q
eligion which, lin the language of one of its
eloquent champions) proclaimed to its follow
ers, that whilst the passion Of some might be Il
shine, of some to govern, and of Others t.
accumulate, one great passion should alon,
infame their breasts, passion which reason
ratifes, which conscience approves, which
heaven inspires of being and doing good
Under the train of ameliorating influences
this awakened, the institution of marriag,
with all the sweet charities that nestle in it.
bosom has been rendered sacred, the fetters O
slavery have been broken or lightened, tn,
horrors of war mitigated, the restraints Of law
imposed upon rulers, the administration o.
Justice tempered with mercy, and all the art
which relieve the distress, multiply the com.
forts, refine the pleasures, and ennoble the
duties ol man, Warlneu INTO lllc.
OF The Terre Haute american thus speaks
of A. b. CARLTON, editor of the Bloomington
Ne,cs Letter, and Prosecutor i'm the Teut
lIaute District. The compliment is a merit
ed one
ave learn that A. b. Carlton Esq, make.
an excellent Prosecutor attends 10 the inter
f ests of the State promptly and efficiently
rendering ample justice and assistance in
every case in which he has been concerned
We are pleased to note this fact. Much de-
ponds upon this officer and too often have
. incompetent and inefficient officers been
chosen to fill the post which Mr.. C. now oc-
cupied with so much credit and honor To him.
self and the State"
ILLINOIS ALL RIGHT-We are requested Il