The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23

tears shall the sweet, mellow song of
Hope be heard to cheer the loneliness
of man and make glad his heart, neither
shall it assuage his sorrows, tighten his
toll or cause the gladness Of Heaven to
FIJI his soul. So pervading, Illuminating,
ramifyng is the glorious Book of God,
that even those nations THAI are civilized
but infidel or pagan, owe all that is gen.
uine and admirable in their history to the
permeating, healing, uplifting, transform
ing power of the principles, doctrines,
truths of the Revelation of Jehovah to
the world if indeed the Sun of Right
| eousness could be shorn Of its glory by
some infidel force, or go down forever in
a sea of darkness before the eyes of a
gazing, astonished world, there would
then be no luminacy of truth and wisdom
and power 10 throw its efulgence over
mans earthly pathway and fill with divine
light the heaven of his hopes, and the
time would soon come when our descend
ants would grope their way to death, and
the savage orgies of our forefathers
would be repeated as they danced in
painted nakedness around some miserable
idol. chanting their Wild incoherent non
sense. Even the scoffers and enemies OF
Cod share to some extent in the reflected
plories of the Cross. 1t is because 1.-THE
bible has Incorporated itself into the
laws. languages, institutions and phllo-
SONNY of Christendom that all these
hallowed. precious environments OF free
dom flourish. and the arts and sciences,
with commerce and literature, have at
tanned the cminence that distinguish
Them among leading nations. Even IN
s no
cribos the civil liberty of England to the
Puritans, whilst the accomplished Or
lance Macintosh affirms in his His
tory of England" that the great Blple
doctrine Of Classification by Faith Is
at once "the basis of all pure ethlcs' anu
the cement of the eternal alliance De-
tween morality and religion.
The Bible is the basis of governmental
safetv and lasting national prosperity
The influences of the Bible NIL the
civilized world. and the wealth and glory
of nations are dependent upon the sacred
controlling. dominating principles that
come from the Bible. Nations never
c+abilitv of government, and no sense OF
security. From the days of Israel
wisest king. whose reign was so mark
cd nv Justice and Judgment and hu-
manity, and prosperity, down 10 inc
present era of England's greatness ana
Americas coming passion for gain anu
conquest, there have been contentment
and happiness and prosperity in proper
ton as there has been feeling OF Sc
curity for life and property Ana Sc
curity has been felt in proportion as the
correcting, purifying, controlling, ele-
waiting influences of the Bible have filled
the arteries leading to the great ma
tional heart. There is danger now
awaiting the United States. 1t is serl-
Gus. and is found in the overturnlng Oh
constitutional restraints and limitations
the wild hunt for commerciaEsm, the
barbarous zeal for money, the low stnd-
ard in civic and business life; the awful
widespread, almost universal corruption
in municipal government Throughout TINS
mighty nation. so eager for change, and
so ambitious for the conquest OF other
peoples, particularly If they are weak
and defenceless
But the Bible is great in its pervading
influence in behalf of education. 1t is
the main instrument in promoting a
general system of education, ana In
diffusing useful knowledge among all the
people at large. 1t is common obserVa-
ton, of all classes of discriminating
travellers, that means the great funda-
mental doctrines of the Bible are gem
orally received. education is more wide
spread, and consequently the baleful IN
fuences of superstition and ignorance
are much less felt So potential as an
educational lever, has the Bible ever
been found to be, that it is the con-
current testimony of all capable OBJ
servers that the great mass of the peo-
pie are ignorant or otherwise, as God s
Revelation is easy or difficult of access.
Wherever the Bible is shut out from the
people, and the deadening authority for
its exclusion prevails as in many lands
in 1902. you will find ignorance and vice
rampant and the people an easy prey
to every form of superstition and error
The minds and conscience of the people
who are totally ignorant lie dormant.
People whose minds are unframed have
but little desire to learn the solemn
truths of God as set forth in His Book.
Hence the prevailing failure on the part
of so many to understand the solemn and
important verities of Jehovah. Some one
has written of this ignorance that ere
lying on mere outward rites, Truth in all
her majesty, beauty and her far reach
ing Influences seems hid from their view
and lost even to their wishes" In
striking contrast look at those coun-
tries or sections of countries or COM
munities, in which the God of Life is
carefully read in so mand homes. an6
where it's saving, hallowed truths have
become familiar through the faithful
direct. plain, positive preaching of Gods
best consecrated ministers, and you vii
find enlightenment, zeal for God anc
His requirements, and a practical, wide
awake. intelligent, observing people