Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-25

those under his care, and use the knOwi-
edge thus obtained with judgment and
with tact. Much of his usefulness depends
upon this one thing; for mistake made
here sometimes proves fatal to soul. Now
transfer this idea to the Spirits influence
upon men. 1t is precisely the same thing,
for in the matter of salvation men still are
free and retain all their mental character
istics. In what way, then, shall the Spirit
move our souls? He Himself is omniscient
and omnipotent. He will make no mis-
takes in applying the means. Then that
which He uses must be perfectly adapted
to the work. or after all the whole scheme
will be a failure. And in order that it be
perfectly adapted to the work, it must be
something attractive, something easily un-
derstood, at least in part, something fitted
to every possible mood of the human mind,
and something infallible. And mark how
all these acquisitions are met in the Bible.
Nothing else is so attractive, even to the
atheist: nothing is more easily understood |
than its planest teachings: in nothing else
can we find that which is suited to our
changing circumstances and nothing else
is infallible. Truly, with such a sword we
may expect the Spirit loiH conquer the
world. But we shall see more fully, more
greatly, the fitness of the truth to be used
by the Spirit, if we analyze more infinitely
the wants of mankind.
In the first place, man as a rational being
needs something for medium of inter
course with the Spirit which will minister
to his reason. He needs intellectual food,
and he instinctively refuses to be satisfied
with anything that denies him this. And
in order to meet this demand, it must be
something that treats of various themes.
1t must explain and apply somewhat
the eternal truth of reason; it must teach
upon all the different departments of ma
ture and of providence it must strength
en- science and encourage art; and it must
reveal enough Of the miraculous to keep
active that faculty of the mind which goes
out in this direction. The Bible does all
this. Eternal truth is written on its every
page Beautifully it presents nature to
our eyes, painted as the original was ere
ated by the master hand of God Softly,
yet sublimely, it tells US of Gods providing
care of the strong right Arm that bears
up the pillars of the eor.h, and OF the I'M
firing Hand that supplies each creatures
every want. Science finds in the Bible her
foundation and her strength. Truths geo.
logical, geographical, geometrical, astro-
nomical, physiological, chronological and
philosophical, are there contained in great
, est numbers, and their applications multi
, piled to infnity. Art finds It's strongest
encouragement in the Bible The painter,
the sculptor, the musician, the architect,
the poet, and the rhetorician, all find their
} most perfect models there. And for the
cultivation of our love of what is mysteri-
) Gus, just enough of the miraculous flashes
out along its pages to impress our minds
2 with awe and reverence towards Him who
= thus shows us a little of His higher glory
= But, further, in order to meet this intellec-
e tual demand of ours, the Spirits medium
) of intercourse must be something that calls
e out and ministers 10 our different emo
G tons. We are emotional beings, and thi;
! part of our nature must be developed as
well as the rest. Pity, love, gratitude, joy
c hope; these and others must not be over
$ looked they must be strengthened, anC
y their opposites weakened by that which j:
: to do us good. And this is done by the
# Bible. Our feelings are stirred to thei
r very depths by those narratives and ap
y peals which we find there, and as we reaC
It we are conscious of growing aspiration
It after that which is perfect and pure. Thi
d intellectual demand is also fox something
: exhaustless something that shall neve
If fail. To know everything would be miser!
e to finite mind to be obliged to give VI
l. study because the end was reached, woult
e paralyze our faculties. Accordingly gu
n objects of study must be exhaustless. Sci
/ ence, art and philosophy are so; hereil
e. lies their strength. And that through
is which the Spirit communicates with u
le must have this same strength, too. And
is to meet this requisition, we find the Bib
v is an exhaustless book. 1t has been rea,
rs and studied for ages but its whole mean
e, ing comes no nearer being known. Lik
" the waters of the great Atlantic, its depth
d has never been ascertained. Like the az
Of ure dome of heaven, its height cannot b
D. measured.
IN In the second place, man as a moral be
o. ing needs something as a medium of inter
IN course with the Spirit, which assumes hi
r, moral nature, defines his moral relation,
lg and regulates his moral life. 1t must b
of something that will teach him to look u
to to the Supreme Being with filial awe an
n love, to acknowledge his own dependenc
ee on almighty care and his obligation t
n, keep cheerfully whatever rules God lay
ip upon him, and to devote all his energit
as to His service. This demand is also me
It's by the Bible. 1t is a complete book of il
&C. struction, perfect code of precepts, an VI
n erring guide for our whole life. 1t teacl
of es us our relations to each other and to 81
ed ciety at large it tells us of our priyat
ce duties and dangers; and it warns US in til
H. most solemn manner of our personal a,
til cOuntability to our Maker, intensifying I'll
to warning with the assurance that He wi
H. -,
is cry act. 1t teaches us to fear Him as OF
ed holy Sovereign and our righteous Judg
IT. and it also bids us to look up to Him
ID. all times with the tender confding word
nj "Our Father" upon our trembling lips.
nd But, in the third place, man as lost b
of ing needs something in the Spirits con
of munication which will reveal a way
i'm salvation. This is our greatest want: a
re others vanish into utter nothingness
re- comparison with it: for, as we lost ever
a thing by the fall, so we have everythir
en- pei. And this want, too, the Bible su
nd plies. 1t tells us all our Indebtedness al
IL. Woe; but it tells us also of Him who wi
nm lift us out of these. 1t does not spare
a in its scathing words of rebuke and denu
he ciation but neither does it leave us crus
err. ed and hopeless beneath almighty wrat
,le 1t tells us of our darkness; but points
he to the light. 1t tells us we are dead; b
shows us how to live again. 1t lets loo
he upon our quivering souls all the fiery sc
&C. penis of outraged justice; but in the mid
its of their terrible ravages it lifts up the Br
I'M zen serpent and bids every wounded chi
mr. of Adam look and live. IT calls our attic
ots ton to the clouds of wrath that roll abo