Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-11
THE BOOK OF BOOKS.
The Criticism of the Bible but Strengthens
Its Claims.

| ne SrltiCtsm OF the BfDfe nut strengthens
Its Claims.
! A very able and interesting discourse was
| delivered on The Bible" as a book to live
| BY and hold fast to by Rev. r. W. Lewis,
state superintendent of Sabbath schools OF
! the Cumberland Presbyterian church for
| the state of Texas. In the morning the
| speaker had preached on the relation OF the
| Sabbath school to the church, showing
| 1t was not apart from nor sup
Elemental TO, but the church
| where all should attend training school. as
it We're, to be taught the Bible and trained
| for Christian work
In the afternoon he conducted a children S
service. thoroughly enjoyed by all the little
ones present.
In his evening discourse the speaker
stated that the Bible needed no defense, it
| raised against the Bible-four in number
l. Not refined,
2. Not reasonable.
s. Not progressive,
4. Not inspired,
were discussed, and it was shown how ut
terlv fallacious they were
Two armies fighting the Bible-those
who hold it up and those who oppose it.
There is no better book. If people could
but realize that God has spoken that Word,
they would more readily believe it.
The Bible is said to lack refinement, is o
gross book. The Old Testament contains
most Of these objections. To man with
impure thoughts the Bible is not pure; it
cannot be expected to be.
The Bible is no more impure than Shakes
peare and no person would think of de-
strOying Shakespeare's works. It is no
more impure than Byron. l. is no more
unrefined or indecent than the theater, or
the Nineteenth century circus. Let's be
consistent If we go to the circus the Bible
H., ~. l..
Shakespear and the Bible were both
written in an age when the PEG
pie were plain and outspoken
in their language
Next il was an unreasonable book. Be-
cause people do not believe it they say it IS
an unreasonable book There is Just such
a demand for such a book as the Bible In
il God reveals himself as the creator, and 1t
is the only authentic record of creation.
God invites US TO reason with him. and
only asks of US reasonable service. II is n
book of strong reasons and wonderful logic.
a reasonable book only to those who
understand it. Those who study it most
and understand il best are most enthusiast
tic over its reasonableness and genuineness.
1t is not progressive book. Men say it
has done a good service IN its time and now
ought to be retired. Progressive evil is
not supported by the Bible. Wickedness
is systematized, but it is not based on the
Bible standard. All great movements for the
betterment OF mankind and uplifting of their
conditions comes from the Bible. The
sun of civilization has made rapid progress
in the last few centuries, and the Bible has
kept pace, in fact, is abreast of it. More
copies of the Bible are printed today than
ever before-now being printed at the rate
of 100000 copies per week. II is
no old fogy, fossilized stereotyped
book, but is being read and studied
VA, I,,., I,F
Gladstone Garfield, etc, especially en-
brace it, love it, cling TO it. Instead of
dimming it has enlightened civilization.
Civilization and enlightment of foreign ma
lions wherever the Bible is taught
Next and last, not an inspired book. An
internal reason of its inspiration lies in the
fact that forty writers, who lived 1900
years apart, have written this book. Some
were rich, some poor, some learned, some
ignorant, some kings, some fishermen. All
portions harmonic and fit in together COM
pletely rounded. No forty writers could
write OH one subject and all their papers
make so symmetrical book as the Bible.
Another reason, because it speaks of the
good and bad: Its prophecies have been
fulfilled. To-day the Jews are returning
to Palestine as the Bible prophecies they
would.
Then its wonderful influences. As we
read it our hearts burn with gladness. and
in our dark hours IL cheers and comforts US.
a sinner in hearing this word is led to
shout aloud over the glories of this book |
From Sabbath to Sabbath we go to hear |
this book preached. AS nation. the Bible |
is our standard
To abandon and burn the Bible |
would be to close and bar every |
church door and window in this country. |
Take away the Bible, and 50 per cent of |
the books in our libraries would need be |
destroyed, for they refer to the Bible
Take away the Bible, and the theme of |
heaven and eternal bliss becomes delusion. |
The Bible is ali we have; Inger-
soil offers nothing better. If the |
Bible is true. there is hell; if not, no |
he'll; if true, heaven, if not, no heaven, |
where our loved ones are.
The revival services will continue to- |
night at s o'clock. Rev. Mr.. Lewis again !
and the balance of the week Rev. |
]. C. Calnon will preach.