The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-12

crafty the critical and speculative
intellect of morbid scholars. It is a
lovely temple into which men are in
vited to enter for the purpose of wor-
ship and praise. It's pillars, its arches,
and its ceiling are such as to inspire
a reverential spirit: the mellow light
that streams through its stained win
dows subdUes and qu1ets the restless
heart; and the deep solemn tones of the
organ as they roll out upon the air
voices the prayer that the lips are
unable TO utter. What now shall we
say Of the man VINO enters this holy
place with his Tape-line to measure It's
length and breadth. who scrutinizes
the quality of the lumber, and inquiries
the cost of the windows and the organ
Such a proceeding would be absurd.
and yet it is just this task that a Ger
tain school of critics have set them
selves.
The object of the Bible is not to
teach natural science. Some men ap-
proach il as though it were a text
book Of universal science. The man
who is writing a letter to his wife will
in all probability use good gTammer
and be correct in any illusions that he
may make 10 geography or history,
but he is writing a love letter 10 his
Wife and is not engaged in teaching
grammer or geography; and just so
the Bible is Gods love letter 80 man.
What would we think of a hungry man
VINO sat down to a well-hlled table Of
savory and delicious food, yet who
began inquiring about the chemical
constituents of each dish that was
offered him, positively declining 10 eat
until each article should be analysed
1t has been well ascertained that the
Bible is most excellently adapted for
~ hn c
since it perfectly answers the purpose
1t would seem wise to avail ones self Of
its blessings and waive matters of a
purely scientific character temporarily
at least. Yet some foolish men are
determined to find in the Bible an in-
fallible guide in all questions of
science, or falling in this, to cast it
aside as worthless.
The Bible is not intended for a book
of argument or controversy. How it
has been misinterpreted and misunder-
stood What debates have taken place
concerning it. What wars have arisen
over it, What inquisitions have
tfriven under its name; and what
have been inflicted
erroneous views concerning it.
Il makes ones heart bleed to see how
the race has fought over that which
Gcd meant for g peace-offering. j. was
We have torn each other in its namel
Its texts, meant, like dew-tlpped.
fra grant. rose-buds, TO blossom into
perfume and beauty, have been used as
leaden bullets 10 pierce an opponent
through the heart. It's promises,
eH eied fingers pointing heave riaaiI
have been made into stilletos and
directed toward the breast of an enemy.
And its teachings which were meant
TO be white, peaceful sails to watt US
to the better land, have been turned
into blood red banners to head OPP
posing armies as they go forth 70
trample each other in the dust.
The real purpose of the Bible is to
enlighten man concerning his origin,
his duty, and his destiny, and to tell
him of Gods gracious purpose that is
slowly being manifested toward the
afflicted sons of men. Its theme is
salvation. 1t is a chart to guide man
through life and to anchor him at
last in the haven OF rest.
We are therefore to come to the Bible
for food, for comfort. for guidance and
Tor inspiration. 1t deals with moral
and spiritual themes. purely; and no
word is binding or final that is not
borne out by the life of Christ who is
the theme central figure of the entire
Bible the consumation of revelation,
and tine peerless and hawless Son of
God.