Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-31
The Bible and the Closet

distinct and clear. Every hidden rock is
there revealed, and he who studies its pa
ges with ar eager, loving heart, will ride
VIGOROUSLY over the darkest wave and an
Choir his soul at last in the harbor of etern-
al peace. Thousands and tens of thousands
have been thus guided, and not one has
failed to reach the harbor; for, with the
bible, shipwreck is impossible.
But to many protesting christians the
bible is sealed volume. If you were to
ask them, 'Do you read your bible?" they
would reply:
"Why, certainly, read it every day"
"Where are you reading now?"
Anywhere, as the book opens when l
take it up"
"How much time is occupied in this ex-
ercise? ?"
1.-TWO or three minutes at morning and
night"
'Do you learn anything from this brief
perusal?"
NO, but | read my bible"
| bOC9 ~ IIClP NOu III udIlE lllC, ~ COu-
form more closely to the principles of
Christi"
'No, do not know that it does"
Now such automaton skimming over the
sacred pages is a miserable farce, and in
striking contrast TO that earnest hungering
contemplation of the Psalmist: "Oh how
love [ thy law 1t is my meditation all the
day" Why, it matters not with these
modern, self sufficient christians, whether
they read the dimensions of Solomon's
temple, or the genealogy of the children of
Israel, or the words of Jesus; they will
CLEAN as much from one as from the other,
and that is, just nothing at all.
Now this bible is wondrous treasure
house of divine wealth. Every word is a
diamond glistening in the love of Christ
Every verse is promise, when read by
the light of the cross, but only when it is
opened by hungry, starving souls; opened
in the silence of closet meditation opened
thoughtfully eagerly, inquiringly, in the
atmosphere of prayer, when the rays Of
heavenly light shine direct and full upon
its pages And then, the deeper you dig
down, the richer grows the mine; the more
piercing the gaze, the more beautiful and
glorious are its truths, and thus and thus
only will it become a lamp to the feet and
light to the path. The bee does not gath
er honey by flying over the flowers, but by
t sucking in the sweetness silently from each
opening bud.
= We have said that the bible is a chart tC
y the voyager. You are the captain Of {
t noble bark bound to a distant port Ions
: since, you left the anchorage, and now you
5 are out upon the broad trackless sea, Will
e no land in sight and Nc deep worn ruts be
Il fore you, to indicate the paths which othe
: ships have taken. Above you are the black
+, heavy clouds, and on your ear comes shrek
e ing the voice of the gathering tempest
t, The waves lift up that ship as if it wer
but plaything in their arms of death, he
l. timbers creak before the strain of the con
l. fict, and yet she plunges On-on-some
e where! on-on-whither You ask @
1t those fury dashed waves, whittier? 70
n ask of those dark, sullen clouds, whittier
sr You ask of the storm, as it whistles thrt
= the rigging, whittier? But they laugh q
l. your calamity, they mock when your fea
Of cometh. What can you do? Down in you
l. cabin is the chart Of the ocean. You can
"a not read it plainly by the lightning's fasl
1T but in that cabin, by the cabins light 70
IS can trace its distinct and blessed lines, ca
ly know your latitude and longitude motto
to the position of the hidden rocks as indica
of ed on that sheet, and then when the chal
s. has been mastered, you may stand on thu
in reeling deck with the courage of a maste
re and the open air OF conqueror. Wit
L. the open, keen eye, with the steady han
ly on the helm, you may steer hersafely owe
he the mountain waves, and through II
blackness Of the tempest into the peacefl
10 quiet harbor. Your cabin and your cha
mr. were your salvation.
Sc And the closet with its open bible is Il
49, only safety of the christian. Read hui
he riedly, carelessly, itwere as well unopene
n Nor is it enough to listen to its chaPte
no around the family altar The individu
oh heart must be brought close to its illumil
st ed pages, its words must be calmly ponde
re ed, their relation to the daily life and pc
- sOnal experience earnestly noted, and Il
ds soul must be nourished by just that foo
an and girded by those truths and promis
he which the peculiar condition of that Ii
re requires.
VOyager on the ocean of life, captain
mi an immortal bark laden with pricele
yes treasures, study the bible, study it in clio
ne ct; let a certain time be carefully set apa
Int for this essential and blessed duty. l
oct not be so particular to read a certain nun
IN Der of chapters, as to understand what "
ITO read, and to gather fruits from its luscio
IL boughs of life. And then Jesus will dire
mt you what to read. His divine finger W
on trace those grand letters for the tear bin
ed ed eye, and you will go forth from t
Ia closet into the busy exciting world wi
tv. the fragrance Of the promises perfumi
is the whole day, and the love of Christ W
of constrain you to know nothing save Jes
tn and Him crucifed. More, more of the
inc Bile, studied on the knees, studied attest
nd feet, bathed in penitent prayer.-Rer.
I'VE z. Kittredge IN C6ngregationa,ist.