The record-union., 1898-02-13

sages so violently spiritualized that ne
intelligent person could honestly sag
that fair reading of the text could by
any possibility have suggested the
meaning attributed to it. And these
fanciful interpreters are quite as Ger
tain that the meanings thus read into
the Scriptures are from God as that the
Bible itself is from Him. Time and
again intelligent men have said to us:
If anything could make me a sheptlc
it is the preaching of SO and so. He
assumes to be pre-eminently orthodox,
and teaches the highest view of plenary
inspiration, but when it comes to inter-
pretirg the Scripture, he throws die
tionary and grammar and logic to the
winds, and spends his strength in en-
forcing absurd 'spiritualizations.'
SCHOLARS and critics would do well, y
says the New York observer" Pres-).
Ito turn aside for little from wrlns-
ling fiercely over the Mosaic author
ship and Deuteronomy, the Exile and
the Post-Exilic Psalms, and the two
or three Isaiahs, in order to consider
the weight of the argument or the
healed man. Then history might re-
peat itself In the story of the heaied
cripple at the Beautiful Gate or the
Temple. we read that the CouncH De
holding the man who was healed stand
ing among them, could say nothing
against it. Assailants Of the Bieie
must find themselves in the same pre-
dicament when brought face tc race
with the trophies Of the converting
power of the Book they would tear TO
tatters The logic of u reSenerated lie
is Irresistible. and that is the KIND OF
logic supplied by the missionary apol-
oeetic. The Church of England has a
great lectureship called the hampton
Foundation, the object of which is to
furnish the best available evidences for
the truth of Christianity, and long Sc
ries of learned treatises have come into
existence by means of its wise prcvis-
ions but carefully written book OF
Missions is a better apologetic than a
Pamrton Lecture II shows that the
age Of miracles IS not past and gene
"'The pulpit has long since ceased to
tell men that all life is preparation
for death. and that the end of life is
to get ready for the special crisis which
death marks" says the New York
outlook Death has lost nothing OF
its mystery. but seen in truer relations.
il has cone TO be regarded as an incl
dent in an unending life. Men have
learned that to prepare for il is not 10
do certain specific things with reference
to that particular experience. but to live
rightly, wisely and nobly at all times.
One makes special preparation for spe-
cific pieces of work in this world, but
only general preparation will prepare
one for the enjoyment and possession Of
the next world; that is to say. the abil-
ity TO take that world at its highest
must come. not from going apart and
thinking about it, but from making the
most in every way of this present life.
There are not unpleasant surprises for
the mar who is at his post and doing
his work. No crisis can be too sudden
for such man: he is prepared in ad-
vance for all possible crises. The man
who has made himself strong morally
is equipped for the temptation when 1t
comes. and it always comes In such a
way as to preclude the possibility or
special preparation. The true way is
to live every day, not as if it were the
last. but as If it We're the first day in
and endless life
I'VE are often accused says the
christian Register" Onit.) of Boston,
..of putting forward as peculiar to Uni
tarian!sm things believed by good men
and women In all the churches. The
apclr "a ftop would ba inst If claimed