New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-30
UNITY AND VARIETY OF THE BIBLE
LECTURE BY THE REV. DR.. Il. s. sTORRS.

LECTURE BY THE REV. DR. l.. 5. sIORRS.
The fourth lecture of the Newly rk Sunday
school Associations delivered last evening at
Association Hall 10y Dr. r. s. storrs of Brooklyn
imam the subject: "Oneness of the Bible revelaor of
redemption with vast variety III literary structure"
The hail was crowded in every part and the audience
rave the speaker most earnest attention. Dr. Storfs
said in part:
II would be impossible TO predict in advance in what
way God would choose TO reveal His truth to men, We
could however be OF certain characteristics which
this revelation would present We might affirm before
hand that it would be ntellgble holy, and majestic
We might affirm that 1t would be characterized by unity
as well as by variety Of method and instIumentallty
harmonious with the mind OF God and With His WORKS
elsewhere We look them this revelation which pur
ports TO TO from God to see whether II exhibs
these features And first it would at the outset
that this revelation present lack Of unity written
as IL in the three languages, containing 10 DOoRs rep
resentlng such numbers of men and depicting sEch
diss.miar states of life And yet what unity II
has-a unity complex, it Is true, and varied in
its development. 1t is the unity of cathedral
not of billet OF wood. During all the time
OF lis existence il has been dsproved in import
ant particular We shall look III vain to find any ncon-
sistency between prophet and psalmst, laWgver and
evangelist II reveals 10 Gods purpose 10 establish
spiritual kingdom 10 he chosen from all races and conc
rions 1t reveals to us the Head OF this kngdon
a, first dina and ndistncy portrayed, but growing ever
more defined amid the radiance OF prophecy until tho
Old Testament closes with the announcement Of His
sudden coming Then there gap OF time, but not OF
Thought The New Testament takes up the prophecy,
tells His coming, and desc RIDES His mission and His e
II then tells of the Spirit which is to take His place on
the earth after lie has left IT, This volume is one in its
life one in its power God is one. And yOu cannot
parallc this in the literature of any language The
unity of Scripture evident the unity OF the
planet.
Then 90 still further, Dr. Storrs continued anu
observe the variety which only contributes to this ma
iestic unity Observe first the difficulties in the face or
which this variety is secured The Hebrew language mas
not that elasticity that grace that adaptabiity which
we might consider necessary for its purposes the Greek
In which the New Testament Is written, though noble
coordinate dialect has the perfection OF Attic speech
sfe ND the constitution the Bible and study IT. Four
fs of IL are in the form OF narrative and constitute
M feet mirror of human life Its hgures stand out from
Inc darkness for a moment but how the impression oss
Inc Scripture full OF personal pOrtratufes Whch are
like iuag Behold how fearless IL Is III puts It's MS
tory beside all other records wherever ana however
nade and waits for its yindicatiOn characteristic
W belongs 10 alone amid the sacred books OF the
which becomes the inspiration and the origin OF the
gre at liturgy OF all tie churches Then the law, Win us
authoritative instruction. Then the Proverbs such lnu
fitudcs of them each containing whln ltStI such
tr,.surcs OF wisdom. Then the argtInena;lve dis
cnirrs such as those of Paul Remember too that ne
lion even Is not overlooked The parable lhtroduccu
colveyuR lessons which could be fOrcibc III no Other
forIu There l. no form OF literary production approprl-
ate TO % divine truth when mas not beeh
elupIOytd