Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-31
METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY.

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mems thoughts as is the case at present.
The fact is remarkable one, consider
ing how old a book the Bible is, and
considering how few writings of the
ancient world have even survived to the
present hour In the measure of this
interest, too, the Bible stands alone.
There are ancient writings which are
OF great interest still to scholars. and
which still to certain extent inspire
and guide the thought of the world; but
even when these writings are translated
and put within reach of these CONVEX
SAINT only with their own language.
they do not take place in popular lit
erature, least of all do they become
household books. 1t is remarkable that
the Bible, not only in respect to its
great antiquity. but in respect. also.
TO its hold on the common mind, and
its power to move, to interest. to SWAY.
to teach all sorts of men, is even more
to-day than it has ever before been, the
Book.
One part of this wide interest is due.
unquestionably, to the interest of those
critical questions which have been
raised touching certain portions of this
book, or collection of books. and to the
bearing these have upon vital matters
of religion. The adversary overreaches
himself when by instigations of hostile
criticism he thus makes more conspicu-
Gus the remarkable character of the lit
erature contained in the Bible AS
those who in places of worship ''came
10 scott sometimes ''remain to pray, ~
so 1t may happen, and we believe does
happen, that men drawn to read or
study the Bible by the excitement of
current controversy find. much to their
establishment, what a book the Bible
after all is. But meantime there are
important interests of truth at stake,
and it is still a question of much
moment how dangerous attacks NAV
best be met, and how, for students OF
this book, right views of it may best be
secured.
The attention of the writer of this ar
ticle has recently, by some experiences
of his own, been led to view of this
subject which he begs to lay before his
reader Mentioning the same matter to
an eminent Christian scholar a few DAYS
since, he was .gratitied to learn that
other men. whose example is entitled
! to far more weight than his own, not
| only have the same convictions as to
methods of Bible study, but have for
| years acted upon them. The point in
question was suggested and impressed
by the occasion which arose, in what
way need not be mentioned, for an ex.
| pository examination of one of the most
difficult Biblical books, leading to an
almost daily study of it, verse by verse,
for more than three years. 1t was a
first experience in this line, after many
years of such random study, with its
imperfect results, as is usual, alike with
ministers and with laymen. The result
IN the present case was to some extent
a surprise, and in all respects a matter
OF joy and thankfulness A book
OF the Bible which, as read OF
more closely examined in the
usual method, had always seemed
hopelessly mysterious, and commenta-
ries upon which had been consulted in
vain, began. little by little, to reveal its
| great and wonderful secret The con.
nection of the thought, the idea of the
book began to disclose itself. The clue
to its chief difficulties was in the HAND
almost before such a result had beer
thought of as possible. Its outlook upor
the past, present and future of Gods in
finite kingdom, its interpretations of the
vast perpleXities of human history, its
rich and gladdening revealings of Di
vine purpose, its personal comfort, its
inspiration to a larger faith, higher
life and more self-forgetting devotion
all these, as coming along in the pro
cess of daily study often unlocked for
I q tyvo We Al.
years given to this verse-by-verse study
of that one book the most remarkable
period of any in what now begins to
seem like long life. The practical in.
ference in the case described is that the
sort of Bible study which is alone sure
of answering the highest ends of such
is that which, in right and true mean.
ing of the word, is study.
We have the names, recently given to
us, of eminent men with whom this
method, or something equivalent to it.
has been habitual for years. Some oil
these are men widely known for theil
soundness in doctrine, their ability to
cope with hostile criticism, the spiritual
JUNCTION alike of their preaching and o.
their published writings. They know
the Bible, not simply by what it is upor
its surface, or by apprec;ative study o.
specially interesting portions, but they
know it in its unity, in the scope of it
teachings, in the vital connection be
| tween its several books however widel,
differing in date and authorship, how
ever, to superficial view apparent,
unrelated in subject or substance 4
other books or TO the Bible as a whole
They have reached the heart of tn,
Bible as revelation, and have hat
their own heart brought in daily con
tact with it. They may be said to un
derstand the book SO far as finite cal
compass infinite Their faith in it i
steady under any manner of attack, ant
they are liable to give a reason of the
faith that is in them to every man tina
asketh."
| If we mistake not, this method o
study is after the manner of those wbt
aforetime lived so truly ''by ever,
word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of Cod 1t is fairly open to question
we think, whether in one direction, a
least, Sunday-school teaching has no
been of doubtful tendency; and wheth
er the present international lessor
method. with all its admitted advan
tages, does not encourage that ten
dency. Doubtless the Sunday-schoo
makes study of the Scriptures an oc
cupatiou for thousands and Thousands
who might never be drawn to it in any
other way, and a far greater proper
ton. in any community, than was eyel
the case in times preceding the institu
ton of this valuable means Of religion:
knowledge. But those who did study
the Bible in those older days knew the
whole of it as is rarely the case now
1t is not uncommon for those who have
for years been scholars in the Sunday
school to be utterly at . loss whe1
! questioned upon any point. howeye
simple. history, biography. or what not