The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-11-12
For tie Patriot,
Sabbath Reafing-yo. 9.
INSPIRATION OF TIE SCRIPTURES.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of
Cod Bible.
The second witness, that we call to give
testimony on This important point. is Its SUI
periorify Of design. when brought in contrast,
with works Of human production. In this
division Of our subject. We i~eariessly ask /;
what is the manifest design of all those works
which lave been written independent of. and
in contradiction to the Bible? Take the
| Koran, the Book OF Mormon, or any of those
works, which profess to contain the oracles OF
Idols; and we will find their teachings catcu-
lated to excite, and peFretnate, the fallen appc-
titles, and passions Of our nature making us
the more sensual and deviiish; : sinking US
still lower iii the scale Of moral being and
instead of elevating, Off aspirations and mo-
tlyeS. they destroy the very clements of virtue.
and make the human heart a cess-pool of polu-
ton. Again, what is the manifest design Of
those works, which have been written in oppo-
sition 10 The Bible? Such as +" Paine's age of
%rrason," the works of Votaire, of Hume, Of
B~owlingbroke etc? DO they elevate the stand
ard of truth? Do they heighten our ideas Of
moral worth? Do they inspire nobIer senti-
n'ents in The human breast? Do they elevate
he standard Of virtue? DO they ennoble
mans aspirations? Do they lead TO holiness
aud to Heaven? The positive no; is the an
swer, to these enquiries from every mind.
1t is truth that works Of fiction, whether
they came with the pretended authority Of
divinity, or clothed with The garb, of rich
imagination, as well as all ths host of infdel
productions have been in their influence, the
means OF reiarding the progress of truth, vir-
lne, holiness and happiness. To-day might
have been the noon of moral perfection, a noon
that could know no evening had it not been
for the very baneful influence, of such produc-
tons upon the children of men. But what is
the manifest design of the Bible? Like a
blazing sun, it leads not only The dawning
morn of truth, but frightening, amid the
towering works Of human genius. it throws
around them a radiance of uudying splendcr.
unequaled and Incompatible. Like onr cen.
tral ORC, 1.-THE SUM the Bible gives to human
productions, the oil, of truth aud beauty they
possess. 1t ~elevates and pnri6es mans feel
lnss; inspires his hopes-kiud,es a fountain of
fire in his soul. The burnings of which, ~sanctify
his nature. and make him II companion of An
gels yea a coworker with God.
Fearless III purity-transcendent in truthful
ness-unequaled in beauties, an incomparab!e
in its influence it is designed to lead man to
a destiny, sublime in morality. aud glorious in
happiness. The Bible shines no borrowed
light. nor wears a borrowed plume, but the
light OF Heaven. and the pInmes of immor-
taiity. Go thou thrice blessed Volume, on
Thy GRAND divine and with thy magic power,
accomplish thy noble design when earth's
hill tops shall wear crowns of glory, and her
valleys be clothed i'll spo'less purity; when
man shall be an angel. his song a short of
triumph. and his being the image of the
Eternal. Rrcrrs