The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-04-28
The Influence Exerted over the Human
Mind and Heart by the Truths OF the
Bible.


Bible.
From the past as well as from the
present history of the world, IL can
not be questioned that Bible knowl-
edge has produceda marked impress
sion for good upon the lives and
characters OF individuals; and, there
fore, upon the governments, the in
stitutions and social conditions of
states and communities. IL has the
mysterious power Of awakening in
tense moral conviction III men under
all circumstances i'm life, whether
learned or ignorant, civilized or saw
age. Through the transforming
agency Of this strange power, il elf
inmates evil principles, from the
heart, and metamorphosis human
character into a new moral creation;
and thereby sends a healthful feeling
throughout the whole system of do
mestic, social and civil relationship.
1t is adapted IN thought and senti -
ment to the universal conditions of
human life. 1t is not, therefore, d
question of marvel that the Bible has
ever been independent Of race and
nationality and that il has been far
more spontaneously. received by
men of all races and nations than any
other book in existence. whether lit
erary, scientific or religious. Histo-
ry teaches us that the progress of a
new religion is almost uniformly cir
cumscribed by the preiudices of race
and nationality, and that IL is impos-
sible, in ordinary cases, 10 prevail
upon to give any attention TO an alien
religion, except as n subject Of curl
Gus investigation. And we would
be as much astonished at European
becoming convert TO Bramah by
studying Hindoo mythology, as at
an American becoming a Mohamme-
dan by pouring over the Koran. Ii
is, then, a little singular that the Bi-
BILE, unlike all other books and re-
ligions, has had but slight difficulty
in transcending the bounds of race
and nation. Though frequently pros
tituted to base uses by INSCRIPTIONS
men and organizations, because of
its magnetic influence over the hu-
man mind and heart, yet, as the ages
have rolled on, it has migrated with
out violence into hostile regions,
anu LCCClhCu ~ WtlCOIIlt
among peoples and tribes separated
by every conceivable difference of
government and custom, culture and
religion. Under the mostnn favora-
BILE conditions, it gradually gained
access to every province in the vast
empire OF Rome, and followed the
wild spirit of victory among the
conquering Goths and the other bar
barians of the early centuries. In
these modern times, il has drifted
with. the enterprise eofcommerce and
discovery over the stormy waves of
every sea, and erected its houses of
worship upon the uucultured home
stead Of the Western pioneer. There
is scarcely a man to-day, whose
country claims an intelligent dialect.
but that he can find the words of
this wonderful book translated into
his own familiar vernacular. And
in the evening twilight of this CEN
tury, its elevating principles, TO some
extent, enter into the genius Of the
institutions and laws, the public sem
timent and character of all the civil
lied nations upon the face of the
earth. And it has achieved these
results, not by the edicts
of governments, nor by the terrors
Of the word, but by the force Of its
own truth, the selfsacrificing spirit
of its advocates, and the blood ofits
holy martyrs. 1t claims no motive
but love, no object but the glory of
God and the elevation ofmaD. IL is
therefore Unparalleled in the history
Of the literature of the world, and
Upon its very face. according TO all
-ules of moral evidence, can be seen
he Divinity Of its authorship. 81. u.
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