The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-06-18

Or We may use the proposition "of" in the
sense of by. God ia the Author Of the Bible.
The Lord made it in sense as he made sun,
moon, etc. He is responsible for its contents
and good for its promises. He has no such
near relationship to any other volume. He
inspired its writers. He has always had Q
special care over its preservation. He is con-
eerned as 10 its publicity. He specially blesses
its contents to the religious profit Of the read
ers thereof
5. Why is the Bible called The Book Of Lifet
Because by following its instructions we secure
eternal life Tor happinessl. We of course I'M
derstand it to be our Book Of Life, not Gods.
The character of His future existence has no
relation to it. Further, notice the Bible a.
The Book Of Life is not the volume referred
70 in Phil, &: 3, and Rev., 3:5. See the two
contrasted in Rev, %: 10. The poet Mo Mt
gOmery wrote
Thy word Il power and life;
IL bids confusion cease,
And changes envy. hatred. s,rifo.
To love. and Joy, and peace
David declared, "Thy Word hath quickened
(put new life intol me-" (Ps., 1l9: so. Add
verse 93.J And st. Paul said, "The Word Of
God is quick (quickening, life-giyingl and
powerful" Heb. 4: H. Coleridge wrote
some Letters ON the Inspiration Of the Script
ures. He has the following: In the Bible
there is more that finds me than have expert
enced in all other books put together; the
words Of the Bible find me at the greater depths
Of my being; and whatever finds me brings
with it an irresistible evidence Of its having
proceeded from the Holy Spirit"
The Book inspires, imparts energy, and leads
to life. 60 Coleridge adds, 81 have found in
the Bible words for my Utmost thoughts, songs
for my joy, utterances for my hidden griefs
and pleadings for my shame and my feeble
ners. In short, whatever finds me bears wit
ness for itself that ID has proceeded from q
Holy Spirit, even from the same spirit which
remaineth in itself, yet regenerateth all other
powers and in all ages entering into holy souls
maketh them the friends of God"
The Words of the Book give life because
they come from Life. One title Of Christ ia
The Lie. (St. John, IL PSI And that surely
is Book Of Life which conducts Us to Him.
And our Savior (The Life) said, Search the
Scriptures; for in them ye think land with
good grounds) ye have eternal life. (St. John,
5: 39.)
g. Why do we call the Bible. the Holy
Bible Tor Book)7 las 10 Bible and Book see
under heads / and aboVe.l We have to
notice only the word holy. Why is the Bible
| called Holyf We may assign several reasons.
a. The Author of the Book ia holy. q Pet,
l:2l)
b. The teachings Of the Book are holy. All
Of its precepts are pure.
c. The amanGenses, viz, they who wrote the
| Bible under the direction of the Holy Spirit,
were holy persons. t2 Pet, 1:2I.)
d. The Book makes all who read it IN ain
cerity, humility, teachableness, holy.
Holy Bible. Book divine,
| Precious treasure, thou art mine"
7. Why is the Bible called The Holy Ii
| brary"2 That was the title given by jerome
to the entire volume known as the Bible. We
have noticed under the question why is the
| Bible called the BoOk2 the fact that it il
composed of sc parts; each styled book. We
/ see readily how 10 can be regarded as q library
Of six and 60 volumes. This very fact tina.
the Bible consists of SO many separate books
/ written by different authors, at diverse dates
and in widely-scattered places, is one proof oil
| its genuineness, for notwithstanding the state
| ment above We yst have volume consistent
/ Ia all its portions, having throughout one grand
idea, showing evidence of a common origin and
purpose. When Wesley said homo sum uniEl
| ibri II am a man of one book he at the same
time claimed familiarity with library Of 81
volumes. The word library is from the Latin
/ iiber, and that word simply means q book. A
/ holy library is library consisting Of series
| Of volumes which illustrate and enforce holt
ness.
g. Why do we call the Bible Scripture, or the
| Scrptures2 The word scripture is from thS
| Latin, and simply means writing. Ordinarily
every book is composed Of scriptures as being
the product manually Of pencil or pen. A few
| authors print their books without first formally
| composing and writing them. They are tht
exceptions. IL is said Nasty used to produc
many OF his articles direct from brain to type
without the intervention of writing. Usually
every book is first scriptures. Typewriting Il
| however becoming a shortening process.
No Bible is now scriptures save very few
existing in manuscript Whom we call tn,
| printed volume scripture we err q little from
fact. We speak of it in such case rather a. il
used to be or as it may be now at times wher
ready for the press. Christ spoke Of the Bible
as it then existed as the Scriptures. (St John
>: 39) St. Paul did likewise. (Ro, 1: p;
IT,, 8: Is, 10. st. Peter initiated Christ. {;
Pet, :20.)
The Mahometans do not allow their bible
the Koran to DO printed, from the fact theJ
believe, as Gutenberg himself for time feared
that the art of printing is a device Of Satan
The Korans which we have printed were issued
by publishers in Christian lands. All Koran
among Mussulmans are in Ms.
Before printing came into vogue the copy
ing of MSS. was o vocation for many thou
sands of people. The business OF the scribe.
mentioned so often in the New Testament wa
TO prepare written rolls or volumes Of the OLD
Testament. Copying was large part of thu
employment of Greek and Roman slaves. ThI
Emperor Diocletian had prices tabulated TO reg
uIate the payment to cOpyists for their work
|
in by many freedmen, who became known a
professional cOpyists History shows tina
women were also in the vocation Of copying
Z. e., Lala furnished the MS. Of the Hebdo
MAIDS of Yarro. aud Theela convert Of st. Paul
is credited with having produced Greek Ms
of the Eyangelists, said copy being now found
in the British Museum.
1t is reported that one reason why We hav
SO many MSS. from the Middle Ages is tina
friars were punished by being required az act
of penance to copy various volumes. WheI
Theodore would encourage or rebuke tn
monks he would tell them about certain fra
who reached Heaven because he, in writing
MSS. as apenitent, inscribed one letter in exces
| of the sins he had committed.
As q matter of fact, it is not supposed W
have single original Ms. Of any author, bib
lical or classical. 1t is true Venice claims {
possess the original Ms. Of the Gospel Of 81
Mark, and that the British Museum shows
. Greek copy of the Evangelists executed, as re
port runs, by Theela, and yet the critical wan
more proof before they accept said claims
Many antiquarians refuse 10 date any Ms. bacl
anterior to the third century. Montfaucol
%. 1875 had not even so much faith, and woult
not allow a claim dated before the seventh
century. If these facts be true our debt to tn
Middle Ages is great indeed. Others penanc
| is indeed, our delight.
g. Why do We say Holy Writf On "holy,'
see under the sixth question. Writ ia only