Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-12-24

ed friends IN the revision OF the Scrip
lures. The book of Genesis has been
thundered against by the mightiest bat
teries, yet you cannot today find in all
the earth a copy of the Bible which has
not the 90 chapters Of the first copy Of
the book of Genesis ever printed, start
ing with the words, "In the beginning
God" and closing with Joseph's coffin.
Fierce attack on the book Of Exodus
has been made because they said it was
cruel to drown Pharaoh and the story
Of Mount Sinai was improbable. But
the book of Exodus remains intact, and
not one Of US, considering the orueltiss
which he would have continued among
the brick kilns Of Egypt, would have
thrown Pharaoh plank il we had seen
him drowning. And Mount Sinai is TO-
day pile of tossed and tumbled basalt
recalling the cataclysm Of that noun
tain when the law was given. And a.
TO those Ten Commandments. all Ro-
man law. all German law, all English
law, all American law worth anything
are squarely founded on them.
So mighty assault for centuries has
been made on the book Of Joshua II
was said that the story Of the detained
sun and moon is an insult TO modern
astronomy, but that book Of Joshua may
be found today in the chapel Of every
university in America, in defiance OF
any telescope p-oJecteo rom the roof OF
that university. The book Of Jonah has
been the target Of ridicule for the small
wit Of ages. but there it stands, with It's
four chapters inviolate, while geology
puts up in its museums remains OF sea
monsters capable Of doing more than
the one which swallowed the recreant
prophet There stand the /, 089 chapters
Of the Bible, Notwithstanding all the
attacks Of ages, and there they viii
stand until they shrivel up in the final
frea which geologists say are already
kindled and glow hotter than the fur
naces Of an ocean steamer as it puts out
from New York narrows for Hamburg
or Southampton. should not wonder II
from the crypt Of ancient cities the In
spired manuscripts Of Matthew, Mark,
Luke ard John, in their own chirogra-
ply, would be taken. and the epistles
which Paul dictated to his amanuensis
as we'll as the one in the apostles own
handwriting. At the same ratio OF
archaeological and geological oonhrma-
ton Of the Scriptures, the time will
come when the truth Of the Bible will
no more be doubted than the cormon
aInIa-ac. which tells you the days ano
she months Of the year, and the unbc-
levers will be accounted harmless lu-
natica Forward the telescope and the
spectroscope and the chemical batteries
and critically examine the ostracoids OF
the ocean depths and the bones OF ths
great mammals on the gravely hilltops.
and the mightier, and the grander, and
the deeper, and the higher the explorA-
tions the better for our cause. As sure
as the thunderbolts Of the Almighty are
stronger than the steel pens Of agnostics,
the ark Of God will ride On unhurt. and
Uzzah need not fear any disasters upset
ting. The apocalyptic angel flying
through the midst Of heaven, proclaim
ing 70 all nations and kindred and peo-
pie and tongues the unsearchable riches
Of Jesus Christ are mightier' than sh~
shying off Of a yoke Of oxen
No DiIettante Religion
The geology Of the Bible shows that
our religion is not namby pamoy,
neryeless, dilettantish religion. IL was
projected and has been protected BY the
God Of the rocks. Religion balm'
Oh, yes. Religion a soothing powerf
Oh, yes. Religion a beautiful senu'
ment? Oh, yes But we must have
God Of the rocks. a mighty God 70 de-
fend, an omnipotent God to achieve, .
force able to overcome all other forces
in the universe Rose Of Sharon and
Lily Of the Valley is he, combination
Of all gentieness and tenderness and
sweetness? Oh. yes But if the mighty
forces now arraycd for the destruction
Of the nations are to be met and con-
ouered we must have God Of the
rocks-the Lion Of Judah's tribe"
as we'll as the Lamb who was slain :"
One hundred and thirty times does tAs
Bible speak Of the rock as defense. a.
armament, as refuge, as oyerpowerlng
strength. David, the psalmist. lived
among the rocks, and they reminded
him Of the Almighty, and he CALCULATES;
1.-THE Lord liyeth. Blessed be my rock. ="
Lead me to the rock that Is higher
than l." And then. as II his prayer
had been answered, he feels the strength
come into his soul, and he cries Gus:
THE Lord is my rock. HE shall sss
me M upon a rock. Would the Bible
present sublime picture OF motherly
dosperation in defense OF her children.
II shows Us Rizpah on the rock for three
months, with disheveled hair and wild
screams, fighting back vultures and
taoksls from the corpses OF her soma
would the Bible set forth the hardness
q ihs heart and the power Of Gospel 70
overcome it, 1t tells us Of the "hammsr
that breaketh the rocks in pieces "
Would our Lord represent the duraoii-
ity Of his church against all assault ne
says, upon this rock will l build my
church. and the gates Of hell shall noe
prevail against Il. =" Would be close bic
sermon ON the mount with . psroration
that would resound through centuries.
standing on rock so high that IL over
looks Lake Galilee TO the right and On
a clear day overlooks the AediterraneAz
to the left, hear him stamp his foo'
ON the rock beneath him ~ be cries s
the surging multitudes at the base q
that rock, Whosoever hesreth thess
sayings Of mine and doeth them / VII
liken him unto wise man. which bull
his house upon \ rock, and the rain Dc
scended and the foods came and "a
winds blew and beat upon that house
and it fell not. for 1t was founded upos
q rock"
All, my friends. we want swartAy
O stalwart, a brawny religion We hav
. great many people who can sit an
gently rock the cradle Of their infanttl
hopes, and can family smile when goo
is accomplished, and walk softi
l. =