The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-16
rGg STUDY OF the BIBLE.



Divine, Lectures In Wheeling.
At the First Presbyterian church last
night Rev. Dr.. Stalker, an eminent
divine Of Glasgow, Scotland, delivered
lecture ON "How to Study the Bible"
DR.. Stalker explained that to study the
Bible was one Of the most important
methods by which a Christian must
keep alive mis- faith, for without the
study OF the Sculptures an innate love oil
God would 20 out Cf existence. He then
vent on to state that there were four
Tays OF studying the Bible, by the text,
by books, by winters aud by doctrine.
Nine out Of ten readers Of the
Bible, he said, ordinarily read q
text from the book morning and
evening. The doctor did not seem 10
think this the most approved method.
He said that, OF course, many golden
verses In certain chapters OF the Bible
might be impressed upon the mind. In
case any one wiehed TO continue read
ing the Holy Scriptures in this way, he
advised them to invariably make &c.
lection from the chapter Of one or two
particular verses, TO study. them, and let
The mind remain fixed while reading
them. Tho doctor made beautiful com.
parison OF the mind, intent on a verse
in the Bible, to bee, which burles itself
in u il1wer and ut last rises, with its
wings covered with honey. He said
that by continuing the close study Of
every text, the mind would soon be
stored with q number Of verses.
The Doctors iavorite way OF studying
tho Bible seemed to be by the books.
he believes in taking q whole book Of
the Bible, and reading 1t through at one
sitting. He related that, while be was
still q student, and travelling in France,
he came to small town, where he
stayed over Sunday. There being no
Protestant church in the town, and the
services at the church there being over
before breakfast, he wandered out 10 the
woods with bis Bible and eat down to
read. At first he read here and there,
as was his wont, but finally he CHANGED
on q particular book, and read it through
from beginning to end. 1t was st. Pauls
epistle TO the Romans. He read, and all
the mighty arguments Of that celebrated
ep!atle rose up and spread around him
in oneyast fabric.
A book OF the Bible, he said, was a
whole thing in itself, and not a mere
strtDging together Of verses, and to be
fully appreciated each should be read as
whole. The advantage OF reading the
whols book was that the parts were
more intelligent in the light Of the
whole than they would BIZ ii read desul.
t0rily. He warned his hearers that
good many iRvorite verses would mean
something different from what they gen.
orally supposed, when read in the light
Of the context but that the right mind
would want to know the right meaning,
and the reverent mind would always
consider the knowledge Of thetrue spirit
bset.
.'Is 1t a great feat," said he, ito read
five novels Of Walter Scott, or three Of
ThackerayP There are no doubt many
Young ladies in this audience who would
think this a reading Of no great msgni.
nitude. Yet the whole Bible contains
no more words than five volumes Of
Scott, or three OF ThaUkeTay, and many
books are no longer than the longest
letter and even the book oil Job can
be read in two hours"
There was also, he said, the reading
by writers; 10 read, besides a whole
book, all the books OF the same writers,
in connection, though not, OF course, at
one time. 1t is a fine thing, he said, to
read the writings OF st. Paul in Chron.
illogical order. There is q beautiful
spiritual growth in st. Paul, increasing
the longer he writes. He said.by taking
the epistle writers in chronological order,
We Grst get synopsis, simple view Of
Christianity, in the epislles Of st. Peter
more comprehensive view is obtained,
St. Paul gives the profound, and in St.
John we gain the finest and most perfect
view Of Christianity.
As 10 the method oil reading by doc.
trine, DR.. Stalker's time being limited,
he was unable 10 say all he wished.
The true student, he said, wants the
whole Lesson Of the Bible. Our useful.
nees, and even the stationary degree We
are to occupy in the other world, de.
ponds on the full possession OF the Di-
vine Word, which is only to DO OBJ
tanned by the study OF the Bible. The
very aspect OF the Bible at home would
show one the state Of his soul. When
tue Bible is worn, the leaves stick TO-
gether, and everything goes to show that
the book has frequently been delyed
into for the truth, then the state OF the
soul is right; it is imbued with the love
OF God,