The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-05
THE BIBLE.

THE BEAUTY AND SWEETNESS OF ITS
LANGUAGE - PRACTICAL BENEFITS
FROM READING THE SCRIPTURES
ERRORS IN THE PULPIT.
Address Before the AbbeviIle District
Bible Society. Delivered by Mr..
Hugh Wilson, July 20, 1896.
Owing to the temperature of the weather
and out of mercy to those present, Mr.. Wilson
read only portions of his address. The full
text is published herewith which you can
read or SKI at your pleasure:
Let 1t be understood that this essay is from
| the standpoint OF layman, and not from
| the vantage-ground of an ordained minister
of the gospel. 1t will touch upon neither
of those vital questions, the scheme Of
salvation nor the plan of redemption. Only
| the minor and less important matters per-
tanning to the beauty and excellence OF the
language of the Bible will receive attention.
| Assuming that the object of this Society is
10 put the holy Scriptures into the hands OF
the people. and to impress its truths upon the
minds and hearts OF members OF the human
!amlly in every part of the habitable lie globe, 1t
might be we'll for US to look at the matter
from practical standpoint, and enquire II
we are properly eXpendlng our energies. Are
we, as Christians and members of the Amer.
lean Bible Society, dlSchargne our full duty
along oil the lines of our obligation?
| Are the ordained ministers OF this county
discharglng their duty TO this Society?
Are the people sustaining this Society as
becomes earnest Christians?
These are questions which may or may not
be answered.
1t has been said that charity begins at home.
If this be so, II is our duty to see first TO our
own fireside Then may we extend our relig-
ious work TO our neighborS, and az we grow In
usefulness at home, we may be permitted to
send a blessing to our friends, while we
may in like manner 60 Into foreign fields,
and there seek to bring under It's benign
Influence the heather or distant lands who
are now strangers to our religion.
SWEETNESS, BEAUTY, AND sUBLIMNITY OF
THE BIBLE.
Apart from the spirituality Of our religion
which leads the human heart to partake at
the Fountain of Living Waters, our religion
includes and embraces the best code OF morals
and ethics that the world has eyer known.
and 1t Is expressed Ia the plainest. the best
and the purest words OF the English Ian
guage.
the Bible, that sacred Book contains the COM
bined wisdom OF all the ages. All that IS
beautiful in thought, all that Is sweet In &C.
ton, all that is noble and inspiring to higher
resolves. and oil that Is sublime in effort, is
of God and the firmamen ent showeth his handi-
work not more clearly than do the words OF
the holy Scriptures.
book SO beautiful, breathing the
language, should be treasured by men and wo.
men In every station OF life.
TIE BIBLE COMES HOME TO US ALE.
1t is the book which touches the people
In more points than any other, and the peo-
pie are more familiar with Ii than with any
other literary production In existence. 1t an
swers the demands Of the hungering heart
and gives the sweetest consolation TO those
who are troubled in mind, body, or estate.
While 1t IL true that no man In Christian
land can be said 10 be educated who Is not IA
10 liar with the cardinal doctrines of the Bible,
yet IL IL true that men Of some literary pre-
tension have gloried In their shameless ignor.
ance OF q book with which all should be IA
miliar.
WHEN THE BIBLE READING Is SPOILED.
II properly presented to any intelligent
people nearly every chapter of the Bible Is
not only interesting but is educational and In.
structlve. The fear, however, Ia that practical
methods are not always adopted by those who
are expected TO present its beauties and TO ex.
pound Its teachings. Tiresome methods az
too often adopted In the manner OF applying
logical principles to the discovery and eluci.
one star ditfereth from another star in glory,
so one chapter may be more appropriate than
another for the occasion, but the manner OF
reading 1t has much to do with It's gracious
effect on the mind and heart. Ifsupplement-
ed by remarks which are superintendent al
ways objectionable-they detract from the
beauty OF the text, and destroy interest In
the inspired word. AS rule, the reading OF
the Scriptures is the most interesting part OF
The divine service, and hearers often feel sor-
ry that the preacher does not read more
and talk less. II he attempt, in his own
words. to explain every verse as he, reads.
many OF his hearers will likely become
weary with the very first interlarded express
sion, and will be glad when the preacher has
a l..l.a 4 Ill Ht1AI 10
congregation is always charitable to preach
er who has little or nothing to say beyond
empty repetitions and visionary theories OF
a Theology, of which he may not have very
high conception, but 1t Is q pity If he de.
stroys the most enjoybale part of the service
by injecting words of his own between those
OF the Scripture verses. IL Is cruel for any
man to deprive his hearers of the pleasure
incident TO the listening TO proper reading OF
the Scriptures.
Another grievous fault lies in the fact that
men-not noted for their scholarly attain
ments-will presume TO point out errors In the
translation Of the Bible. Such alleged trans
lations, we have been told by learned di-
vine, do more to create and foster inidelity
the writings OF all the atheists that ever liv-
ed. TO tamper with the translation Is TO
poison the fountain at Its source.
PROFANITY IN THE PULPIT.
Another common error, which Injuries the
cause of Christianity at home, is the irrever-
ent use of the name of the Almighty. AS
heard from our pulpts and from the lips
OF church members, that name is often
called apparently with about the same respect
that an average layman would mention the
name Of Sam Jones or Grover Cleveland.
This irreverent manner. and the frequency
with which 1t Is called In the pulpit, has had
| It's effect. Church members who have
arrived at high degree OF holiness-or possi-
bly, to perfect sanctihcation-too often as.
sumo to take that sacred name on their lips
| from the creature to the Creator. Following
| the example OF our preachers and church
members Il may be possible that in a few
years the idle men and boys on the Public
Square may become as irreverent and unbe
comingly familiar with that Name as are our
preachers and church members.
| Masonry teaches us that we should never
take that name on our lips, except In reveren
tial awe. Should not the church teach the
same? The Almighty made all things for
man. But he forbade him to take the Crea-
tors name upon his lips, and he did not al
low him to look at the sun-one requirement
each In the spiritual and physical life. He
set the sun In the heavens that we might
| live and bask in its light and warmth, but
blazing source OF all light is Blinded
The punishment Is quick. The Almighty
who sits upon his throne in beyond the
stars Is SLOW but no ieSs SURE to punish
use his name profanely or irreverenty. The
foundation upon which our religion is based
is reverence for the Author OF our being
homage for the Creator and obedience TO
the Ruler of the uni verse. Yet In holy tenn
pies, even from the sacred altar ITSELF our
ears are grated by the repetition OF that
sacred name hundred times in one short
sermon.
OUR REI.IGIoN TIE BEST.
For more reasons than one our religion Is