The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-05
READ THE BIBLE.
NEGLECT OF A VOLUME RICH IN LITERARY MERIT.
1.-THE WORLD" RARELY SEES THE BOOK.

couragement. Business, society, wealth,
activity. all leave it to the weak and the de-
crepit to read the Bible. And when they
have done the Bible is relegated to lone
some position on the parlor table or shelf
in the library where noue can modest it or
make it dilapidated.
The Bible is not generally read:
And it is pity, isn't it2 There is no vol
ume, either ancient or modern, so full OF
the rich things of literature as is that book.
There is nothing in either native or foreign
tongues that could be drawn on with such
old book that comes to us with the approx
ing stamp of twenty centuries. 1t is q
storehouse, mine, chest of treasures,
and all the wealth taken from it only makes
more rich both it and those VINO win its
jewels.
which condemns itself to ''the blackness
of darkness forever" What could be
stronger. more fearful. more hopeless?
What can voice with more pitiless con-
demnation the fate of spirit unsavedp
One character is invoked in whom
there is neither variableness nor
conception of q fealty like that? Have
You ever wanted friend of that kind2
Did you ever have one2 If yes, then
you are blest, indeed. But you never had.
Nothing uman quite reaches to the height
VA V0uV requirements N AuIu0U 1EloI1USulO
will vary like the wind. There is not only
the shadow, but the substance of turning.
But how strong and how full is tho express
sion. With what unmeasured richness of
compliment you could say it of one you
loved.
''Theu hast led captivity captive" "Tru-
l,y God Is good to snch as are of clean
heart" Better. is dry morsel and
quietness withal than a house full
of choice meat and strife" "A brother
offended is harder to be won than strong
city" "A mans gift maketh room for
him.. Every man is friend to him that
ss 1s own snS o. be R ssnes
which be little upon the earth, yet they are
exceeding wise." sThere is a season and
a time for everything under the heaven"
Behold, he taketh up the isles az a very
little thing" "Their silver and their gold
ehall not be able to deliver them in the
limitless fund the book is for all manner of
men. What q storehCuse of expression,
what coin current in every walk of life. But
there is this about the Bible: 1t is the
earnest mans bank account. There is
nothing trivial or weak in it. It is the es-
sence Of manliness, Of yirile action, of
broad and sweeping movement. No book
could be hurt by 1t. AL composition could
be better for large reading of and larger
draft upon it.
Think of the rising, swelling iubllation
OF this cry: awake, awake: put on thy
strengthen It is a slogan to summon d
conquering host or rallying cry to arm q
forlorn hope for the final defiance. Think
Of the triumphant exultation of this pecan:
Pharaoh, king of Egypt. is but noise:
he hath passed the time appointed"
Think of the blasting wrath of
this execrstion: $50 will send
beasts. and they iaall n S.re.vs nt thee; and
pestilenoe and blood shall pass through
thee, and will bring the sword upon thee!''
How withering, how fearful it is in the
fullness Of the desolation promised. How
complete was the submission of that king
Who said: II blessed and praised the
Most High, and honored Him that iveth
forever and whose dominion is an everlast-
| ing dominion and his kingdom from gener-
alton to generation"
How stronger than Lear is this from
Ezekiel's charge to the mountains: Howl,
| fir tree, for the oedars of Lebanon are fall.
en-" Nothing but ''howl" can express the
wind-tossed rage Of forest of frs. How
full Of good counsel Is: do not drink wine