The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-11-12

While on the one hand would not
admit any false or exaggerated claims
for the Bible as a whole, neither
would wish TO mislead any one, by
nnderiatng any portions OF it,
There are many passages in the Old
Testament which we cannot receive
if we interpret them according 10 the
usages of language Al the present
day among us. But the same phras
es have a vastly different meaning to-
day from what they had four thousand
years ago, or from what they have 10
day among Oriental nations: and it
may be that certain passages in the
books of Noes, would have a differ
ent import, il we knew the idea that
existed in the mind of the author
when using certain phrases. Much
light is being thrown on this difficult
subject, and more undoubtedly will
be, as it is studied by scholars who
do not read the Bible with such a
superstitious reverence that their rea-
sonlng powers and common sense are
no use to them. Ii we had more
rational and more profound knowl-
edge of the Old Testament, we might
Judge of it differently, but Christian
ity does not demand of us to receive
any of il with an Interpretation that
robs God of his glory and goodness.
Again, we sometimes read the Bible
as though it said what it does not
say; we draw differences and think
that we have read them. A friend
once told me that there was tough
story in the Bible about dead man
being brought to life by touching
the bones Of Elisha; but there is no
such story. Why not read this ac-
count as we would that of any un-
inspired statement. The record saws
that year after Elisha's death the
MoabiIes invaded the land, and while
about to bury a man, a band of men
appeared, "and they cast the man in
to the sepulchre of Elisha, and when
the man was let down, and touched
the bones Of Elisha, he revived, and
stood up on his feet The record
does not say the man ,cos dead or
that he came 10 life because he touch
ed the bones of Elisha. 1t is merely
"A record Of what was very likely to
happen during war. A man supposed
to be dead, revived when rudely and
hastily cast into a sepulchre. 1t
would he well for many people if in
s'ead Of neglecting the Bible because
it contains, or seems to contain,
stories they do not, and need not, be-
lieve, they would study and treasure
up in their hearts those truths which
they find there, and which in their
souls they do not d spute, or if they
would remember the beautiful ex-
amples of vlrtuous conduct there re-
corded. Nor is he Bible valuable
alone for it's religious teachings.
) me portions are unrivalled as mod.
els of literary composition, and he
wiz ICdiS ~ W 1ui I'D pottiC DCdu-
ties will find himself richly rewarded.
No other book compares with it for
many reasons, 1t gives no sanction
to vice or immortality, while i'm the
gospel we find the attributes of God
and the duty and destiny Of man, set
forth in manner that commends
itself to the heart Of every good man.
There is no dispu,ng the fact that
where the Bible is best understood,
and mos, highly priced, there we find
a refined, moral and generous people.
1t is absurd To lay to its charge the
crimes of those religionists, who in
its name, have acted in direct hos,il.
ty to its practical teachings and pre-
cepts. The great crimes Of professed
Christian, the days of religious per
secution, were when the Bible was a
book forbidden to be read by the
masses, or when the world hid as vet
not mad time to recover from the
bigotry aud superstition Of the dark
ages, and was unable to comprehend
the Bible as it is.
1t is not the word Of God because
its historical or scientific records are
infalllble, or because all the words OF
all its religious writer's are true, lit
orally understood, hut because it is
mine containing the pure metal, for
80 hn,n,,ca - oa.,xa..,, IL
those religious. spiritual and moral
truths which concern us in this life,
for our conduct here, and which con.
cern us as immortal beings, and not
merely because it contains these ab-
solu,e truths, but because they are
taught by Jesus, who stamped them
with the seal OF practicability; who
gave them living power; who vital
ized divine truth by his pure, holy.
loving, perfect life; who was the en-
bodirnent Of living truth, and it's ex.
preston in divine example; and
thus he is ''the way, the truth, and
the life; no man come,h unto the
Father but by me-" The Sun o.
gliding with its morn
ing rays the dome of the temple at
Jerusalem, and steadily rising higher
and higher, Illuminating Europe,
America, and soon to enlighten and
vivify the world in its MONDAY splen-
dor. Blind indeed is that man who
cannot see thu hanl of providence
among the nations to-day, and see
the cause of Christian truth and
battling with the hosts
Of error, aud winning glorious tri-
umphs, and this is because SO many
are now reading the Bible intelligi-
bly,, and becoming imbued with the
principles of christian brotherhood;
because like Timothy thev know call
scripture given by inspiration Of God
and profitable for doctrine, for re-
proof, for correction, for instruction
in riyh eo,lsness, that the man OF
God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works."