The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-10
BIBLE. AND WHAT 1T HAS
DONE FOR GREAT MASTERS

Tho Reverend &. y. Moller. rector Of St
Johns Episcopal church. preached yes'er-
, dav morning from the text. For whaiSn-
! ever things were written ifor"timc were
written for our learning that We through
uattruca and comfort nf the Scriptures
might have hope. Rom. Nv. !. III l'tr' i't
said:
"It Is obvious that st Paul here refers
TO the old Testament scriptures that had
sustained and cherished the hope of ancient
Israel. The teaching of II" sacred WRITINGS
and the reading of them Sabhath ait'f
sabbath in the Syna cOGU"S mad Kept dlN"
the great expectation and encouraged inc
preparation for the coming Messiah; ana
now this great unity of purpose nt III" 'ii
Testament Scriptures was ais" Tor the "di
fcation 4 Christian converts. our i.oId
jesus Christ came. to fulfill IN" law anu the
prophets The old Testament scriptures
furnished texts aud illustrations of many
of our Lords 5Xh"rtat!ons.
The Christian church was founded he
fore !he New Testament scriptures were
written. The first t.Nts aud arguments ana
Illustrations of tho apostles and preachers
of christianity Were taken from Old IcSta-
ment Scriptures. Tor the early church. Tor
20. wears had 10 other Bible, strictly speak
ing The church, therefore. one. holy tath-
ollie and apostolic. was not founded In It's
distinctive Christian principles on the VIII
ten " rd, but upon oral instruction ana the
eNhortation OF the living voice
I'VE see clearly in those early days or
Christianity now the church is the teacher
and the New Testament writings are IN"
record OF her teaching. Jesus tHriSt
through the holy spirit established IN"
church for tie Interpretation OF scripture
and the development Of the truth. lhe
private Interpretation of Srriptur" ny m
dividuals within and without the church has
often opened the fioodSates OF human pas
sion ana prejudice.
st IvauaenS compared the reaSoninSS
of private Interpretation TO ropes of Sahd
and systems framed from IL, 10 moSdi'S
OF a dog or fox made by breaking UP me
n nf a. a
is scarcely a single form OF h"resy, ot
political outrage, Of social wrong. Which mas
not pleaded Scripture for "A defence
at is comfort 10 know that We are not
expected to lind ont our religion Tor our
selves. but are in III" consolation and direc-
lion Of the great apostolic teacher 'hr
Church of God. The Bible is the proof and
witness of the fidelity of TIE church IN her
teaching 10 the words OF thrlSt anu MS
inspired apostles. Tn Bible IN us Various l,SS
parts was always addressed t. men VINO
were already Christians ANA who had re
ceivel oral instruction ON fundamental
principles.
and H.. spares not the sacred scriptures.
As the Son of God entered into the lie OF
humanity so the Scriptures must enter 10
With, ld this book from criticism. 10 Keep
il from its place in the literature ni the
world and its daily contact with humanity.
to lock IT up even in the sacred precln'tS
and hallowed archives of the church, would
he to partly defeat the purpose of one "t
Gods hest gifts. No matter how men may
treat the holy book or with What learned
arguments they may try to dcpTeciatc It's
authority ii will triumph as truly as the
son Of God has triumphed. for II liVes bGt
to speak anu teach of HIM The more
Scripture is tested and tried by the adj
vance of knowledge the more truly VIII II
become a part of human life.
The Bible should be the Christians
guide, to devotional life. The book of com
mon prayer is largely an illustration of the
proper devotional Use of the holy scrip
lures In the Christians life with Coo the
Sir Walter Scott said to Lockhart on ms
deatbbed Bring the book. w nat
book? asked Lockhart. The book. the
Bible there is only one. said Sir Walter.
Though | walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, | will fear no evil. for
thou art with me, thy rod ana thy sttlI
they comfort me, were the W1ras rel'e'iT. hi.
deathbed. The great man then faltered out
his last words on earth. That Is what
want. thy rod. thy rod, thy staff. ..,,,,
What a book, exclaimed the sceptlcai
Heine, vast and wide as the
world rooted in the abysses of creation ana
up beyond the blue secrets oi
heaven Sunrise and sunset promise ana
fuliillment. birth and death, the "hoie
dra ma OF human life ,,
THE Bible has exercised ana deNtioorI
the learning of such scholars as Ousen ana
Jerome II has inspired the elpiuence ol
St Chrysostom ard st. Augustine ana kll-
dled the wonderful imaSlnati"h Oh i,'Ite
and Milton. II has breathed its console
tions and strength into the haliowed tahcy
OF Eunyan. Ii speaks with vivid am m
earthly power in the pictures OF Ahgeio
and Raphael. 1T is the soul OF the hnSt
glorious harmony of Handel ana MozdrI
In has comforted and saved In consolation
and hope untold millions. and yet TINS same
Rihlc TO many so-Called Christians to-day
is :, closed book In the advance OF cut
,ure and education the Bible is not always
found in its proper place. There are nom
inai Christians who familiar with the
hest literature and yet could hardly hnu
or tell much about many hooks or the
fhle There l. a class of readers that las |
been called the submerged literary tenth |
Iperhaps literary halo who can talk about |
The sensational conceptions and hNstericai !,
of "a Caine torelli, but couid I
give YOU little idea of the life and work of |
The Master Christians of the New Tesla |
ment. -,
You. as members of the church. have re-
,eiyed n great trust. You are stewards "f /
-,od'. revelation In Christ. the open Eihle. |
In lpitc of social Indifference and often So
.allad Christian indifference you must he
faithful TO your trust and see that the
sacred writings of old are written for your
earning What Is the simple truth. what
he comfort and hope that God has given
.ou to teach? Where are the little on
,ou have. trained for heaven
..Do YOU know the Scriptures ministry or
,onsoIation and hope by personal "Nrerl-
,ncap Are YOU faithful or uniaithful 10
,nIr trust? What Is the answer of your |
.onscjcnce? What the Judgment Of God: