The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-06-26
The Use and Abuse OF Gods Word.

lished by request of several who heard it,
"The word of God is quick and power
full" Powerful for good or powerful for
evil, according to its use. If used for
study and not for practice, then the use
becomes an abuse, for, ''to him that
knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to
him it is SIM"
story is told of a man who, all his
lifelong, rejected Gods offer of pardon,
and used the divine word only to quote
from its passages with which to point
witticisms. On his death-bed an earnest
Christian before him repeated to him pas
sage after passage, promise after promise.
At last the dying man answered, 1T is of
no use. There is not one passage among
them but is spoiled by the memory of the
connection in which it was quoted" Is
there not something of the same tenden-
cy with us, to quote verse whenever it
would fit in without regard for the fitness
of the subject or the circumstances This
is an abuse, one for which the user will
in the end pay dear price.
Anothes abuse is that of searching for
passages to establish us in some particu-
lar hobby or prejudice.
By far the most common abuse, and the
one which will prove the most expensive
is neglect. In the Bible great stress is
laid upon the sin of neglect. Neglect
not the gift that is in thee" and chow
shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation?"
David in the 10th psalm give a better
summary of the use and abuse of the BIZ
Bile than can any uninspired writer. Do
you think he neglected his Bible? Hear
his testimony: 81 love thy commandments
above gold, will have respect unto thy
statute continually, all thy command
ments are truth, do not forget thy com
mandments."
The first great use of this precious
word is TO study it, to read it. Very
much has been said of the best way of
studying. No certain rule can be laid
down which it would be best for every
one to follow. Some one has said that
the great secret of successful study is to
attempt but little at time. If, there
fore, you are hungry at heart, read the
Bread chapter, John 6; if your feet are
slipping, read the Rock chapter, Deut
2l; if you find yourself getting a little
cross, read the Charity chapter, l Cor.
l3 or, if you have lots of defeats with
Satan, read the Victory chapter, Rom. s.
Read the word. read chapters'at time so
.s to see the connective particles, the
1nds, butts, therefores and wherefores !;
read whole book at time; look up SUBJ
jects trace a word through the whole
Bible; prepare Bible readings for your
self; and, above all, commit verses to
memory, at least one every day; take, in
the morning, verse to be your staff and
shield and sword, and in the evening rest
your head and your heart upon it as upon
a pillow, and wrap it as mantle around
you. Another use is to search it, not only
study the word, but search it, ransack it,,
seek for the hidden thought, pray David's
prayer: "Open thou my eyes that l may
behold wonderful things out of thy law"
and claim the promise, 81 will show thee
hidden things" Moody says, "The best
things are got by digging deep for them. -
Many of the most precious Bible thoughts
are apprehended only after weeks, per-
haps months and years of search. Other
books contain good things, but in Our
Fathers Book are the most of the best
things. Miss Havergal says, "We are
solemnly responsible for the mental in
fluences under which we place ourselves
Take heed what ye hear must include
take heed what ye read The devil is
very fond of persuading us that we have
mot leisure so much as to eat when it is
question of Bible study"
But, after ALL our study and our search
may amount to nothing unless we medi-
tate upon the word, "what good for us to
know the commandments if we do not
think enough about them to know wheth-
er or not we observe them" David says,
"Mine eyes shall prevent the night watch
cs, that l might mediate in thy word.
will mediate in thy statutes"
The word, even if studied and medita
ted upon, will profit us nothing unless il
be believed. Moody says, "What grounC
have we for not believing God?" There
is the question, why should we not believe
| the Bible? The testimony is given thai
holy men of old spoke as they were in
spirel of God. Accepting this as fact
studying and meditating upon the scrip
| ture, there can be but one result-lovine
it. "Oh how love l Thy law" exclaim
ed David and each one will find himself
repeating it as soon as he becomes famil
lar with the precious book. Loving God
one must love His word, loving His word
one must love God.
The character of God can plainly bt
read through His book, and just as plain
ly can mans character be read by his
mode of accepting the word. The Bibl,
will become to us everything. 1t is tolC
of Sir Walter Scott that on his deatl
bed he requested a servant to bring th,
book. what book?" Was the question
The great writer answered, There is bu
one book, the Bible" In time of trouble
we shall turn to this for help; in pleas
ure, for words TO express our praise tc
the giver of joy; and, in sorest affliction
for grace to help.
We find the uses multiplying, yet al
the studying, searching, meditating, be
lieving and loving, are comprehended il
this great whole, living. Some one ha'
said that one verse of the Bible, taken in
to the heart and lived before man, will dC
more effectual work than being able to re
peat the whole Bible, word by word.
The character of man is the most eff
fectual preaching, and the character vii
surely be shaped by the book if the bool
be studied and loved.
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