The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-14

Some books are immortal. Because
they answer to deep, permanent need
of the human heart, they are more read
si.d priced by each new generation.
Homer, Virgil, Demosthenes, Cicero,
Plato, Marcus Aurelius, are ever inter-
esting, and bid fair to be read with
equal zost, thousand, or ten thousand
years hence. Other books have a mar
row lease of life. When first published
they are reviewed by critics, read and
discussed by the curious, and exert an
inf great or small, but in time
they are laid upon the shelf and for
gotten. No doubt there have been
many writer's, who in their day enjoyed
a degree of favor, but with the lapse of
years, their works have persisted, their
very names been buried in oblivion.
Go to any great college or city library,
and you may see thousands of books
covered with dust, and yellow with age.
1t is not unjust to call them dead books.
for they are never read, and such power
as they had has long since passed away.
Is the Bible dead or dying book !?
Some think its influence is waning, its
mission well nigh accomplished. at
did well enough" they say, lin the
days of ignorance and superstition, but
with our wonderful progress in arts,
inventions, and science, its days are
numbered. 1t is as unsuited to the
needs of the present time, as a last
years newspaper, or almanac" Let
us ask whether the Bible is a dying or
a living book Does it meet the is
sues Of modern. life with timely and
potent words?
l. Glance at society. In the polit-
ical realm there have always been two
classes, the rulers and the ruled, but in
different eras the relations between
them have varied widely. Tyrants like
Nero and Caligula have oppressed their
subjects with heartless cruelty, rob-
bing them of priceless rights, making
their life burden and terror. Dis
solute monarchs, like Charles H., have
by prof gacy and vice sadly corrupted
the morals of their people. Even in
our free republic there has been too
much of fraud and corruption, too
many pelversions of liberty. Does the
Bible speak needed words to those in
authority? can quote but few Scrip
Jure passages in this sermon, but they
shall fairly express the spirit of the
entire book. In Prov. xxi, 8, kings
are exhorted to Judge righteously, and
plead the cause of the poor and needy"
Again, princes are urged in Eek, xiv, 8,
to remove violence and spoil, and ex-
ecute judgment and justice, take away
your exactions from my people, saith
the Lord God" If these and many
kindred Bible commands we're obeyed
by the soyereigns of the earth, there
would be an end of oppression and in
justice; cruelty and corruption could
no longer be found in any government.
But the people have not been free from
blame. A criminal class has always
existed, which has willfully disobeyed
the laws of the land, and ignored the
rights of property and life. Dishonest
men have tried to defraud the nation
of its just revenues Seditious minds
have been ready to plot against the best
of governments, and have sometimes
made society so unstable, that the good
have been in constant fear of riot and
rebellion Were the Bible obeyed, all
this would be remedied. The world
would see a brighter era of virtue, hon
esty, and loyalty to just political power
st. Paul exhorts the Christians to
''renGer to all their dues, tribute to
whom tribute, honor to whom honor"
Again he says, Titus iii, ~ "Put
them in mind to be subject to principal
tiles and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be ready to every good work.
What political economy ever gave
sounder precepts? Had the Bible al
ways been obeyed by people and rulers,
untold suffering aud crime would have
been saved the darkest pages of human
history would never have been written.
In the domain Of public morals the
Bible is rot dumb. AS men increase
in number, as their relations grow more
intimate, crimes have increased in num-
Der aud variety. Every year the vol
ume of law is increasing, for civiliza-
ton fosters many sins impossible in
primitive times. With the growth of
wealth and leisure, sin increases in
still greater ratio, until there is danger
that the restraints of law shall not be
sufficient to secure necessary degree
Of virtue. Rome fell not because of
the strength of her enemies, but be-
cause of the moral weakness, the decay
of patriotism among her people. Thus
it has been with many of the great en-
pires of antiquity. To counteract this
danger the Bible embodies a mighty
moral power. In plain and pungent
words it teaches the Hottest morality
it shows most wildly the folly and dire
results of sin it quickens and illumin-
ates the moral sense : and above all il