The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-09-05
tPublished by request Of the T. B. Society. I
Address of Il. e Allison, Esq.
DELIVERED July
Ladies and Gentlemen of 7ii,zah Bible


the scenes OF busy life, for the purpose OF
celebrating the Anniversary OF your
braiseworthy Society. AS the Orator se
lected for the occasion, whilst we fully
appreciate the honor conferred, and re
fufn TO you our gratitude for the same,
We feel, that il il with no common degree
OF diffiIence and dstrust, that We enter
The performance Of the duties devolving
Upon It's. For II Is An occasion, that
might well employ the finest powers OF
the learned Divine. whose peculiar pro
tince it is to expound the Text Of the Bi
BILE. and TO illustrate its utility. beauty.
and excellence. Aud il we fail to 10
Justice to tie great principles of the Holy
Scriptures, and 10 meet the expectations
OF the occasion, we beg you to attribute
the cause, not to a wait OF disposition, on
our part to edify and please, bu, to the
magnitude Of the subject. and our crude
and meager PREPARATION, in these times
Of national disorder and confusion, which
a!~avs oppose study and reflection.
We propose to offer, as basis for the
occasion, the Importance and utility Of the
Bible, both, to ihdiriduaJ and nation al
character. and our duty to dissemin ate
Its teachings.
The Bible, whether considered in point
OF antiuui,y, or beauty and sstlimi,y of
c"mp6st:on, or auractiveness of it's sub
1sct matter, is, bv common consent. the
most remarkable Book In existence. II,
harfa'ss. in the simplicity OF history, the
cteation OF the heavens and the earth
the sea, and all that they contain. II
teaches US the character and attributes Of
Diety tho maker and ruler OF the uni
verse, his Infinite power and ma,chles.
perfection. Il relates the Delygs, and
the destruction OF the world by il, and
the almost miraculous Preservation Of
that codlv man Noah aud hi. family
fro" its impe,uous hillows. I, gives a
true history Of the Hebrews, that chos. n
people, ITO whom wsro committed the
oraeles Of God" II uarra,es. with truth
fsl simplicity, the laws and command,
rnen,s of God, as given TO Moses on Mount
Sinai. II teaches Us who, and what is
man; from whence he sprnng, and width
er he gostb. II tells us, how and where
he was seduced and overcome by the
Vaccinations and devices OF the Evil
Spirit; and Of bis consequent fall from
a state. OF purity aud holiness; and then
Of hls fuins'l, helpless and drpraved con.
dition. II relates the plan of his redemp
ton, and points to the Lamb Of God that
tskes away the sins Of his race. II speaks
TO us, in melting strains, Of the advent Of
the Saviour Of the world, and Of his Iife
ard ministry on the earth. 1t narra,es,
with mournful truth, his cruel crucifxion
by Roman authority, his agon;z'ng death
and bis melancholy burial and then i,
prcclsirns. Ia shouts Of victory, his rise
from death an5 tho grave. and hi. ,rium
phant and glorious ascension on High,
|wbere he ever liveih to make intercession
sos US" With prophetic vision. and ia
the full exercise Of faith, II points US to
The second coming OF Christ, and the
great Milepnial day. And It informs US,
What will bs the end Of the world, and
What u the paramount duty and 6nal
oestiny of msn.
No pvofsne history, OF which we have
any account, furnishes a parallel to the
Bible. 10 point Of sgs. II stands pre-.
suinen,ly the Oldest, as we'll Ms the most
venerated book, unrivailed 10 antiquity
by the classic sorgs Of Greece and Rome,
the musty volumes OF Alexandria. or the
s,iIl moro antique productions Of Pb9ni.
eis.a u was written in different tongues,
BY different authors. who lived and -four
abei 10 widely. distant sgas and coun
tries. Ssps of its sa.bors lived and
wsots ss far bsck IN antiquity as four
thousaad years ago: and !, has been han
Ssd down to us, in updimsd splendor,
through the long vista Of past ages -
Centuries and cycles have passed away.
SET its au,hstticity has bsen established.
and preserved, We might say. almost mi
'sscuiocsly smid the msses Of Ignorance
aud supsnsition, by which !, bas been su.
vsIopsd.
~Tts Scriptures" ." in the comprehensive
isngssrs Of Sir I.Asc Newton. "hsvs God
sss .bsis saslsos; eternity for thsi, ,jeci:
snd tsuth without soy missurs Of error.
fcs their subject mssser.n With such On
sstbes. ~i'h sucb an object. and ~th
cues theme. Il i : matter Of 20 so.
MIA fhaf ths fl;hia krlds a.. H.. :. -