National Republican., 1883-05-21
Three Very Interesting Sermons Preached from
Washington Pulpits Yesterday.
Rev. Ward BatcheIder's Presentation of
the Human Side Of the Bible
Eloquent Sermon Of Rev. Robert Colytr at All Souls
Unitarian Church.
Confirmation Ceremonies at Sc. Peters
Archbishop Gibbons's Discourse.
TIE HUMAN SIDE OF THE B1nLE.

between sixth and Seventh streets northwest
Rev. Ward Batchelder preached asermon yes
terday morning which will bear reading and
pondering upon by the best thinkers
He took his text as follows:
Thy word is lamp unto my feet, and light
unto my path.-Psalm ll9, l0o.
The speaker said:
Much is said in modern discussion OF the
divinity of the Bible, the character and ex-
tent Of its inspiration, and certainly nothing
moro worthy of human attention can be inn
agined than this sacred book, which claims to
record the very word Of God. But Is there
not danger in thus thinking and defending
increasingly the divinity Of the Bible, of for
getting its humanity? May we not elevate IL
upon n pedestal so high above the heads of
the people as to place IL beyond their interest
and sympathy The stars of heaven are
doubtless majestic and awe-inspiring objects,
but to the generality of mankind tho science
Of tho stars possesses little interest and re-
ceives even less attention, because they are so
far removed from the traflcking, comfort, and
happiness of human existence. But mention
to them the electric light. which is really mat
ter of absolute unimportance compared with
stars ami planets, and they are all attention,
for the electric light hasa practical relation to
the comfort, convenience, and safety of every
one.
By too exclusivea presentation ofthe Bibles
divine features, we may make 1t seem to men
like the stars thing to be admired aud
talked about, but with no practical b. arings
upon their daily experiences. So tho good old
deacon goes on, for fifty years perhaps, re-
peating every morning, Forgive us our
debts as we forgive our Debtors" and then
goes out to business or trade and, instead of
forgiving those indebted to or iniuring him,
thrusts them into prison, exacting the last
cent, by the harshest of legal measures, with
tl,ptNh Nhn nrlf nNynr hag INV
thing to do with practical affairs.
Let us then lay aside for q few minutes
our stilted notions of the Bible as divine
book, and consider ii as an electric light, in
tended to illuminate the ordinary pathways
of life. Let us study the human side of tho
Bible, for a brief inspection will disclose to
you that IL is intensely human as well as un-
mistakaOly divine.
! remark, first, that the people OF the Bible
are intensely human. Contrast the people
who figure in the Bible with the characters
of modern work of fiction, even Of the high
est type. How superlatively real seem
those ancient warriors and worthers when
compared with the fictitious. shadowy,
half-formed personages who glide to and fro
in the modern fashionable novel. Yet these
Old Testament heroes lived two or three
thousand years ago in strange countries,
whose customs, habits, and languages are as
far removed as possible from what we are ac-
theless the simple narratives OF Scripture
somehow utterly divests them of any foreign
flavor, bringing them down to our common
human level, opening up their thoughts and
feelings to us with such distinctness that we
feel as familiar with them as though belong
ing to our own generation. l feel vastly bet
tor acquainted with Joseph, the petted,
spoiled, yet unsullied son Of old Jacob, than
with any of Dickens's best wrought charac-
tors. And what mother here to-day fails to
feel aud sympathize with the devout Hannah
as she dedicates her first born child, Samuel,
the JOY and jewel Of her heart to the Lord,
and rs, with maternal pride, she goes up
yearly to the sanctuary to bestow upon him
the little coat, each thread of which was
woven out of her mothers heart Of love?
Coming down to the New Testament, how
exceedingly lifelike and true to every phase
OF human nature are the portraits that dec
crate the sacred page Pharisees, sadducees,
priests, lawyers, countrymen, soldiers, rabble
why, i can 60 out upon the streets OF this
city and pick thcm an out one by one. Here
goes Mr.. Pharisee now, carrying his flap
edged Bible, his "holier than thou" express
sion, his ostentatious pietism sticking out at
every angle of his person. He has read that
prayer, Lord, thank thee that am not as
other men are, &C." a thousand times, but
with his idealizing notions of Bible inspira-
tion, a point which he particularly insists
upon, without once suspecting the portrait is
his own Nor is the sadducee wanting on our
streets--the honey-mouthed Office seeker
sticking fast to the good things OF this world
but very sceptical about the next; always on
the winning side in politics, with open. ex,
tended lap to catch the plums OF official
flavor, but never a word or n thought for the
realities of heaven and God. Here, too, il
the priest, who passed by on the other side
of the poor fellow who fell among thieves.
know him well-high in ecclesiastical position
an able preacher and writer, popular with the
patricians, yet never gave hundred dollars
for charity out of his fat income in the world
aud a distressed person would no more think
of intruding into his esthetically adorned
study for relief than Of knocking al
the office door of millionaire. Thank God
here, too the good Samaritan is found. Oi
no account socially; perhaps now, as then
not of the orthodox church, though, 1t must
be owned more apt than not to be Of that
persuation; he makes no professions and
seeks no renown. All, yes but he binds VI
tho bleeding wounds, and with cheerful words
applies the wine of human sympathy 10 the
hurts and sorrows of his brOther men. In fine
the Bible is picture gallery, the naturalnes'
and fidelity of whose portraitures the lapse o
twenty centuries has not been able to dim ol
discolor.
Now, IL we turn away from tho people o
the Bible, TO its preCepts, we shall hnd then
characterized by like naturalness. They arr
adjusted to the ordinary necessities, ialnngs
and aspirations of humanity, rather than L
some unesrthly ideal of the skies. To hea
some people talk about the Bible, you woul'
infer that its teachings related exclusively
TO celestial spheres, immortal hopes and eX
alted doctrines of faith and grace. The!
would make tho incentives to virtue o
80 supernal and spirited nature the
half the world would not comprehend them
and the other half would give up the pursui
of the good out of very despair. Now, as
matter of fact, susceptible of abundant proc
to any one who will open the sacred volum
with an unbiased mind, such representation
arc essentially false and misleading. Will
there are mountain tops bright with the sun
shine Of immortal hopes, and occasional pas
sages which present the highest spiritual sen
timents and motives, in the main tho Bibl
keeps upon the dead level of ordinary humai
conduct, urging views, incentives, and pre-
cents of a purely earthly character, such a
tho simplest mind can entertain and appre
Ciate The Old Testament in particular is
thorough book of the world, wade mecum
or practical manual Of agriculture, politica
economy, and domestic thrift. Its sanction
turn entirely on worldly prosperity and ad
versity Incentives to right conduct, draw
from the rewards and penalties of the mex
world, are entirely absent. Take the hftl
commandment, "Honor thy father AM
MOTHER Why should We do so
TO earn eternal rewardsS No suc
reason is even suggested. THAT tn
days may be long upon the lam
which the Lord thy God glveth thee" Tbi
is a purely human incentive, such as we ar
nccustop,ed to address IN children but which