New-York tribune., 1879-12-08
Unity OF TIE BIBLE.

The Rer Dr. f. Coe, att,e Annual Meeting ~ ne He YORK
Bbe Soefsty
The annual public meeting of the New-York
Bible Society was held last evening at the Collegiate
Chnrch reformed Dutchl at Forty eighth-st and
FIfth-ave Among the members OF the society present
were Theodore Blonde Robert Carter. ir. Dr. Allan C.
Hutton, Frederick A. Pen and J V. Van sanivoord.
The Rev. Dr. Edward b. Coe the pastor OF the
church, preached the annual sermon; We count
our years from the birth OF Christ. Whatever
the moral significance OF that event none can deny It's
historical importance. It divides the ancient and the
modern world These radically different IN so
ca, political and religious spirit that It sometimes
though the change must have been accompa-
med by some startling event In the life OF mankind.
and we can hardly realize that there was no out
ward shock in social machinery, which seems
ever since io have been animated with purpose
Yet the year birth at Bethlehem melted as silently
into the next as any had preceded It, And no one
suspected turning point Ia the history OF the race or
the birth ora epoch. At this distance, 10 seems
that great gulf divides the TWO periods we are so sep
arated from the ancents In moral and politi-
cal life The vast and important material
structures OF the earlier time have pershed ard
are left TO form n connecting link No literature or
civilization Joins with the inner life of the past Ibe
Influences OF Greece aud Rome ronsed the slumber
ing intcgence but they did not touch the synpathles
that bind living men.
Is there any such bond OF venerable antiquity and Of
living vitaityi Yes. There Is book OF moder-
ate size with the striking PECULIARLY thai, while
1t presents the religious life aud experiences OF
a race remote and distinct in blood, traditions ana
character. IL s yet living power In modern me- 10
which for strength and inspiration This 1t Is
bridges the gulf IL contains two parts edch
containing many distinct compositions In many FORMS
yet each homogeneous itself "Rnib and d" ISAIAH
differ as widely Prussia and Iceland. nut belong hs
surely o. the Old Testament these countries 10 mod
ern times The Old and New Testament are as unlike
as possible One Is Hebrew containing legal
lyrical pastoral and prophetic lore. relating
srleudid histories describing complicated rituals,
and imperial One and filled with threatening and re-
hnke Tle oper Is Greek epstoary aud didactlc tell
ing story twelve persons who proclaimed certain
opinions with three years OF the NE of one person IN
bond unity between these parts apparently so diverse
is not merely that o. nativity; nor 40 uey
comprise sacred literature OF the jew. Nor
is it unity of doctrine. although that indeed
fixes ts claim as presenting an harmonious
of truths. Tue idea OF God IS always the same
But the unity is something more subtle than these IL
IL not unity of monoth of the mountain, but
ills the unity OF te bridge yey part essontl ~ 10 ,ne
purpose ard completeness OF the whole. IL Is the unity
OF the arch-the unity Of two hemspheres sustaining
other In equal poi~e The Od Testament .eis orn
great hope; the New contains its III niment
a sentiment not SET real ami influential. AND tine
scni.m of hope running through The Old Testament
through all vicssitudes OF the wandering tribe aud
the mighty kingdom otner nations have mad strong
this was a dream OF national life,
but OF a sudden supernatural appearance to
through any gradual intellectual moral conquest;
not slowly like the morning. but IA lightning flash
that the earth and sky IL was to be positive and
instant Divine mterpoOn To exat az once 10 gory ana
power Tne people were bound to ceremonial forms;
but the pSalmists and prophets pointed 10 the better
sacrifice Four hundred after tue last or
the prophets the had arrived, aud the
new epoch ushered in. not with the crash
of empires, but with the birth OF Child
in a stable Tho ancient monarchy might perish
now; for a time the spiritual kingdom OF God had
come and for whom all had waited. the Pruce
OF Peace the suffering Messiah who from his cross
Calvary rules the world
DO you ask IL such hook inspiredf reply that the
whole history the people that made II was inspired
1t Divine book revealing God, foreshadowing and
then accomplishing His plan for the salvation OF man
kind.
The closed with an appeal to prize this book,
the guide uf religious and ciy fe and place IL
every house old to educate and renOvdte human
cieiy.
TIE annual report Of the society. which circulated
In church, showed the receipt of $4,000 and the
expenditure OF 5000. The balance benz deposited In
trust companies 9O.743 Bibrs and TestameDts were
distributed. valued AZ $4,000. having been placed
among families in the city, emigraDs and steerage
sengrrs, and in vessels, institutions ana hotels.
growing disposition receive the Bible reported
among Catholics and Israelites, of whom few could
formerly be induced 10 read II.
MODERATE DRINKERS AS PLAGUE SPOTS.