Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-07-17
The Bible.


The following passage on the bible is
taken from the Northern British RevieaD
No volume ever commanded such
proiusion of readers, or was translated
into so many languages. Such is the
uniyersality of its spirit, that no book To-
ses less by translation none has been so
frequently copied in manuscript; and
none SO otter printed. Kings and no.
bles, peasant and pauper, are delighted
students of its pages. Philosophers have
humbly CLEANED from it, and legislation
has been thankfully indebted to it. Its
stories charm the child its hopes inspire
he aged; and its promises soothe the
bed of death. The maiden is welded
under its sanction, and the grave is closed
under its comforting assurances. Its les
sons are the essence of religion, the Sc
minal truths of theology, the first princi-
pies and guiding axioms Of political
economy. Martyrs have often bled and
been burnt for attachment to It. 1t is
the theme of universal appeal. In the
entire range of literature, no book is SO
frequently quoted or referred to.
The majority Of all the books ever pub
lished have been in connection with it,
The Fathers commented upon it; and
the subtle divines of the middle ages re-
fined upon its doctrine. 1t sustained Or
igen's scholarship, and Chrysostom's
rhetoric; it whetted the penetration of
Abelard, and exercised the keen ingenu-
ity Of Aquinas; it gave life to the revi-
val of letters, and Dante and Petrarch
reveled in its imagery; it augmented the
erudition Of Erasmus, and reused and
blessed the intrepidity of Luther; its
temples are the finest specimens Of arch
itecture, and the brightest triumphs of
music are associated with its poetry
The text of no ancient author has sum-
moned into operation such an amount of
labor and learning and it has furnished
occasion for the most mastery examples
of criticism and comment, grammatical
investigation, and logical analysis. 1t
has inspired the English muse with her
loftlest strains. Its beams gaddened
Milton in his darkness, and cheered the
song of Cowper in his sadness. 1t was
the star which guided Columbus to the
discovery OF new world; il furnished
the panoply of British valor, which shiy-
cred tyranny in days gone by it is the
Magma Charta of the worlds regenera-
lion aud liberties. Such benefactors as
Francke, Neff, Schwartz, and Howard,
the departed Chalmers, and the living
Shal.esbury, are cast in the mould of the
Bible.
The records of false religion, from the
Koran TO the book of Mormon, have
owned its superiority, and surreptiiiously
its jewels. Among the Chris
ian classics, it loaded the treasures of
owen, charged the fullness Of Hooker,
'arbed the point of Baxter, gave colors
0 the pallet, and sweep to the pencil of
8unyan, enriched the fragrant fancy Of
Taylor, sustained the loftiness of Howe,
md strung the deep sounding plummet
# Edwards--in short, this collection of
rtless lines and letters has changed the
ace of the world, and ennobled millions
f its population. Finally, and to show
he contrast-while millions bid it well
ONE, the mere idea of its circulation
auses the Pope to tremble on his throne,
nd brings curses from his quivering
ps."