Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05

"A Sermonette by a Pt
Friend of Ours)

Friend of Ours)
Suppose that the Holy Scriptures had
not been gathered into one volume and
nut forth to the world with the imprma-
fur OF the wisest an dbest men OF
their time; suppose that the individual
books OF them had not been arranged
I'm order, but were scattered to take
their chances in libraries. or out in the
general world suppose they were mingled
and catalogued only one with another,
as. say Moses, Hesiod Isaiah. Had,
odyssey. Ruth, Herodotus, David, Pu-
blius. Syrus Solomon, Seneca's Morals,
Paurs Epistles; what would be the con-
sequence? Is 1t not likely. first that
they would arrange themselves accord
ing to their intellectual specific gravity;
their essential value, in levels or strata?
Again; Is it not likely that, By natural
selection. they would afiine, get together
and crystalline? And is 1t not very likely
that. by what we call natural laws, they
would make a grand crystal-a Bible:
ordered I'm all things and sure?
Again FOR a season, how would obey rate
with the uninspired books? How would
Publius Syrus and Solomon compare?
And what could be compared with the
Book Of Psalms? What with the Can
licles? Set AnacrcOn and Horace against
them, And what earthly author could
be named against the glories and splen-
doris. the cleaning light of the Book OF
Isaiah?
Has the world historic fact 10 be re-
ferred to like the birth and manifesto
ton to the world Of Jesus of Nazareth?
A biography to be mentioned by the
Gospels that tell of His walk and con-
versation; His birth, life death, and
resurrection in the eyes OF men? And
is there force. a light, a philosophy
an influence, "A power intellectual. moral
spiritual, individual, OF social, like the
overwhelming light and heat Of Chris
tianity?
Chrstendom accepts Jesus Christ Of
Nazareth as God manifest in the flesh
A wonderful expression II is that presents
Him as the very Word Of God-that Is. as
the expression to our senses and mortal
minds Of the very mind and character Of
God: God to our appreciation and I'M
Outstanding. IL was love and tender con-
slderation itself that presented Deity,
In whose face no man could look and live
yelled in the flesh. as the dazzling sun.
relieved by ground-glass. through our
glasses darllly. Accepted, appropriated,
diffused. this wonderful Word. idea. and
manifestation has made and effected
Christian civilization and redeemed hui
manlty. A spring OF life in the heart Of
mankind
Now, about this breaking up of the
Bible into its original parts and scat
tering them on their own merits among
books, and am9ng men; what might
come of 1T? Every one OF them approves
itself a wonder; miracle OF literature;
a spring OF thought, and life. Each one
would assert itself and spread a Won
derful. mysterious infuence-just as Jesus
was acknowledged as the Son OF
God. But IL is a great deal better that,
as a living, wonderful being. the Bible.
the Word OF God. Is now, as grand
whole distributed among men.
Wherever it falls. wherever 1t lodges.
wherever 1t Is planted, It Is an altar--a
testimony. a temple Of truth. clarifying
God. AS a wonderful garner OF good
seeds of living germs. its elements take
root In the earth, spring UP. grow. and
hear fruit And the testimony Of Jesus
IS its spirit and light and life. Our age is
wonderfully fulfilling prophecy. AS the
rain comes down. and the snow upon the
earth. that II may water the earth and
bring forth seed to the sower and bread
10 the eater, SO shall My word be
that goeth forth out of My mouth. II
shall not return 10 me voids but shall
accomplish that whereto I sent ~