Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-08-16

carry with them a different atmos-
phere. You need to remember that
this was written long time ago, far
away from here, among a people
whose ideas and favorite expressions
were in some respects quite peculiar,
or at any rate, quite different from
my own.
Now as to the main substance of
the numerous and distinct books
which we recognize as inspired, they
appeal very strikingly to those ele-
ments of human nature and condi-
lions of human thought and action
which are essentially universal and
unchageabel. But as to the details
of conception and expression, as to
the precise color and tone, these
books often differ very widely from
what the same words would mean in
a writing of today. We have all in
sensibly learned something in this
respect from lifelong familiarity
with at least the surface of the inspir-
ed word and from the extent to
which its modes Of thought and eX-
preston have pervaded all the
preaching and teaching and religious
literature to which our attention has
been directed. But much remains to
be done, and done with persistent
and painstaking effort by one who
wishes toiinterpet the Bible safely.
Remember that it abounds in terms
and phrases which carry a peculiar
meaning of their own, quite different
from the sense in which similar
phrases and terms would be employ
ed in a current newspaper. Think
about this fact, keep it constantly in
mind, or you will 'unconsciously mis-
interpret in scores of cases.
4. Compare Scripture with other
portions of Scripture. Much help is
given for this by the reference Bibles,
the lesson-helps, and the commenta7
ries. 1t may be very profitable
exercise, but it is too often so managed
as to be highly misleading. Some
other passage may contain the same
term or phrase that you are dealing
with but it may there convey quite
a different sense, as a careful consid-
Grafton of the conneXion in that case
would show.
If you jump at the conclusion that
such a word as "soul" or righteous
ness" or shell" means the same thing
in every passage, you will be grave
ly mistaken, and your comparison O.
passages will do more harm thar
good. So if you find that essentially
the same subject is treated i'm anothel
passage it may yet be there is quite {
different light, and the difference re
quires attention. The use of a refer
ence Bible may thus range all thu
way from the LATEST to the mos
laborious method of Bible study
These considerations certainly SHOULD
not lead US to neglect references II
similar passages to what cours,
should they lead US.
8. Interpret the Bible upon princi
Piles of common sense. Recognizing
and keeping in mind the peculia
range of thought and usage of Ian
guage which mark the sacred writ
ings, we cannot fail to see that the.
, appeal constantly to the plain goo,
sense of a thoughtful and sober mind
Some commentators and minister
think they put honor upon the Bibl
by making a certain expression meaI
several different things at the sam
! time-things which are hopelessl,
incompatible and mutually exclusive
That is not sensible. Some insist o.
; the literal meaning of what is plainl
a figure of speech.
One day some gentlemen wer
q looking at certain huge stones in tn
southwest corner of the Haran enclC
d ure at Jerusalem, which evident
formed a part of the wall in Herod
time. "What would you say, then,
!, inquired one of the party, "as to tn
statement that there shall not be on
Il stone left upon another, but all sha
Il be cast down'?" II should say" we
y the reply "that the author of tbs
statement expected people to hav
" some sense" There is of course, a
= ways danger of error in taking fC
granted that our judgments are tn
u judgments of common sense; but
similar danger applies to every d,
t partment of thought and action.
& 6. Cultivate spiritual sympath
" with the Bible for it is a spiritui
u book. 1t is full of rich histories
4. -, C,,tr -.