The record-union., 1899-06-12

sixty-six books or pamphlets, written
by forty different persons, in different
nations, in different languages, in diff
ferent centuries, some writing history,
some poetry, some biography, some law.
some epistleg-how is it that when
| these sixty-six books are bound to-
gether they constitute one book? That
| is unique feature of the Bible that
mlast be accounted for.
Strange. indeed, is 1t that books
so unlike each other as the book of
Exodus, the Prophecies of Isaiah, the
Psalms of David. the Gospel of John,
the Epistles ITO the Romans should, with
other books of like diversity, unite and
| fit together and constitute one book, as
the bones and muscles and nerves and
arteries unite to form a perfect human
body. AS the human body is composed
! of diverse parts and is yet one, SO the
Bible Is one book.
! How can we account for this unity?
/ Shall we account for it as Democritus
accounted for the origin of the universe,
namely, that 1t was produced by some
accidental combination of atoms? You
might as well say that Millions Para
disc Lost was produced by some acct
| dental combination of types.
| The unity of the Bible Is a fact to be
accounted for by those who deny it's d.
| vine origin. In accounting for it's I'M
| ity there is only one answer that will
meet the facts and satisfy the reason.
Each of these different writers, writing
in different languages, in different coun-
tries, We're writing under the direction
and control Of one master mind, and
| that master mind was God 'The
| prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man.. but holy men of God spoke
| as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost" That is Peters explanation of
the origin of the Bible. When you find
a more reasonable one, make haste to
| let the world know it. The unity of the
Bible shows that man could not have
| made it if he would
| II you ask, what is the bond that
| unites all these books and makes the
one, I answer, it is the revelation of
God. The purpose of the Old and New
Testament is the same, it is @''to show
the merciful ways of God to sinful man
in manner which is best suited to hui
man needs" The Bible is the history
of the redemption of the race. This
gives unity to the books and makes
them one. The great central unifying
| figure of the Bible is Jesus Christ Him
self. To Him give all the prophets wit
| ness, and to Him all the apostles give
| honor. Jesus Endorsed the books of the
| Old Testament He said that they were
all one, and that all testified of Him.
| when, to the two disciples on the way
to Emmaus, beginning at Moses and all
| the prophets, He expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the things concern
ing Himself No page did He disown
The messages of the prophets were fore
CLEANS of the truth and grace that were
to come in fullness with the coming of
Jesus God who in sundry times and
divers manners spake in times past
unto the fathers by the prophets hath
in these later days spoken unto US in
| His Son. This constitutes the unity
of the books and makes them one.
1t is significant fact that the Bible
is the oldest book we have, and yet
shows no sign of decay. 1t has more
vigorous hold upon the faith and af-
lection of the world to-day than it ever
had before. Its empire widens with
| the centuries. Many books have been
written by wise men since the Bible
was written, and yet the Bible has
| never been surpassed or superseded. If
you want the wisest and truest word
on the great themes of religion, you
| must go to the Bible for it. There is
| the fact, account for it as you may.
If men can write a better book than
the Bible, they have the fullest liberty
to do so. There is no law prohibiting
it. There IS blank paper and pens
and ink in abundance. Colonel Inger-
soil was one day talking in his cheap.
boastful way about the defects of the
Bible; said he could write a better book
himself. An old woman spoke up and
said: You had better do it. Bob;
| there's money in it,"
| If the Bible stands as it does through
| the centuries, the first book on the
great themes of God, man, duty, des-
tiny, it is because of it's intrinsic worth
and is fittest to survive. 1t lives be-
cause it has in it the life of God him
| self
Many books are born and buried in
the same year of publication AS they
write across our railroad tickets, Good
| for this trip only" SO across the title
page Of many a book there might we'll
be written, Good for this year only"
|
eTs. One book will hold the supreme
place until a better book on the same
subject is issued. The fact that a book
| lives through two or three centuries is
| good evidence that it possesses peculiar
merit. Time tests all things Dross
| Will consume in the flame, tinsel will
waste in the wearing 1t is only pure
gold that lasts through all changes and
| passes current in every country.
| How do you account fer the fact that
what Moses wrote in the desert thirty
| five centuries ago; that what David
| and Isaiah wrote thirty centuries ago;
/ that what Paul in prison and John in
Patmos wrote nineteen centuries ago,
on the great themes of God. man, life,
| death. immortality, still live and rule
| the religious faith and life of millions
| of the most educated and highest civ
ilized people on the earth? How do
| you account for the fact that to-day
| more men and money are con-
secrated to the work of publishing and
| circulating this old book than any
score of books ever written? Why has
not the Bible been superseded? In the
great advance Of knowledge, why have
We not advanced beyond this book?
| When we want to get the most COM.
pact and comprehensive statement of
| religion and morals, why are we COM
PEELED to go back thirty-fite centuries
| to the Ten Commandments, found in
| the writings of Moses? When we want
to look upon the most perfect picture
CT the Fatherhood Of God, why are we
/ com nalled to sro hacl tuentv oon+ur;oc