Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-03-27
For the Rutland Herald
'.Studfes Of Bible Character
March %, 1873.
BY REV. II. c. FAERAR.

There is no book so studied as the
Bible, and it is ever fruitful in richest
thought for every class Of mind. It has
words of deepest wisdom for the wise.
words of warning for the careless, words
of rebuke for the presumptuOus, word,
or comfort for the sorrowing, and words
of hope for the Responding.
No book so written upon as this book.
none occupying so many and so great
minds. none commanding such reverence
and love. It is the book of books-THE
Book.
From it let Us study one of its many
lessons for cur profit, viz, its elaraetas
The typography" Of the Bible is rich
Here is a portrayal of the good and bad.
of the saint and the sinner. Here the
good traits and bad traits are made 10
appear. The record is impartial. The
character comes up on the stage, acts his
part for himself; you see and hear and
know. There are no cOncealments. there
are no discolorings, there are no false
exhibitions. All is clear and plain and
positive. We are hidden to look into this
''portrait gallery" and study its men and
women and children, as outlined by the
Divinelimner. The real earnest student
of the heavenly arts can spend much
time here to profit for AL Scripture is
given by inspiration of God. and is
profitable for doctrine. for reprO0f. for
correction, for instruction in righteous-
ness" How rich in instruction is its
biography. The lives of its grand old
saints are replete with lessons of praCti-
cal value. Read them thOughtfully and
you will rise imbued with their spirit.
Mediate upon their virtues and piety.
and you viii feel holy desires burning
In your own heart TO be like them. Here
you may read Of the mastering faith oi
Abraham and Of the chastity Of Joseph.
the meekness of Moses. the patience of
job, the piety of David, the fidelity Of
Daniel, the zeal Of Paul and the love ot
John, and see what attachments Othe-s
reached, to what heights of grace we
ourselves may aspire. There Is nothing
teaches so fOrcibly as example
Abraham's faith and Jobs patience were
not born in them. Naturally they might
patience than any Of us. They grew Il
from small beginnings to its largeanl
luXuIiant grOwths. The graces of these
Bible characters did not come TO them
as Minerva came from the brain Of
Jupiter, fully developed and perfect
Far from it. They had their struggles
and battlings as we DO. They fell and
rose again. They turned aside from
Isn Of afr4x ]. 1BA
strOye to keep il. They had their weak
nesses as we do, but fortified them with
grace. Gods hand was outstretchea
for their help, and His arm for their
defence.
The promises they had. we have. and
multiplied an hundred fold. Our helps
and privileges are far beyond what they
enjoyed. What God did for them ha
will do for Us. And because our helps
are more and opportunities richer. and
our light brighter and steadier. / know
of no reason why we ought not to 90
higher than they and become in every
respect better. We may attain to heights
they never trod see visions they never
dreamed possible.
Certainly there is nothing either IN
our failures or in their lofty attachments
every Scripture character is full of Ell
couragement to US. The best bid us 90
up higher; the inferior speak to us and
tell us not to initiate them.
So success and failure alike have their
lessons for the teachable scholar. How
different the faith of Abraham and Lot.
To the former, God had but TO speak; TO
the latter, lay mold and force him from
Sodom.
No character stands so conspicuous
on Scripture record as Abraham. Not
the mighty Nimrods, nor Pharoahs, nor
AleXanders, nor Caesars, nor any other
man, has left such a broad mark on the
world-thOugh he had no home on IFS
surface but tent, nor property in lis
soil but tomb. He is mightier than
warriors, more famous than conquerors.
for his fame and generation are world
wide.
1t IS the only name reverenced by jew.
and Christian and Mohamedan alike; all
saying "We have Abraham for our
father. How like a polished shaft OF
granite he stands in Old Testament his
tory. He is an all but perfect exemplar.
In Pauls constellation of immOrtals he
shines star of the first brilliancy.
What lessons of profit the Sunday
school world have gathered from the
study of this sanity character for the
past few weeks. Next in our lessons
comes Joseph, renowned for his chastity
and honored for his enterprise and sue
cess in business. The story of his life is
a gem. 1t captivates the ear of the
young and holds the aged even to tears.
1t is the unrivalled story of the Old
Testament.
AS a mere literary production il Is full
of beauty and pathos. No novel is so
Its power is its truth, and
truth of the most elevating character.
Then there is '.AIoses the man of God
the historian and patriot and general,
the model of meekness and the legislator
of laws that have nodded society more
to purpose than all Others A man
whose character was as rugged as Sinai,
IS grand as Horeb and as beautiful a.
Pisgah.
Still on in this Book we have Caleb,
he stern old warrior: Gideon, the de-
iverer Samuel, the ruler; Ruth, the
7irtuous; Hannah, the matron David,
The poet king and man of affliction
Solomon, the wise; and so might We
a score of Others, marked
n their times, influential for all ages,
eaching in lessons of real and practical
Talue.