The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-09

farther, all along, to bear witness or testimony.
says that the testimonies are the rites and
ceremonies of the law; because they point out
matters beyond themselves, being types and
representatives of tho good things that were to
como" DIR. Plumer says, their observance
demands spirituality of mind" Alexander
Cruden defines testimony az used in Ps. 1l9,
"the whole Scripture, or Word OF God, which
declares what is to be believed, practiced and
expected by U.s." DR.. Albert Barnes wrote,
Every law of parent is to his children tes-
timony on his part Of what is wise and right
and good; and every law of God is his
solemn testimony as to what is right and good
for man." j. A. Alexander said the testmo-
MES arc 1.-The divine precepts which bear wit
ness against sin and in behalf of holiness"
Dickson wrote, " Testimonies signify that this
revealed will of God testifeth OF our duty and
our doings, whether they conform or not TO the
rule; and testifieth also what event may be
expected by our believing or nisbelieving, by
our obedience or disobedience thereof. The
commentator Henrys words are, The things
contained in the Scripture are called Gods tes-
timonies because they are solemnly declared to
the world, and attested beyond contradiction"
Remember what David says in V. 2, Blessed
are they that keep fobserve, heed, guide their
lives by his Gods testimonies" Again ~.
Ia he says, 81 have rejoiced in the way (di-
rection, spirit of thy testimonies" We see
how the Bible is to be treated. It bears the
testimony of God as to what ne requires Of US.
1t has all the weight Of solemn evidence.
Why is the Bible called the Truth? The
word TRUTH" in verses 80. AZ, 142, and Isl is
from the same Hebrew root as faithfulness,"
in verses Is and 80, and faithful" in verses
Sc, 1873.
We have in v. 30, sway of truth" and in
V. 43, "word of truth" In verses &c aud 1873
we can as well render the adjective faithful as
a noun, to wit, faithfulness. Honce We have
in Ps. 119 two words for the Bible, 20 wit
truth and faithfulness. In the original, how
over, we have only one root for all, viz a,Cn,an,
or, as we say, Amen. The original idea of
apnlan, the Hebrew root, is to stay, prop. sup.
port-passively to be made firm, we'll founded,
durable, fguratively, trustworthy, certain. sure.
Amen means so be it-let it be- lasting let it
stay. Truth" in verses 43. 142, and Isl is
from Emeth. Truth" in V. 80, faithful" in
verses S6 and 1873, and fathfulness" in verses
rs and 80 are from Emuna,o. From the English
translation we have in Ps. 119 only four cases
of the Bblo styled the Truth. The direct
statement the Bible is the Truth is in verses
142 and Isl. We read in Rev., 3: ID, that Christ
is the Amen" 1t is added, he is the faith-
full witness" 1t is well to recall the fact, this
same Christ, the Amen, the Faithful, is also
styled the Truth {St. John, IA: s.; q. 1: IL, and
Gal, 3: II. truth" in 80 d. and faithful
ness" $685. arc also from durham We may
state three reasons why the Bible is called the
Truth /. 1t contains the truth. 2. 1t shows
US our true state. g. 1t points the way to
Him who is the Truth.
Henry says, "The principles upon which the
divine law is built are eternal truths" DR..
Plumer wrote, "'The way of TRUTH in opposi-
ton to the way Of lying in Y. 20. Gods truth
points out the right way, supports and COM
forts those who walk in it, at every step eyin-
ces divine faithfuness, at last brings the soul
to everlasting communion with Him who is
Truth itself" j. A. Alexander has, Truth in
the sense of faithfulness fidelity to obligations,
the opposite Of fasehood." Dr. Albert Barnes
thus on the Bible being the Truth:
F." 1t Is founded on truth; On the reality of
things. 1t is so essentially founded on truth,
it springs so certainly out Of truth, or out OF
the reality of things. that it may be said to be
the truth itself. He who understands the law
of God understands what truth is, for il is the
expression and exponent of that which is true"
We notice that verses 20 and 80 put way OF
lying" and way of truth in antithesis. SO
Scott says, "The ways of lying and of truth
are here opposed to each other. Tie way of
truth means that true way God has revealed,
by which we may come to Him, and walk with
Him. The way of lying means, therefore,
all those false ways by which men deceive
themselves and others, or are deceived by
Satan and his instruments. False doctrine,
hypocrisy and whatever is contrary to the
faith and holiness Of the Gospel are intended"
Gill understood by lying false doctrine and
worship; all errors and heresies superstition
and idolatry."
There is no comfort nor safety in an error.
There is no religious expansion nor hope in
heresy. There is no cheer nor support in false
gods (idolatry). The Bible is FROM the true
God, by means of true men as writer's; con-
aims true doctrines promises aud instructions;
is true guide to truth leads up from the
,peculatiye to the certain lifts from doubt to
directs to the eternal, fixed, true.