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

Ill In its own inherent power. PLATE
asked Jesus the question, "What is truth p
The question has been echoed and re-echo-
ed by scoffers and inquirers; and answers
have been attempted many times by phil
osophers and theologians. l cannot help
feeling that all this iteration of that ques-
ton and these attempts to answer it are
unnecessary and puerile We have an
answer that ought to satisfy us from the
lips of Him to whom the question was adj
dressed: ''Sanctify them through Thy
truth: Thy acord shuth." If all the world
would accept this and rest here with sim
pie trust, the world would be better than
it is. There would be less strife among
nations, less wrangling between parties,
less controversy among christians. And
because His word is truth, it has an inhe- |
rent power that is like nothing else in the |
world: it possesses a vitality and energy |
that are possessed by nothing else.
In the first place, it was a self preserving |
power. 1t is certainly true in general that
Truth crushed 10 earth shall rise again:
The eternal years of God are hers;
But error, wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies among his worshippe-s."
There is this contrast between Truth and
Error. The latter has no principle ofs' :
preservation. He rises suddenly out of
the earth, gigantic and monstrous, and at
tempts to force his way among men. But
neglect him, or bruise him, and his strength
is gone; he falls and perishes. Truth, on
the other hand, is sure to live, for she pos
sesses an inherent power to that effect. On
wings of peace and love she flies from heav-
en- to make her abode on earth. She may
be defed, neglected, denied, betrayed; yet
she remains, and maintains the ground
| that she has won. And should it ever be
| that men became so hardened against her
that no foothold be left to her on earth,
even then she will not die; she will simply
spread her angel wings and soar uninjuved
back to heaven. The Bible possesses this
self-sacrifcing principle. Centuries have
passed since it was given to men; and yet
it lives Those who have hated it have
done their utmost to destroy it; but there
has been no diminution of its influence;
nay, at this very day it is n stronger power
in the world than it ever was before Pa
gans have rejected it, Mussulmen have
spurned it, Romauists have fought against
it, and infdels have cayiled at it, 1t has
been burned in the fire, buried in the earth,
and drowned in the sea. 1t has suffered
every indignity that satanic malice could
invent, from Popish prohibition to ration
alistic Indifference. But it has not been
crushed or driven out of the world. Per-
secution has only spread its fame the WI
| der; thousands have sought and embraced
it simply from hearing others speak against
it. And so by this self-preserving power
given it of God it has outIived all opposi-
ton, and has come to be acknowledged by
millions Of men all over the world.
r In the second place, the Bible has an ag-
e gressive force, a selfpropagating power. Il
e has different ways of reaching different
: men. but in some way it influences every
) one who hears its voice Some are over.
D powered by the thunder tones with which
p. it tells of human guilt and divine displeas
= ure; others are awakened by the trumpet
4 voice with which it speaks of jehovah,
: majesty and glory; others still-and thi
= is by far the largest class-are won by it.
5 gentle whisperings of Savior love The
5 story of the cross, like a chord of heavenly
:, music, wins its way into hearts where be
- fore there was only confusion and discord
d and fills them with harmony and peace
5 SO the word is spread among individuals
e and among nations and tribes its power i
r still the same, only seen on larger, grand
= er scale Missionaries do not go alone t,
4 those distant lands; the Bible goes viii
n them; or, rather, they 60 with it. Wher
S ever they stand, the Bible is their hand; anl
6 whenever they preach, its words are il
r their mouth. Their whole success depend
Y upon the iaithfulness with which they clnl
p 10 Christ and preach His word. And thei
d success has been most marvellous. Bar
IT riers have been broken down and obstacle
i overcome which few years ago seemed
n insurmountable Ground has been occu
h pied and churches planted in couutric
Is which even the prayers Of christians hal
j, century ago could hardly reach. See il
lie one grand glance how much of conques
d the sword Of the Spirit welded by tn
/ hand ofits almighty Agent has achieved
,e The Sandwich Islands and Madagascar hay
IS been won. Great strides of prayers hav
,e and Africa. The far-off isles of the Pacifi
have been taken possession of in the nam
E. of the King of kings. And last, but nc
r least Europe-poor distracted Europe
is what shall We say Of her? Rivers of bloc
5, must be shed perhaps, to atone for her big
,e otry and willfulness in opposing the trut
p so long; hut God has not forgotten her
i'd Prussia learned the lesson years ago, an
&c now, challenged by insult, she teaches
to by force of arms to tickle, frivolous Franc,
Us Austria, already humbled from her day
es of pride, must soon choose between an en-
ct lightened christianity and a miserabl
a. death. Spain is undergoing a baptisl
n which, though it be one Of blood and fir
h. will yet prove to be true christian baptism
O. Italy has at length spewed out that huge
tie Of the antichrists, and so prepared the wa
ne for firm establishment as a truly Cath,
C. lie christian nation. Thus great and m,
he mentous changes are going on, and the
Ill are all in favor Of truth. The aggressi,
v power Of the truth is felt in Europe as
ur was never felt before; and in view of Il
,e, Importance of Europe in the history of Il
at world, we may now expect the rapid a.
is, proach Of the great day of the Lord. Co
headed politicians may discuss as the
re- please the results of the war; faint hear
M ed ones may cry out with terror at its carl
OF age; skillful diplomatists may scheme
all they WILL but the christian sees more al
in further than they all. He sees somethir
y more than the material warfare whiC
ng the eye rests upon. In the Emperor's i
Is glorious fall he reads the overthrow of Il
p prince of darkness In the thunder of Il
nd cannon he hears Gods voice proclamil
i'll vengeance on those who have defed Hi
us so long. And in the flashing of the ba
n onets he sees the cleaning of the Spiri
III sword as that almighty Conqueror march
tn. on to final victory. Such is the aggressi
us power of the word and such it will CO
'ut tinue to be till all shall be subdued G
use takes care of His word, and against H
err none can prosper in opposing it. Eli