Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-08
SYSTEMATIC BIBLE STUDY.

- 1LQUA ~ DkDIlL
There perhaps was a time when
the Bible, as a book, was so much in
mems thoughts as is the case at present.
The fact is a remarkable one,c consider
ing how old a book the Bible is, and
considering how few writings of the
ancient world have yer survived to the
present hour. In the measure of this
interest, too, the Bible stands alone.
There r ancient writings which are
of great interest still to scholars, and
which still to a certain extent inspire
and guide the thought of the world; but
even when these writings are translated
and put within reach of those CONVEX
SAINT only with their own language.
they do not take a place in popular lit
%erature, least of all do they become
household books. It 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 'scame
to scof'' sometimes s'remain to pray,'
so it 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 may
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 a view of this
subject which he begs to lay before his
reader. Mentioning the same matter to
an eminent Christian scholar afew DAYS
since, he vas gratified 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. It 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 or
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 been
thought of as possible. Its outlook upon
the past, present and future of Gods in
finite kingdom, it's interpretations of the
vast p%erplexities of human history, it's
rich and gladdening revealings Of Di-
vine purpose, its personal comfort, its
inspiration to a larger faith, a higher
life and a more self-forgetting devotion
all these, as coming along in the pro-
cess of daily study often unlocked for.
always most welcome, made the three
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 a 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 a r light 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,
aas been habitual for years. Some of
.hese are men widely known for their
s%oundness in doctrine, their ability to
cope with hostile criticism, the spiritual
JUNCTION alike of their preaching and of
their published writings. They know
the Bible, not simply by what it is upon
its surface, or by appreciative study Of
specially. interesting portions, but they
know it in it's unity, in the scope of its
teachings, in the vital connection be-
tween its several books however widely
differing in date and authorship, how
ever, to a superficial view apparently
unrelated in subject or substance to
other books or to the Bible as a whole,
1hey have reached the heart of the
Bible as a revelation, and have had
thelr own heart brought in daily con-
tact with it. They may be said to un-
derstand the book 80 far AZ finite o.,,