The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-19


tiOns by which they are known. This is well
We have 20 speak 50 often Of the Bible, that IL
we were obliged Invariably to use the same title
for il, our dIction in this respect might seem
quite mOnOtOnOus.
/. The Alpha5etic List Of Names.
We have the following names:
/. Bible tThel.
2. Book (The).
3. Book Divine.
4. Book OF God tor Of the Lord.
. Book Of Life.
g. Holy BibIe Tor Book.
:. Holy Library tTheJ
:. Holy Scripture Tor Scriptures).
9. Holy Writ or WritingJ.
10. Law and Gospel.
IL. Sacred Word.
Il. Scriptures (Thcl.
Is. Word OF God or Of the LOrd).
,. The First Three Names Explained.
We shall proceed in a catcchetic form:
l. What is the meaning Of the word Bible E?
The Book, known as the Church Text Book, is
never 10 itself. as translated, called the Bible
The namc is given TO that particular Book by
way OF emiueucc. 10 is not now applied TO
any other book. Ii would be felt by most
Christians % be Z sort Of sacrilege % give said
name tOauy other volume. The word Bible is
really the Greek terra for book. 10 IS simply
modified enough i'm form To AugliciZo it. The
Greek IS BjJi1g. A geography or an astronomy
is bible, viz. q book. But out Of special rev
crcuco for Gods Word we reserve the English
name Bible Tor the English Textbook for the
Church. We can trace the use Of the word
Bible as applied to the Holy Scriptures back %
the ii tn century.
,. Why DO we call the Bible, the Book? The
word bank IS from the Saxon buOc Doc box
buokl the name among the Germans for the
beech tree. Paper Is one Of the modern inveu-
tons. The SaxOus used becchcu boards. or
blocks Of the wood Of beech trees, as surfaces
for inscription. The wood is hard, close
grained, and hence became used in preference
generally TO other wooden surfaces.
Every hook Of the Bible is itself a book, And
so tire Bible is in reality library Of 66 VOL
umcs, 80 in tie Old Testament aud "a in the
New Testament
Many a book Of the Bible is in itself styled
hook 2. O., Gen., > Il; Tx, IL IA st. MATT ::
/ Rev. - 10.
The reason why the Bible is called a book is
the same that why any volume is denomi-
mated book; as 2. O., a grammar, an algebra,
etc.
Why is the Bible called THE BooKP
n. 10 Is superior to ali other books.
b. IL Is the sole volume written by direct in
spirstion Of Gods Holy Spirit.
c. Its earlier portions antedate all other
writings.
d. Its constituency outnumber the readers
Of any other book, and it is more widely cir
culatcd than any other volume.
2. Ii is the basis of all hooks Literature has
grown ont from it. ID is the hook Of books, the
Inatrx Of all libraries, the source Of ideas ger
m!nal and ptterual to universal culture.
I. The Bible IL no more a book than is an
arithmetic or a botany, but out Of special re-
gard we choose 20 call it The Book Just as we
say The Epiphany, or as we sometimes say,
designating specially prominent man, The
Man.
2. Illustrations.
John Jay, the first Chief.Justice Of the
United States %. l7f5. d. 1920, was nearing
his death, past being an Octogenaran All
persons recognized his good Judgment and
valued his counsel. His children relied on his
advice. lie was asked 10 state 20 them on
what foundation they could place their reli-
gIOus hopes and whence draw comfort and
consolation when ne was no longer with them
lie gave this brief reply: They have the
Bible" In his mind Gods Book has ample
instruction, and can impart adequate support
for grief
Sir Walter Scott b. 1771. d. 1892 was nearing
the close Of life. There were lucid seasons in
bis sickness when he suffered less from the
dread disease which ended his days. There
was iavnrite window in his library, looking
out upon fine natural scenery and charming
artiicially cnltivated grounds. The famous
poet and novelist asked 70 be placed near that
window. After little he expressed a wish
that his sCu-in-law might read TO him. "From
what book shall | read?" inquired the sOn-in-
law. The renowned scholar. though surrounded
by one Of the finest Libraries in the world. re-
marked, There is but one Book" For man
ia his condition osly one hook was adapted.
That was because the Bible is The Book IL was
easy for the son in-law TO understand what book
was meant
An anonymous writer has put this incident
IN verse so interesting We give it space:
" One book-there j. hut one" the sick man said
To HIM who bent iuqu ring DER his red
" Oue hook-but one" Yet ample was his store
OF tones and folio; rich ia varied lore
The active mimi, long went To- drink it, FIJI
From pld Ca>tIlIIu fount aud classic TiII.
lie with the tuuviuj Nine familiar walked
WIN Eritver Story earnestly had talked,
AUD followed with sportsman re u IN chase
tradition grny tp IT, dark lurking place
Thoughts that were born Of his quick fertile brain
Zen now were -,vaTmiug thick DER isle aud main; :
III pen with nIngc power the masses stirred,
His name IN East and West household word.
IIis brilliant course il run. The hour is nigh,
Alike ia weakness met by low and high
Too long, lac feels, his soul on hu-Ss has fed
And hi- one want ~ now the heavenly bread
Minds boarded wealth aud genius, rarest gem
but mock hi- need talk not To him 81 them
FaIne's halo glory circliug round his brow,
Not this can cheer his lonely pathway now.
tF.tl-t, iittCel-toE@uet, - pnlliug his
Another voice hiS spirit pants To hear.
Ia this dread hour and face To face with death
With Him who gives aud tnkesHway mans breath,
lac Book 81 God lac would alone attend
Aud hear OF HIN, the sinners dying Friend.
When nature sinks in the last fearful strife
Then bring the words that spirit are. aud life
The mamma bring, aud balm. To feed restore
The { int and dying ue'er To anguish more
Oh turn not from the Holy Book away
la sunny youth; and la thy strength Of day
Cast not aside for faithIe,4 breaking reed
The prop which ue'er has failed in utmost need
Eagtn's Babel din still ringing ia thine ear
Neglect not Him tint speaks from heav ven To- hear
Prize thou the Book-cIOse treasure in thy heart
Vet wide and free it, priceless wealth impart:
Word 81 our Cod forever To endure,
Where hope, the anchor rests alone secure.
3. Why do VIC call the Bible the Book Divine ?
(As % Book see under abOve.) The word di-
vine is from the Latin Dius, and means that
which pertains to Deity. This NAV relate 10
its origin or 10 its tendency. divine book is
one which comes fron God So the word d.
vine often has the sense Of supernatural. Gods
word is product Of Heavenly inspiration. A
preacher OF said word IS sometimes called di-
vine. To divine a thing is to foresee il. The
minister is able 10 declare the future as 10 any
given course Of action by his knowledge of the
rewards accompanying the good aud the pun
ishment5 following the bad as made known in
the preachers Text Book the Bible In this sense
Gods Word is system OF divinatiOn Then tho
tendency Of the Truths enforced i'm the Bible ia
70 impaTt divine qualities to those who read its
sacred pages. When systematized into formal
doctrinal and ethical statements we call the
teachings of Gods Word q system Of Divinity
or a body Of Theology. When said systems are
briefly summarized. we have creeds and dogmas.
The Bible is God will incarhated we may say.
Hence the truth Of the following lines: