Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-03-30

Every student of the Bible knows
of the thrilling ordeal in the life of
Christ that this day commentaries.
It was the most exact fulfillment of
prophecy-and so recognized by the
Jews of that time: hence their ho-
zannahs to the Son of David as he
entered Jerusalem.
To the Christian student of the
Bible it is time for reveris in the
chronicles of tie Old Testament,
himself rejoicing that he lives un-
der the radiant halo of the New
Dispensation. It is to all such that
these recurring Bible anniYer saries
are replete with delightful and con-
soling meditations, No thoughtful
reader of the Bible can fail to notice
that the formative or educational
character of the Law proclaimed by
St. Paul is equally true of the whole
historical portion of the Old Testa-
ment. 1t Is milk for babes, as the
Gospel is food for men. To the
period of childhood and early youth,
in nations as in individuals,
a special form of spiritual nu.
triment is necessary. Great height
of speculation or depth Of thought
is beyond their reach. Truth to be
brought to their level has to be en-
bodied in individual facts and ac-
tions, and the Old Testament sup
plies them better than any other
history. To say nothing Of the
marvellous element so abundant and
so welcome to the youthful mind,
there is in the ancient heroes of the
Bible simplicity, freshness, a
nearness to nature which make
them, like the heroes of Homer,
Ineligible and enjoyable to every
stage, even the earliest, of culture
and of life. 1t is they who give ami
nation and color to our first lessons
of religion, and their examples are
the last to be forgotten. Abraham,
Josue, Solomon and the others stand
out in bold relief on the memory, to
the end, and ever surrounded bv the
devout impressions which had gath
cred round them in early youth. In
later years, and for more reflective
minds, they shed soft and comfort
ing light on that ever-present ques-
ton: How does God deal in His final
Judgment with the coutIess millions
who have lived and died strangers
to the helps vouchsafed to the cho-
sen people, and who have neye;: SO
much as heard of the Jewish or
Christian dispensation? A solemn
wide-reaching problem, never to be
completely solved in this world. We
know from st. Paul (Romans H. aud
from natural reason that they are
judged, not by law they knew not,
but by the law that speaks within
them. But if we would see farther,
we have only to turn to the Old
Testament and consider what man
ner Of men God admitted to His
friendship and how much of what
we know to be evil may be covered
by honest ignorance and compen.
sated by devotion to God and to all
that is known Of his will.
It is tu them, as instruments in
Gods hands, that the world is in
debted for its knowledge of the true
God, and they have taught US to
trust in Him, to lean on Him, to
obey and to love Him. His Provi-
dence is revealed to US, it Is true, by
oul Lord Himself and in terms of
exqulsise beauty. But neither HIS
touching reference to the birds of
the air and the flowers of the field,
nor the assurance of care more
tender, more universal and more
abiding for man, though they have
brought comfort and courage to
numberless souls, have impressed
the Christian mind as yividly as the
dealings Of God with His servants
in the Old Law. 1t is in His ever
present help, and in His watchful
love for Abraham, for Jacob, for
David, and for so many other Old
Testament characters, that we have
learned first and best the unceas1ng
projection and guidance which God
youchsafes to His children, They