The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-20


we need to impress upon the minds
of the unconyerted (and for thas mat
ter Christians also), that the words Of
scripture, and especially those Of the
New Testament. are to be understood
in their plain everyday sense Our
Lord taught and the common people
heard him gladly. No doubt among
other things, not only because his
words were full Of grace and truth,
but because he taught them in plais,
common and homely language. He
spoke to them in theitoWn Language.
If he taught in parallels, he found
his parallels in the common things
of their daily life, or in some domes:
tic history with which they were fas
miliar. It was the field and sle
sower, the tares aud the birds ef
the air. It was last sheer, cr
woman making bread. It was Of i
wayward boy who left his home and
came to want and returned penI.
tent. It was of an unfaithfuI ste.
ward, or a rich fool who retired from
business counting on length Of dags
and forgetting God. IF he spoke to
them OF repentance. hehad already
told them what no meant by it ii
parable of two sons, ore of whom
refusing to go and work in his
fathers vineyard. afterwards changed
bis mind and went. Hhe spoke -
prayer he told them Of the widd
who would give an unjust judge II
peace day or night until be had don't
her justice, or Of an importuuats
friend seeking the loan Of some
bread. Il Of the danger Of forma.
lism in religion, he told then Of
barren fig tree and what came Of it's.
These common and anlean ea peo-
pie who could not understand the
learned refnements of the scribes /
and Pharisees, had no dificulty il
understanding profoundess try
tered by Christ, because her;ece e y
said what be meant and meareutire
he said. and said it in a lasaI0Oswana
plain and simple, and used wcspOt
their common. everyday seiIss
When he spoke Of the unbelief of
bis brethren and townsmeD, he meant
uDbelief and they all knew Whist be
was talking about. When he spoke
of the faith Of the centurion and the
woman of Syrophenicia, they knew
what he meant. He did not have to
explain or define it. Moreover, he
constantly brought down high things
to the level of the common under
standing by comparing them With
some common things. His word is
like seed sown in tile ground. His
Spirit is like the wind. Nwe do not
know the mystery Of its operation.
we know the effect Of it and regpIass
ourselves accordingly. five dc not
understand the how and Why Of the
atoDement, We can at least recogaizs
Che fact that in ancient zines the
bitten Israelites who looked as The
brazen serpent were healed. Ifhe
said .'come unto me. all yethat labor
and are heavy laden, and 7 viii give
you rest" they would know that
meant that by coming toshim With
their sins and spiritual burdens they
would get relief and rest, as man
in debt and trouble would get relief
and rest from powerful aud rica
friend who had given him privilege
to apply to him for aid in every time
Of need. Oh, if men would only be-
simple hearted enough TO take Gods
words at their face value, and deal
with God on his WORD as men Dc with
each other where confidence exists
between them, what world Of sore
trouble and perplexity would be
avoided. Truly there is deep mean
ing. in our Lords words except ye
be converted and become as little
children, ETC." Gods word is as the
wheat. Mans refnements and con-
mentaries upon it are usually as the
chaff.
Sometimes we are led 70 wish thsss
there we're not a single commentary
on the Bible left in existence, Cor we
verify believe that if ne should de-.
youtly read his book as little chill
dren and wait on the Spirit Of inspis
ration to open our eyes to see, ke
would make simplest passages plain
to the simplest mind. We are cften
reminded of the illiterate gardener Of
the famous DR.. Scott, to whom the
good doctor had given a copy Of
Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, Nith
explanatory notes by himself, and
babe him read it. Upon the return
of the book by his gardener The doc
tor asked him if he had read It. To
which the man replied that he had.
.And did you understand it, asked
Ebo dookor ooh e,zo st md arctor.d