The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-08-30
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
BISHOP RONDTHALER'S ADDRESS
AT DURHAM,
Yention, on Thursday Evening,
August 23 Local News.

Referring to Bishop Rondthaler's
address before the State Sunday
School Convention, at Durham, last
Thursday night, the Globe says:
'His manner is kind and fatherly
NOT one harsh word escaped from
his lips during the entire discourse.
He makes no attempt at elo-
quence, but he is eloquent. He
seems to have heart full of love
for mankind, and at times during his
discourse his face looked as though he
the immense audience was closely
held to the close and many wished 1t
were longer"
The same paper gives the following
synopsis of the address, the subject OF
which was "How to Study the
Bible:
To me this book is not a thing, but
a person, speaking OF living things.
On the western slope of the Mount of
Olives are many Jewish graves. Just
below our Lord suffered; two Mo-
hammedan mosques now occupy the
place of the ancient temple and the
white walls of the city. the spires,
etc. seem to be tombstones of the
former city.
A Jewish traveller stood on this
scene and asked himself the question:
"Why are the Jews excluded from
their city," And the answer came
He read from the New Testament
about Jesus and said: I'VE cannot get
help OILY through our brother,
Jesus"
/ have often thought of what Cole
ridge said, 81 know the Bible is true
because it has found me out at deeper
depths of my being than any other book
that was ever written"
The Bible does more than this for
US; it finds us out our Saviour; that
which shows US ourselves and Jesus is
true; it has been demonstrated to be
the truth. 1t is Counted to be
knowledge that is founded on facts,
proven to be true, and nothing else is
knowledge.
Scientists have done much for US In
theories; we do not understand their
theories about the sun, but we know
that the sun shines; so we know that
the Bible is true and may boldly face
the skeptics. Sometimes the skeptics
amuse US; one says one book was
written at very early period, anoth-
er says it was written at very late
period, etc.
They do not agree, but say that we
must accept their theories as truth.
We prefer at least, not to accept
them until they can agree. among
themselves.
1t is d great pity if man allows
himself to be tied to the belief that
the Bible will be upset. A drunken
man riding on stage coach fell out;
he got up and as he stood watching
the coach go up the road, said to him
self: "If | had known the coach
would not have turned over / would
not have jumped off," The Bible
wagon is not upset yet, and it is not
likely to be upset.
About fifty years ago storm arose
in Germany against the Gospel.
Strauss said that they were cunningly
contrived fables Another said that
page tract. This brought about a
careful Investigation which resulted
in establishing the New Testament
frmer in the hearts of the people
than ever before" The great success
of the "Lives of Christ" by Giekie.
Neander and others, was an outcome
of this great persecution of the New
Testament.
The same war is now being waged
against the Old Testament. Men are
trying to prove it to be simply the
to go on, knowing that it will bring
about a searching study of the
Old Testament, and by and by this
storm will be over and we will then
see the Christ more clearly in the
prophets than ever before. The great
work of the closing years of the nine
teenth century is to bring all to the
point where they will not be afraid of
the truth.
The great element of strength is
not to be afraid OF the victory of Gods
word; it will conquer. Eli feared for
the ark, but the ark was safe. The
word of God has already pass d over
many rough places and will safely
ride over them all.
The whole word of God, both the
Old and New Testaments, shall
triumph. Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but My word shall not pass
away"