Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-07
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
ARTICLE VII.

School is not confined to those di-
rect effects which bring the young
mind to inquire into Scripture truths,
and confirm their attachment there
to. Though its tuition in life's
bright and sunny morning, it be-
comes not only the parent, SO to
speak, of the most important prin-
eiples and habits of after life, and
makes secure the most essential ele-
ments in the web and wool of each
scholars character, but it also ex-
erts q powerful influence over their
intellect. This it does through its
only book of instruction, the Bible.
Let us see if such is not the case.
| 1t would be an endless task to
enumerate the books that have been
written and printed, yet; out of so
many, but very small number have
had any influence upon the world.
Few have survived the generation
that gave them birth. There are
fewer still whose influence is trace
able through successive ages in their
effects on the human race. How
ever, when such work is produced,
ii is impossible to sum up its results
For instance, who can estimate to
what extent the Iliad and Odyssey of
Homer, shaped the character and
history of Greece. AS the Greek
Bible, his writings were the ultimate
standard of appeal in religious mat
tiers and early history, and were the
study both of boys at school, and
of men in their ripper years. In this
work we have the starting point Of
Grecian science, art and philosophy.
Nor was this influence circumscribed,
Conquered Hellas ruled the world
for many generations, through the
genius of Homer. "The light which
the blind old man of Scio had kin
died in Greece, shed It's radiance
over Italy; and thus did he awaken
a second nation into intellectual ex-
istence" The work of his genius
still remains to perpetuate the glo-
ries of which he sang, although the
land of his birth suggests no living
reality of them now. The writings
of Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, Mil
ton and numbers of others have
lived beyond their generations, and
wrought incaleulable results. These
and others of like character, sur
viving the wreck Of empires and
kingdoms, of monumental marble
and triumphal trophy, seem to gath
er new life with the lapse Of
ages. But no one will compare til
intellectual influence even of these
works above mentioned, or of any
others bequeathed to US by the past
or present, to that Of the Bible,
leaving out of the question its moral
and religious results. Futile the effort
to find in any of these writings eth
er rules of conduct, or simplicity,
pathos, and sublimity equal to that
of the Bible This results from the
simple fact that the Bible is
superior to all books, Independent
of all others, copying and initiating
none. 1t has remained unhurt, I'm
changed, through every imitation.
Yes, the Proverbs of Solomon, the
Songs Of David, the Prophesies of
jeremiah and Daniel, the wondrous
conceptions of Isaiah and st. John,
the example and lessons of Jesus;
all are ours, although the chosen
people of God are exiles, and the
mystic splendor of their ceremonial
forms, are buried in the ruins of
their temple, on the summit of Mt
Moriah. Yes, all other books may
perish, but this one divinely inspired,
convincing conscience, reason and
faith, and leading to heaven, is the
blessed hope of humanity, to be
treasured through all time, and to
shine as "the brightness of the
eternal armament, and as the higher
stars which are forever and ever"
Finally if such results have been
produced by a few minds guided by |
their genius, what may we not ex-
pect from theeftorts of their superiors
over the human heart, aided by the
light Of revelation? If a Homer,
with his mind filled with longings
sublime and aspirations high, al
though knowing naught of a future |
life, ard fettered by the myths of a
foolish idoltery, could work such
wondrous transition in the Grecian
character, still greater results most |
certainly will follow from the efforts |
of those who were chosen instru-
ments to present the words of
eternal truth If unaided intellect
has so influenced the destiny of the |
human race, what will not the teach
ing of the one accomplish "who
spake as never man spake." But
we are not forced to reason from
analogy; for a simple reference to
what the Bible has accomplished
demonstrates conclusiyely, that its
intellectual influence is superior to
all other writer's the world has ever
known.
Thus we see the intellectual pre-
eminence of the Sabbath School
book Of instruction over all other
books. Next, consider this fact to-
gether with the proverbial one, that
the most efficient mental discipline
is the complete mastery of the pro-
duction of some great intellect.
Beware of the man of one book is
an adage full of meaning. Both
the old saying, aud the mental disci-
pline derived from the study of
master work are far more true, when
applied to the persistent study of
the word of revelation. 1t is I'M
doubtedly true, that the intellectual
power of the greatest writer's in the
English language may be ascribed
to an acquaintance and thorough
comprehension Of the Bible. Aside
from this historical fact, the mind
assimilates itself to that with whichit
is conversant. fit spends its force
upon airy, FRIVOLOUS trifes it will
accomplish nothing conversely, lift
be trained by persistent laborious
study, it will be prepared to crap
pie with difficulties and attain wis
dom. Hence the persistent, inves-
tigating study of the scriptures is
one of the best preparations both
~ aTpraciatp and achieve iDtpllpc-