The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-15


one lifts its lid. Shakespeare only
approaches the Scripture in the null
titude of characters introduced They
are men, women, and children, from
every rank and station-good, evil,
and neutral. The whole gamut of hui
man emotion Is run, and every con
ceivable experience depicted. Even a
superficial reader does not fail to
note this striking characteristic. 1t
makes the Bible unique.
No one need go far for the reason.
The Bible is handbook for human
conduct. Its purpose is to furnish
the ethical and spiritual principles of
life. 1t was not written to surprise
or entertain-certainly not for reve-
nue. or fame. 1t is a Divine instru-
ment TO cultivate IL Diyine life in the
human soul. 1t is to reveal God and
at the same time to reveal the life
that is pleasing to God.
The Bible is cabinet of working
models. We ste in it characters in
which the divine life is exemplified.
We see that life in its inception.
growth, and contamination, the util-
ity and beauty of it. In this same
cabinet we find set of models in
which the demon-life is exemplified-
all phases of 1.-THE growth, the in
utility and dread announcements
The prOverb has it that example is
better than precept' On that plan
the Bible is built. 1t is full of pre-
cepts, the categorical statement as to
character and conduct. But over
against every precept there are a
score of eXainples-the incarnation
of precepts. The good for imitation,
the evil for avoidance. 1t is this char
acteristic which makes the Bible the
most seryiceable book in the world.
One moment it flashes the green light
of safety on the path of youth, the
next the red light of danger.
The Teachers Lantern.
Exit Elijah. Enter Elisha. The
chronological order in which these
dissimilar prophets appeared must be
remembered Elijah, the iron fail of
jehovah, came first and beat down a
path through the foul idOlism of Isreal
along which Elisha, the almoner of
Gods mercy could walk. 1t has been
so in the Church from the beginning.
Controversialists and reformers have
opened a way for the patient toiIers
of the Kingdom TO follow The one
class is as indispensable as the other.
That prophets widow showed
gumption. She did not waste time
inveighing agaipts the cruality of the
creditor. The law was on his side.
Her appeal was to the chief of the
prophetic society. She stated her
case and claim clearly. and followed
the program to the dot. There was
dash of passion in it. for she uttered
literally a heart disturbing plea. She
was thrown upon her own reso lrces.
All she had was Just enough inferior
oil for anOiating person single time.
But she must use what she has, not
what she has not. She will not move
a hand in disposition of this treasure
until she has the prophets orders.
satisfy your. creditors first is the
direction. Nothing is our own until
all debts are paid
One pot of oil over against debt,
and that debt large enough to enslave
her sons. But no human resource is
to be despised. 1t lis the unit which is
TO be multiplied. She must also per-
sOnally use what she has. Even the
prophet can not pour out the oil for
her,
This lovely idyl of Elisha and the
Shunammite shines in the troubled
stream of public life. We stumble
upon the comparatively small domes-
tic incident in the midst of wars and
kingscraft. hospitality, contentment,
mother-loYe, bereavement, grief, faith
and mportunity,-aIl are shrined in
this story. 1t casts a light upon the
character of the prophet and upon the
human life of thirty centuries ago.
"A mighty man-but.n That but"
Is the ''wolf-nOteo that DESTROYS the
harmony. The.meanest Syrian seul-
lion would not have exchanged cuti-
cles with Naaman. This little Girl
did not NOPE over her hard lot. She
showed a cheerful and helpful dispo-
sition. Her contribution was-caught
up and woveninto the providences OF
the ages, which is to make God known
to man. Help often comes from un-
expected quarters. 1t was not the
first nor the last time when word OF
wisdom was on the lip of slave. And
when misfortune il severe no advice
is too contemplate.
The slowness of the human heart
to apprehend God is further indicated
by the next step taken by the Syrian
king. He sends an army to make the
prophet a prisoner. He had learned