Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-17
Manners and the Bible.

There is no model letter-writer COM
parable to the New Testament. Let a
Young man study the letters of st. Paul, and
II will have an infinitely better effect on his
style than the letters of Lord Chesterfield,
and this quite apart from the effect of their
moral and spiritual influence. The mere in
telectual atmosphere of them will be ele-
waiting and refining to an astonishing de-
gree. And here we may remark on the in
fuence of the Bible on mere manners. 1t
invariably makes its readers more courteous
and polite, and Just, too, in proportion to
the degree in which they are imbued with
its spirit and teaching. Let rough boor
become coverted, and let him begin to read
and love his Bible, and he grows upwards
toward the gentleman from that honor.
"The entrance of thy words giveth light
it giveth understanding unto the simple
1t cannot be otherwise because the Bible
brings his mind perpetually into "good So
ciety." lie may be wholly cut off from this
in the actual world, though religious
poor man has here an advantage over his ir-
religious compeer, for, at any rate, on sun
days he comes into contact with superior So
ciety in at least the pulpit Of his church or
chapel,-but when he reads his Bible he is
brought into the society Of the highest and
ulOSJ renneu minus LHdb ever eAlSteu' Auu
how can it but be that all this should, per-
haps insensibly, but at the same time very
certainly, elevate, polish, and refine Z "He
that waiketh with wise men shall be wise;"
or, as the Persian proverb beautifully ex-
presses it, " Even the pebble will become fra
grant if it lie beside the rose !" and he that
thus enjoys the society of gentlemen can
hardly fail to become one too. Experience
has shown this other things being equal, as
the acquaintance of men with their Bible,
so their mien and manners in regard TO the
standard of mere gentility. Does parent
wish to introduce his child into "good So
ciety 2" Let him introduce him into love
of his Bible. Are young men and young
women ambitious of sef-culture even in re-
gard TO manners And would they like to
enter good school department ? Let them
enter into the society of the characters of
the Bible. But does some sharp reader say,
How is it, then, that instances Of discourtesy
occur among protesting Christians My
reply is, first, that it is one thing to be
protesting Christian, and another thing to
be real and worthy one; secondly, that it
is quite possible to be a truly converted one,
and to be very far from being model or
winsome one; thirdly, that even in the case
of the an uncourteous Christian, depend
upon it the mans native bearishness would
have been vastly more bearish if he had not
been Christian. In such case, it is not
the Christianity of the man that is to blame,
but rather his defect of it. He is defec-
tive Christian because he has neglected the
special duty "to put off concerning the
former conversation the old man in his
case, that very ugly old man,-and to put on
by self-discipline, culture and prayer, gentle
ness and courtesy, and all the other graces
of the new man. Christianity recognizes
the fact that Christians have faults. But it
does not allow them, and it urges us to cor
rect them. 4" / speak this to your shame"
said st. Paul to Christians. And there is
much now that may be spoken to our shame
and we fear that want of courtesy and true
graciousness is very conspicuous under this
category. But when the spirit of God says
to us by st. Peter, Adorn the doctrine of
God your Saviour in all things" sure we
are that he would have us specially remem-
Der that exhortation which he gives by the
same apostle" Be courteous. Rev. Rich
ard Glover.