The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-11-14
THE BIBLE.

Sitting alone in nv study fell into train
of reflections on the preservation Of the BIZ
BILE, and its influence on the history Of man.
Here before me lies an unpretending little
book. What volume of thought does il
suggest! IL is by many centuries the Oldest
book in the world. More thatthree thousand
wears ago the first word Of il was written in
the desert Of Arabia: more than seventeen
hundred the last word was written on the
rocky isle Of Patmos. Ii has been read by
more people than all other books in the world
put together. More Of il is remembered by
men than all the books that we're ever writ
ten. Ii treats Of questions of the highest
moment to all men, and proposes to reveal
that for which the wisest Of all ages have
sought in yain-the secret Of true happiness.
These very letters that pass under my eye
are the same as those traced by the finger Of
God on the tablets of stone amid the thunders
and lightnings Of Mt. Sinai. The language
in which the New Testament was written is
the same in which solon, Plato, and Demos
themes wrote and spoke.
This book has survived the revolutions and
changes of three thousand wears. Ithas seen
Nineveh, Babylon, Memphis, Thebcs. Tyre,
Sidon. Carthage, Rome, Athens. and thou
sand other cities, rise, flourish, aud fall. IL
has lived amid wars the m0st bloody, amid
desolations the most complete, amid tyranny
the most grinding. amid darkness the most
profound, amid supcrstitions the most degra.
ding. amid idolatry the most rcpulsiye, amid
blasphemy The most heaven daring and has
been against all these the great witness Of
God. This book has outlised all the efforts
made TO shake the faith Of man in It's rela-
tions aud TO Danish IL from the world. CELSIUS,
Porphyry. Julian. and host Of others, fierce
ly attacked il in the FIRST ages Of the Church;
but still il lived; Hume, Hobbies, vOltaire,
Pain, and many others of the rabble rout ol
infdelity, in modern times; but still il
lives, while its enemies sleep in dishonored
graves.
This book has laid hold of allclasses. The
warrior has carried il next his heart in The
storm Of battle aud often has the bullet
aimed at his life buried itself in the leaves of
his Bible. II has been laid upon the throne
Of the monarch as his safest guide-book in
the administration Of justice. II has been
exalted BY the priest in The cathedral, amid
solemn chants and penitential confessions of
sin. IL has been sought by the world sick
for its healing balm; BY the hermit in his
cell for its consultations; BY the poor man
for ITS promise of more than earthly riches
by the homeless wandercr for its promise of
a "home in heayen;" by the guilty Tor its
assurance Of pardon; BY the living for its
guiding principles Of truth BY the dying
for lis password into the Heavenly places"
This book has been given to the world in
all It's babbling tongues. In more than two
hundred languages and dialects Il i read
by sinful race. II has long been unchain-
ed from the high affairs Of gray old temples,
and sent out TO all the tribes, nations, aud
people of the world aud vet Il cannot be
supplied fast enough, though Bible is prin-
ted every minute ia the day.
This book has marched st The bead Of civ