The National tribune., 1891-12-17

commands. In Ps., 100 Is. and Ps., H. Z, the
same original Is rendered commandments In
Ps., 10 5. We hnd it translated statutes
Throughout Pa. 10 it Is rendered precepts.
Gods Word Il YES instructions as TO an moral
matters. It is our teacher Ut contains an the
principles needed TO train as in the practice OF
obedience. Our word pTeeept is from the Latin
pTdecsPism- An order to any person precedes
his action. What is done according 20 a com
mandment follows the issue Of said command
ment So an order TO do any given act becomes
our authority for executing the act We may
say Of many an order that is a direction, a pre-.
scription for the doing given performance
Dryden says: No arts are without their pre-
cepts." The religious life Is an art but skill
in artistic products can be aided materially by
directions Precepts are the bases Of ethics.
Conduct in violence Of precept is inexcusable
since 10 is sin in the face Of in spite OF. light.
The precepts OF the Scriptures meet Us on the
very threshold Of our being. The Bible takes
Us on the start in life-antIeipates evil inhu-
ences-and seeks 10 discipline US beforehand
50 we can endure temptation. A preeept is q
taking beforehand
All instructors must keep in mind the need
Of patience, persistence repetition Of teachings
"a illustrated, {. O., I'm Isaiah, %: TO- "Precept
upon preeept, precept upon precept." THE
original Hebrew for precept IN this verse is
however, Tsah; the pedagogic principle is, how
ever, the same as i'm the word pikafceuL) Our
word preecpt Is Of very general signifcation
On precept see Dan, 9:5; Heb, 9.I9.
The critic Pool. referring TO Ps 10 says
The precepts declare and direct our duty"
Dickson: Preeepts signify that this will Of God
IL imposed by the authority Of our sovereign
Lawgiver." DIR. Adam Clarke: They (the
commandments of God are cal led preeepts from
a word signifying to take notice or care Of a
thing, to attend, have respect to, TO appoint, to
Wait Eaaaraa f,t, 2
have respect to the whole Of our life and con
versatiOn, superintend. overlook, and visit us
in all the concerns aud duties Of life" Henry:
They are called precepts because prescribed
to US, and not left Indifferent"
We end our notes for another year Will
our readers accept our compliments Of the
season. merry Christmas 70 all the children
OF our Sunday schools.
II IL the calm and solemn night;
thousand bells ring out and throw
Their Joyous peals abroad and smile
The ttr<ness,-charmed and holy now.
The night that erst name had worn,
To u happy name j. given.
For ia that stable lay. newborn,
The peaceful Prince Of earth aud heaven.
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries agot
We begin the New Year Make Il the best
OF our lives. We ought TO improve on the past
We know more. Experience is Of value The
real source OF happiness is piety, conscientious
ness, eontentmeuk A person asked one Of the
Rothchild family, Are you happy" Reply:
Happy2 Can man be happy with a letter
on his table stating that unless a certain
amouns is forwarded by a given date, he will
be assas5inated? Can a man be happy when
he has TO sleep with revolver under his pillow,
aud one eye ever Open2 No, i am not happy"
Mr.. Sage could say word on this subject
Ivan Panin wrote Whether I shall be IN
fortunate depends on others; whether 1 shall
be unhappy depends only on myself
We suggest the following prayer for the New
Year:
% God, whose days are without beginning and
wtthOHs end; Grant us. humbly pray Thee
throughout this year. whose beginning we dedicate
To Thee, such prosperity as Thou seest To be good
Tor %, aud make TO abound ia such works IA
may be pleasing TO Thee; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.