Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-02


And joyful sing
Infants, and the glad throng,
- Who to Thy Church belong, -
Unite and swell the song
To Christ our King
The Silence of Scripture.
The Bible gives us principles, life germs of
spiritual truth 1t touches great central facts.
tnat effect vital interests. 1t never condescends
to gratlfy an idle curiosity. 1t reveals, not the
owand where ofimmortality. Itbrings to mans
moral wants; not excitement, but satisfaction
1t deals not in riddles for the curious nor
paradoxes for the speculative but In healing
Tor the morally sick. 1t answereth not fool
according to his folly when it speaks and again
1t ansWereth fool according to his folly when
IL is silent. Lit enters not into the details of
building up character; but it opens to our view
the sure foundation OF Rock in Christ. 1t talks
not IDLY, nor eaterngly nor patronizingly, nor
lndulgently, nor sentimentaly, nor vaguely. but
1t talks to men earnestly strongly. pungentlv.
with great pertlnency to their present and
prospective wants, and with great power to stir
the souls lethargies, to enlightep, TO arouse,
and to save. Verify, the voice Of this book
which, when 1t speaks, speaks with authority.
and when 1t Is silent, is silent with authority. is
no other than the voice of God
The silence of scripture on things of less mo-
ment gives emphasis to Its utterances on the
81 cat COutIdi uUClTIucS vi alln and life
This silence of the Bible is not a defect. bnt
IN reality glory. There is no silence in this
Book on the great problems that affect human
life and Wellbelng; no silence on the importunate
questions OF human duty: repent believe"
go work. Here arc reproofs and warnings:
promises and encOuragemeuts; invitations and
welcomes: words of comfort, hope Joy. It is
enough. What if curiosity be not catered to?
nat II the spirit OF daring speculation meet
stern rebuke IN the silence of God S oraces p
Ihe chart has all the sure data for the VOYAGE
OF NE. 1ne reckonings are easily made. The
soul bearings may be readily found Every
rock, and reef, aud headland Of temptation and
doubt are laid down what If all the rest of the
"ldes ocean be unmarked. The mariner does
not need, In order to guide his course. a sky
thlcAly sprinked with undistinguishable star
odst, and a coast line OF fire but here and there
brilliant IN the heavens and beacon on the
shore.
This silence is also prohibitive why ask
est thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?''
said the Angel of the Lord TO Manoah. Enter
not hlther, seems to be over every gateway of
doubt and speculation. 10 be Venturesoine here
Is to be presumptuous. las to such points,
says Whately, I'VE should not only seek Tor no
explanation IN scripture, but should carefully
abstain from the presumption OF ali inquiry
Whatever. No man or body Of men, council or
o4 may presume W Hi up the gaps OF
Scripture, positive doctrine all immutabie Or
dinances,-all direct and definite duties must
rest, not on the silence, but the utterances OF
Scripture We must hold no merely speeuIa-
tive dOgmas as essential. We must base no
religious rite or ceremony on simple silence of
Gods Word. Where has Christ epioined the
lifting up OF the Host Z asked one of Luther.
wv here has he forbidden it?'' was his non
sequtitur reply. AS though We had a warrant
to all up the void OF Gods revelations with hui
man concerts and deyiosS- not positively for
bldden Let no man build his faith ON the
silence OF Scripture. Let no church shape her
ordinances by the unforbidden, or the inferen-
tlal, but by the immutable thus saith the
Lord.
Il THOUGHT EVERYBODY LOVED THE
BIBLE. There was once very clever and
learned gentleman, but an infdel-that is, one
who did not believe the Scriptures-and he was
travelling among the mountains and valleys. of
Wales. lie came to a roadside cottage in q
lonely, lovely spot, and as he was very tired
and thirsty, stopped to ask for drink of water.
1t was little girl he spoke to, sitting at the
cottage door with book on ber knee She in
stanty rose and said, will you not have cup
Of milk, sir for you are hot, and the cold water
would hurt you. He was much pleased with
her kindness, and thought he would like lit
tie chat with her: So when she came out with
the milk, he said, Il see you are getting your
lesson there, my dear" No, sir,'' she ans.
wered Il am only reading. ''Whv, what
book p '"The Bible, sir. +" What, said he,
half smiling to himself, as he gave her back the
cup, DO you like that book, then2" For
moment the little maiden did not answer for
surprise; then, lifting her bright eyes to his
face, she said, why, sir, thought that eyerv-
body loved the Bible. - And the gentleman
bid the child good bye, and slowly rode along.
did not know what he was thinking of then:
but years after, when he had become true and
humble Christian, he used to tell OF that little
Welsh girl and say, And |, too, now that |
understand what the Bible is, am almost as
ready to wonder at my question as she was: for
every one VINO knows 1t must surely love it
too.
A CHEAP BATH.-Sun baths cost nothing.
and are the most refreshing, life giving bAhs
any one can take, whether sick or we'll Every
housekeeper knows the necessity of giving her
Woolens the benefit ofthe sun from time to tune.
and especially after a long rainy season or a
long absence of the sun. Many will think of
the injury their clothes are liable to from damn
ness, who will never reflect that an occasional
exposure OF their own bodies TO the sunlight is
equally necessary to their own health The sun
baths cost nothing, and that is a mslo tune.
for people are still deluded with the idea that
those things only can be good or useful which
cost money. Let II not be forgotten that three
of God most bene6cent gifts TO man-three
things the most necessary TO good health-sun-
light, fresh air and wafer ARE Tree to all: Won
can have them in abundance, without money
and without price, if you will. If you would
enjoy good health, then see to it that YOU are
supplied with pure air to breathe all the time:
that you bathe for an hour or so in the sun
light; and that you quench your thirst with no
other fluid than water
Irde repentance consists in the be; RI being
broken for sin, and broken from sin. Some Of
ten repent, but never reform they resemble a
man travelling dangerous path who ireouent-
" starts, and stops, but never turns back.