The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
THE WORK OF THE BIBLE
HOW IT'S INFLUENCE HAS EFFECTED
MANY HISTORIC REFORMS.
The PurgIng OF Israel and the spread
ing OF the Gospel Leaven Through
out the Roman Empire.
BROOKLYN Eagle.

Brooklyn EaEle-
At Plymouth Church Sunday night DIR.
Lyman Abbott preached the last but one OF
his supplementary series Of sermons on
Bible study. lis topic was The Spiritual
History Of the Bible" He said:
wish tonight I had the painters power
I would like 20 be able to pass in review
before you certain great critical epochs in
human history. ] could have done this bet
ter with the per, perhaps. than with the
voice: and indeed. i did seriously think OF
trying TO write and read what I have 10
say tonight. But have 50 long accustomed
myself 10 speaking without notes that
should he embarrassed by their presence
And 50. though the first OF my remarks to-
night consists in historical surveys in which
accuracy Of detail il. in some respects, i'm
portant. have concluded 10 hazard. and.
II need be 10 sacrifice somewhat of accu-
racy Of detail and adhere TO my usual meth
cd Of address.
In the seventh century before Christ
Judaism was at almost the lowest ebb in
iss history. Under King Manasseh pagan
ism had triumphed. IL had swept in and
taken possession of the nation. of the state.
OF the sacred temple. on the Kings roof
affairs 10 the Dagan gods were erected; In
the very temple itself idols were put up: in
fire TO MoIoch burned. In that furnace. the
King caused his own children TO pass
through the fire. and human sacrifice came
again into Israel Christianity has often
been charged with persecution. but pcrsecu-
ton is peculiarly pagan. and Christianity
has used II only when Christianity has been
but partially redeemed from paganism. Tn
der King Msnasseh paganism was q perse-
cutting religion. The priests OF Israel were
put to death by scores If not by hundreds.
The prophets who proclaimed Jehovah were
put TO the sword. It at this time and un-
der this reign. according 20 an ancient tradi-
ton. that Isaiah. then ninety years or age,
was put TO death for his faithful prophecies
those prophecies which we read to-day
with such inspiration. and such warning.
and such comfort. The mobiles who ven
tured 10 stand for the Old religion were cast
down from precipices and on their mangled
forms stones were flung until they were
dead So pag%.lism had attempted to ex-
tirpate the worship Of Jehovah, and had
taken possession OF the priesthood. the eta
del itself. Josiah came TO the throne at
eight years of age AT eighteen he was
still but boy; but he had already under
taken some reformatiOns. and In the course
of them an ancient book OF the law was
found. IL is needless for our purpose to-
night 10 inquire whether IL was the Book
OF Deuteronomy. which had. perhaps. been
written by an unknown prophet a year be
fOre-the view entertained by many modern
scholars. and that given you in these sun
day evening sermOns-Or whether IL was the
entire books OF Leyiticus. Exodus. Numbers
and Deuteronomy which had been in hiding
and forgotten. The book OF the law was
brought TO light and read to the King. The
King. IL Is said. rent his garments, sent for
a prophesier. inquired as to the meaning of
the book and began 10 put its commands
and its traditions into force. Stirred By this
kTrf fr.sv Of
our oEn modern Bible. he drove out the
prosecuting priests, destroyed the heather
Idols. destroyed the heather affairs. drove
away the professional prostitute from the
temple OF God extnguished the fires
through which men caused their children to
pass and in which they were offered as sac
rffices to a cruel heather deity and follow
ing something of the spirit OF the King who
preceded him. not only destroyed the in
priests themselves 10 death. This is the Tirst
great illustration we possess OF the power
of the Bible
Some three or four centuries passed by
The children OF Israel had been brought
hack from exile: they Were gathered to-
gether in the streets of Jerusalem pulpit
of wood was erected: the priests. following
Nehemiah. stood I'm this pulpit and the first
great camp meeting of history was held;
the book of law read publicly and the
priests gave the people TO understand the
meaning of the law. Long had this people
doned their moral standards OF the law,
long had they suffered IN exile and punish
ment; they had been brought back again
they were once more in their holy city;
they were once more at the walls of their
new temple They wept and mOurned. IL is
said when they heard the words of this
law, but the priests said TO them. Mourn
not, nor weep. Go your way. eat the fat
and drink the sweet and send portions TO
them for whom nothing Is prepared. The
Bible Is a book that brings you thanksgiv-
ing. il is not book OF sackcloth and
ashes.
EvANGELIZING THE ROMANS
-Four centuries or moro pass by again. We
come to the beginning of the present Chris
tan era. Tradition had entered against
Judaism. Tradition this time not pure pa
ganism. had overlaid Judaism il had
wrapped il as i'm burial garments. Prophets
had died and scribes had taken their places:
the law OF righteousness had almost per
ished from the land. and the law Of cere-
mony had taken its place. Anise and cumn
-tithes of the smallest seeds-was thought
essential: TO DO justly and love mercy was
forgotten. Hypocrites. said Christ. We have
made the law of Moses of no effect with
your traditions. But II was not only in Pal
estine that life seemed TO be extinct Moral
and philosophic life had died out of Greece:
there were no poets. no philosophers there:
there was no liberty IN Rome. the once
splendid organization which had been as a
preserNer and an exponent OF human lib
erty had become a means OF human despOt-
ism and Rome was the worst despotiSm the
world had then. at all events. ever seen.
Half OF the people Of Rome were slaves and
most OF the other half lived In abject pov-
erty. The family was but a partnership
that continued only during the pleasure OF
both the parties. either the husband or the
wife could dissolve IL at will There was
scarcely any true provision OF education for
anybody; there was no liberty in the pubic
service. nor reward for industry in society
nor morality in the home. There was no
poetry in Greece. no liberty I'm Rome. no
prophecy in Israel. Then il was that a
prophet arose IN Israel who REQUIRED 10 the
simple and fundamental principles OF the
Old Testament. who emphasized its lessons
that God i "A righteous God who demands
Righteousness Of His children and nothing
else. that there is One who will come. and
He said one who has now come 10 fulfill
all the fra Cmentary and imperfect prophe-
CieS and manifestations OF the past in a
completed and eliminated manifestation
After this one great prophet missionaries
went forth carrying the ancient hook into
other Landslide old Testament and its les
sens and with IL the verbal message that
afterward became Incorporated In and ex-
lists the New Testament They Travelled
far and wide. They went through Palestine
through Greece. through Rome To its
fsrtheSt border. they travelled into Spain
into Germany. and presently even into Eng
land
SOME OF THE EFFECTS
Wherever they went they took the mes
sage OF this book and there sprang UP a
new. strange life; new and strange that