Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-21
M EXAcr rTrEnANcEs

prophet, Malochi. They can be no
question that
THE EXACT UTrERANCEs
OF Moses and Isaiah and Paul and Jesus
Christ, are not the ones to be neglected.
What is the secret Of the modern evan
gelist over the regular ministry, though
in nearly all other subjects the latter
are the SuperiorS of the former? Their
large acquaintance and more intimate
familiarity with the Bible.
Why are the ministers educated be-
yond the seas so cordially welcomed to
our pulpitS? Because they know their
Bibles. What 10 tho secret of a really
successful minister? A thorough
knowledge Of, and a deep spiritual ac-
quaintance with the Bible. And If this
be true then the Bible should not occupy
a subordinate buta primary place in our
seminary curriculum. Your committee
ventures the statement that OF all the
books which engage the attention Of the
students in the theological course the
Bible receives less direct study and at
tention than any other Like the crit
icism which one not infreQuently hears
about a good deal OF the preachers of
the day, and which asserts that while
there is in it a great many good and
true things about the Gospel, it is not
the very Gospel its elf; so while there is
a good many
TRUE AND USEFUL THINGS
taught about the Bible in our scmina-
rics, It is not the Bible itself. When it
is touched at all, it is only in spots.
Nor is this a condition peculiar TO this
particular generation Of theological stu
dents. 1t is a chronic trouble. 1t is a
complaint Of long standing state OF
things which has been generally felt
and deplored by all who are cognlzant
of the facts and interested in the wei
fare of the church.
The professors are deeply conscious OF
it, and bewail it: Presbyterians keenly
feel it, and sorrowfully regret it. And
the churches which are most affected,
or afflicted, by it, either inwardly groan
over it in utter hclplcssness and despair
or go on spiritually unquickened and
weak, without knowing what is the
matter with them.
Who, then, is to blame for this state
of things? The professors in our
seminaries? No, not primarily, and
certainly not wholly. We believe they
do the best they can with the material
furnished them. Are the students
themselves to blame? Not primarily
and not wholly. Your committee IS OF
the opinion that no student
SHOULD BE ADMITTED
to the Junior class without at least such
knowledge of the bible as complete
mastery of the Shorter Catechism. a
theological student, candidate for the
ministry, should surely be expected TO
know as much at least Of the sacred
volume he proposes to expound as a
fairly well educated Sunday School
scholar of adult years.
Where, then, we ask, does the trouble
lie? Primarily in the family where
anything like the religious training OF
the children is. as a rule. lost art.
Next TO the family, however, the Sab
bath school is to blame. The Sabbath
school is theoretically place where
something is taught and where some
thing is learned-where the Bible is
taught and where the Bible is learned.
II is to be feared, however, that in
very large percentage of our Sabbath
schools there is very little real teaching
and consequently very small mOdicum
OF real learning. The Bible itself is
rapidly becoming an unknown book in
the Sabbath schools-a stranger in its
own sanctuary, 1t is dethroned as
book, supplanted by 'losson lear and
various "monthlies" and 'quarterlies,' y
which, however good as 'helps' are
positively injurious, absolutely hinder
ances when used as a substitute for the
Bible itself.
1t is positively ridiculous, II not
mournful, to see the lack OF familiarity
with the Bible of the average Sunday
School scholar.
The times are critical.
In the horizon are threatening clouds.
The enemy is laundering at our
gates. Imperious doctrines shake re-
ligion and society. Now more than
ever is needed a
TRUE SCRIPT UBAL KNOWLEDIE
necessary for the confutatiOn OF the er-
rorists, and the subversion Of the scep-
ticism Of the days in which we live.
Every sermon should be saturated and
dripping with the spirit. The Bible is
the very pabulum. the life blood Of the
church.
Happy Is that man, that minister,
whose quiver Is full Of arrows Of Scrip
ture: who can happily utter his mind In
pure Scripture phrase, In that Heay-
enly language, the language Of Canaan.
Ii is not the iroth OF words, not the SCI
entilic learning Though useful In its
place) that will inspire men with love
of holiness and draw them up to