The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-14
The Bible Read at Random.


Some years since discussion had
been held during the winter months
between Christians and unbelievers in a
hall in Saint Luke's. London. At the
last meeting of the season it was re-
solved that on that occasion any ques-
tlons should be in order which had
been discussed during any previous
meeting.
Among other unbelievers who came
for W ard was a young man VINO hao
often spoken there on various subjects,
and who, as reported by one present,
spoke thus:
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentle
men,-I have determined to show you
tonight what the Bible really is; and
in order to be fair, I will not take
selected passages, but will allow the
book to open where it will, and read
YOU the first verse on which my eye
lights. You will then see in what
kind of book the Christians be-
lieve."
He allowed the Bible to fall open in
his hand, and read aloud
pure religion and undetiled before
God and the Father is this, to visit
the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself un>pot-
ted from the world" James i. 81.
Somewhat abashed, and amidst the
10y of the Christians. and confusion OF
his own party, he opened the Bible
again, aud read:
Ills not this the fast that / have
chosen &? to loose the bands of wicked
ness, to undo the heavy burdens, and
to let the oppressed 70 free, and that
We break every yoke" ?" Isaiah lviii.
6.
Still more abashed, he read again as
the book opened:
"Wash you, make you clean put
away the evil of your doings from be-
fore mine eyes cease to do evil learn
to do we'll seek Judgment, relieve the
oppressed, Judge the fatherless, plead
for the widow" Isiah i. 1G.
He made one last attempt and read
"He hath showed thee, o man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord
require of thee. but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God" Mich vi. 8.
Disappointed and chagrined, the
skeptic left the platform, overwhelmed
by the sneers of his companions, and
the tumultuous Joy of the Christians.
No Christian could desire a more
favorable test than this. The Scrip
lures will bear to be taken at random
and read in the presence of their bit
terest foes, for "every word of God is
pure, as silver refined in furnace OF
earth"
The Bible is good book for reading
Most who despise it have never care
fully read it. 1t is especially the book
for the poor. David says, blessed is
he that considereth the poor" Psa
xii. ]. 20 God, thou hast prepared OF
thy goodness for the poor" Psa. Ky
iii. 10. 1.-The Lord heareth the poor"
Psa. Xix, SO. HE setteth the poor on
high" Psa. evil, Al. "He shall stand
at the right hand of the poor" Psa
elk. 81. "I know that the Lord will
maintain the cause of the afflicted and
the right of the poor" Psa. cXl. ~
Solomon says, "Whose oppresseth the
Door reproacheth his neighbor; whose
stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,
he shall cry and shall not be heard"
When Zaccheus was converted he
said, "The half of my goods | give to
the poor" and James says. Hath not
God chosen the poor of this world,
rich In faith, and heirs of the king.
dom ?" The whole book is full bless.
ings on the poor and the needy, and
the best thing a poor man can do is to
read it and think how much better off
he would be than he is now, if he lived
in country ruled by the law of God.
And what can induce men to make
war on such book What but the
wlckedness of their own hearts, and
their desire to live a life of sin and
escape the condemnation that the
Scriptures declare upon all ungodli-
ness ? Why not believe and live" Be
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved. ."-H. l.. Hastings.