The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-08-05
THE BIBLE EXALTED.

How Biblical Criticism 10 Doing . Great
and Glorious Work for God.
Whatever else may follow from the
biblical criticism that has occupied SO
much thought Of late years, it is having
one result in which all Christian be-
levers may well rejoice. 1t is calling
attention more widely than ever to the
Bible, embracing the Old and New Tes-
taments. 1t is rousing curiosity and
interest about the familiar, but often
almost unknown, book. Probably there
was never time when SO many people
read the Bible as are reading it now.
Even those who read only to cavil and
pick flaws must get some notion of the
wealth and majesty Of the Scriptures.
The more men study them the better.
The strongest light of scholarly investi-
cation that can be thrown upon them
will only serve eventually to bring into
yet higher relief their Divine power and
purpose.
We have great confidence in the edu-
cative potency of the Bible. 1t is q
library as we'll as book. Indeed one
of its most marvellous features is that,
containing so many books, written by
SO many authors, during so long q
period of time, it should still be so
widely recognized as one book in its
character and aim. The unity of the
Bible through all its unparalleled d.
versity of composition and locality and
date is proof of the controlling in
spiration of God in it's production. The
tourist who looks at the beautiful
cathedral of Cologne and learns that
it was six hundred years in build
ing does not need to be told
that the original architects de-
sign shaped the structures growth at
every stage. That is what makes it a
noble church edifice, instead of mere
pile of stones. So the student of the
Bible, noting the extraordinary variety
of its material, and at the same time
the conference of all its parts in COM
plete and symmetrical organism, can
but recognize the work of the supreme
and superhuman Author of the whole.
But such a range of history and lit.
erature and teaching is, in itself, an
education to the attentive reader. DIR.
Vaughan, in one of his lectures to min
isterial students, speaks of an English
clergyman he had known who literally
read nothing but his Bible and the Lon
don Times, and who was notably in
telligent and capable man. We can our
selves recall two men of our own &C
quaintance who became well educated
solely by the assiduous reading of the
Bible. When it comes to following Out
the countless lines of research and Of
thought which the Bible opens up we
have at once field for the broadest
culture.
Using Scripture in the right way, seek
ing in it what God meant we should
learn from it, opening our minds to it.
moral and spiritual force and submit
ting our wills to it's guidance, we shall
gain strength in all directions by it
daily use. We are not of those whit
fear it will be discredited by the frees
investigation. The sacred and death
less book will grow more precious t,
the world through every honest inquir,
into it's growth and meaning. Super
fetal sneers and ignorant snap-judg
ments will be refuted by frank an,
scholarly discussion. The great oh
jects of the Divine revelation will b
Disseminated, and men will value an
cherish more intelligently and rev
erently than ever the God-inspire
Word that is profitable, always, every
where and to all, for doctrine, for re
proof, for correction. for instruction i
ighteousness.-N.Y Y. Examiner.