Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-02-03
@arutional Napartmsnt.
spucAr1oN-1Ts FRIEND: THE BIBLE.

Ignorance is a hldeous monster. 1t casts
gloomy shadow over everything wherever it
treads 1t fosters the sickly plants of error,
and casts down truth lifeless to the ground.
It withers every plant of genius upon which it
breathes but crouches low, or sinks away, at
the approach of intelligence. Yet, strange to
say, there arc many who embrace Ignorance as
though it were an angel Of light. 1t is a no.
to.ious truth, that there many persons at
the present day who, notwithstanding the null
tiplicity of means afforded for the acquisition
of knowledge, still content themselves to re-
main in woful ignorance deplorable, indeed
But this is not all. Besides being conteuted
to rsmaia in ignorance, they are almost inces-
sanity busying themselves in trying to incul-
cate their warped opinions into the minds of
others. The field in which they generally Ia
Dor is one where Z great amount of injury is
effected. In grown, intelligent society they
rarely labor. There their absurdities would
be exposed and contradicted therefore they
pounce upon the young and unsuspectIng.
They often use their influence, in every posi-
BILE way, to retard the educational movement,
and even go SO far as to deprive their own
The strangest thing connected with this is,
that they seem to oppose the cause OF Educa-
tion conscientiously. Were you to ask those
very opposers in regard to almost any other
subject, and you would find them to have right
ideas. But against Education they urge many
objections and, indeed, some which, at first
sight, seem plausible. Among the many OBJ
jections, strong one, with them. is, that the
Bible is opposed to Education. But is this the
casea Is the Bible really opposed to Educa-
tion7 Reading the Bible caused men ssto
study chronology, sacred and SECULAR re-
marks an eminent author, Sand here much
knowledge of history and some skill in astron-
omy were needful.'' The new testament was
written in Greek, and what would be our pres
ent state if no person had ever applied HIM
self to that language We might now be
without the Bible; or if We had it and wished
to read it, We would have to study the Greek
language in the first place. Philosophers, as
tronomers, geologists, botaniSts, and many in
the other arts and sciences have acknowledged
the union between the Bible and learning
Learning is part of education. Many, very
many, have said with the philosopher. ssthe
Bible has been my textbook The Bible,
then, has been one of the grand preservers of
learning.
But let us go TO the Bible at once. Let it
speak for itself. We need not read far till we
hail the passage-ssGod created man in his
own image" We are informed in Collossians
9, 10: that part of this image consisted in
knowledge. Then, We say, God created man
wiS hat ,r1, yyica iS evidauf from ba
fact of his giving names to the different ami
mails che gave each creature its name;
and, as it appears, this name was expressive of
some essential characteristic or quality of tie
creature to which it was applied. .';-Clarke
Does not God desire man to be wise, since he
created him So Although man was very
wise in his primeval state, yet he does not pos
sess that knowledge now. His wisdom does
not come without exertion on his part. This
he lost in the fall and all the knowledge man
gains is by study and application. 1t is mans
duty, as far as in him lies, to regain that state
from which he fell. His reasoning powers are
darkened, and if he does not cultivate that
faculty, he will be constantly running into
gross errors. That man is perfectly justifia-
BILE in gaining all the knowledge he can, is ev-
ident from the case of Solomon. God told
him to ask what he should give him. And
Solomon said, ssGive therefore thy servant an
understanding heart to judge thy people, tina.
I may discern between good and bad" And
God instead of being angry, was pleased at
this. ssAnd the speech pleased the Lord
II God was pleased with Solomon's asking
wisdom, will he not be pleased with us, if we
ask the same7
Again, We have some worthy examples in
the Scriptures. Moses was asiearned man.
He was learned in all the wisdom Of the Egvp-
tians. If the Bible and God are opposed to
learning, why did not God choose some isno-
Tanus to lead the children of Israel out of E.
gypt? Some say that the apostles were un-
educated men. 'Tis true they did not profess
to understand all the foolish and absurd tradi-
tions of the Jews, and the vain philosophy of
the Greeks. But it is not all likely that the
apostles were ignorant men, after being under
the immediate tutorship of the Son of God for
the space of three years. Gaining wisdom is
recommended by the Bible. We have numer-
Gus passages to this effect. But few need be
quoted to prove the position. sect wisdom.
get understanding forget it not" Again,
ssWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get
wisdom, and with all thy getting get under
standing" Now have adduced few of the
many proofs that the Bible is favorable to ed
ucation. The subject cannot be treated very
lengthily in SO limited a space. Perhaps |
have been to prolix already for our kind Edi-
tor. But, I trust, enough has been said to
bring all candid persons to this conclusion