The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-04-23

always a 1901, is as SIIO1lS DIS we udIe
put it. But the Bible sees such folly in
sin that it says, Though thou shouldest
bray fool in mortar among wheat
with a pestle, yet will not his foolish
ness depart from him"
You remember that Franklin read the
Book of Ruth to company OF hteratl
in France, and they begged to know
where such a matchless idyl could be
found Many have been the express
sions of attachment that have become
historic. But what equals the express
sion of the heather woman Ruth to the
Jewish mother Naomi? Her sister had
gone back; her home, country, and KIN
dred were behind; and Naomi begged
her to depart; but she said, "lntreat me
not to leave thee, or to return from fol
lowing after thee: for whittier thou go
est, will go; and where thou honest,
l will home; thy people shall be my peo-
pie, and thy God my God: where thou
diest, will l die, and there will be bur
led: the Lord do so to me, and more al
so, if aught but death part thee and
me- do not wonder that the LORD
put that kind of a woman into the line
of which he himself would be born.
It is the delight of close scholars to
pure ONGI lIlC ulN1IlC WoII LII tii~ 49,
meanings that constantly flash upon
them. These depths of wisdom and eX-
quisite touches of tenderness frequent
1y break upon us like sunrise. This
was promised by Christ through the aid
of the Holy Spirit.
A thousand times have we read,
''Ta1itha cumi''-"Damse1 | say unto
thee, arise" But closer study shows
1f 4Ds nj
Scotsman had said, ''My wee 1assie,
voice of tender love found her so sua-
sively that she sat up. So we have
read that the father of the prodigal
"Son.' But the scholar sees that the
father still regards him as his little dar-
ling, his frstborn. The huge form of
with toll, does not keep down the pet
name of affection, and he says, "My
dear little 1addie, thou art ever with me,
and all that have is thine" No won-
der he was reconci1ed at once.
Everybody has read that Jesus, hav-
ing loved his own, loved them to the
end-that is, of his life. But the scho1-
ar reads that he loves them to the end
VI oil lllS dSCS, VI loNSb liiShi w tiiS ~
termost of his nature. That is a bound
less ocean rolling with power and &c
stacy, and he says:
"There shall l battle my weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest,
And not wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast"
Many have read, "Come unto me, and
l will give you rest.'' But how differ
entity reads the scholar: Come unto me,
all ye that are weary and heavy laden,
and l will rest YOU" 1t is not some
thing he reaches out and gives, but
something he does himself. He rests,
he recreates. The weary one feels in
all his muscles the recreative fingers of
the Creator.
There is often a suggestion in the
common use of words. Take Pau1's,
81 am now ready to be offered, and the
time of my departure is at hand"
But he says the time of my casting off
the cables and putting to sea is at hand.
That one word suggests friends about
the going vessel. 1t makes death a voy-
age into an unknown country, rich with
new scenes; and reunion with the
friends left behind is very joyful1y antic-
ipated. That is a figure worthy of the
wide-sailing missionary. Try another
of his expressions, 'Most gladly will l
rather glory in my infirmities that the
power of Christ may rest upon me-"
Read closer and it becomes that the
power of Christ may cover me like
tent, may tabernacle me over, making
shield from that without and burn
ing glory within. That is a figure for
an old tentmaker to relish
Just a few sentences from this last
one is a translation that for allitera-
tive beauty, rhythm of balanced claus
es, cannot be surpassed. Paul has been
giving the great proofs of his apostle
ship by the third heaven visions, when
he unconsciously gives greater proof
by the revelation of his spirit. Some of
the Corinthians had slandered the apos-
tie and accused him of meanness, and
he says, Il will very gladly spend and
be spent for you; though the more album
dainty l love you the less l be loved"
Translation certainly can give no bet
ter rendering, but little study may in
tensify a point or two. "Be spent"
means fused up, utterly consumed"
and the position of the though tells
us that this being used up is not in con-
sequence of the 1abors, but in conse-
quenCe OF De1nS loved less. NotW1th- |
standing your SANDERS will very glad |
ly spend and be utterly used up, your
little love breaking my heart, while 1
love you more abundant1y.
There are certain intensities of mean
ing the cursory reader does not catch.
We never translate the Scripture too
when it treats of Gods |
thoughts and ways, for they are as !
high above ours as the heavens are |
above the earth. There are thousand /
things written in the Scriptures we do
not yet know enough to apprehend,
much less to translate or even believe to
be true. The Bible is full of the strong
est expressions ever written. 1t takes
all the vigor of the Greek language and
reinforces it with intensive particles.
When we read, Comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height, and to know
the love of Christ, which passeth knowl-
edge" we should read, Thoroughly
We have all read, "And hope maketh
not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the