Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21

| Take and readvo was the divine COM
mand given in vision to young Angus
tine in reference TO the Holy Scriptures.
81 AXE and read. Take and read" is
the divine command given to the young
Christian of the present day.
My friends, how are you going TO
find out what is the law of God and
the will of God unless you read his
holy word? In Isaiah he distinctly
says. "My thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways" Are you and trying to find
ont by studying tho Scriptures what
are Gods thoughts and to harmonizc
our lives with his life? Are we trying
TO find ont what IS the deeper richer
meaning of the Saviour's name? Are
we seeking TO understand what is the
mission of the Holy Spirit and how
God with the weak things Of this
world Is going to confound the mighty?
Or are we going around day after day
singing scnsclcss, silly. siren song:
Jesus will save. Jesus will snvc! Oh,
nm so happy, Jesus will save" when
some of us merely look upon the name
Of Jesus as an amulet, because we do
not know or care who Jesus Is or take
the trouble TO read the words which he
has spoken for us? Are we going to look
upon the closed lids Of the Bible in a
superstitious way, as did the peasants
Of Europe during the dark ages, as
though they were something they had
no right to touch? Up TO twenty years
Of age the great Martin Luther was
totally ignorant of Gods word.
Though studying TO be n priest. he had
never been allowed to personally touch
n Bible and was not aware that the
gospels and the cpistles comprised
more than the few chapters read by the
priests in public worship. Shall we
continue 10 be as ignorant Of Gods
word as that? Or are you going TO
look upon the Holy Scriptures as d.
vine letter written 10y the Heavenly
Father to his children, which letter
ought to be carefully studied and its
commands to be strictly followed out:
Development of Character.
Surprising that your mother died of
consumption when you were child Of
four years. Surprising that when the
hectic roses of that fatal disease were
blooming in the garden of her pale
sunken check she one day had you. her
slccping baby, placed by her side.
Then while you slept she wrote you
long letter. In this letter she gave h, .
maternal advice and parting bencdic
ton. Then she folded that letter and
gave 1t to your father, saying: illus
band, give this TO my baby boy on the
day he graduates from the publ
school. Before he decides upon lfoN
work | want 10 give him my advice
and tell him what | want him to do"
Surprising twelve years had now pass
ed and you, at sixteen. were now given
that letter What would you do? First
you would kiss it. You would say:
Mother wrote 1t with her dying hand. .
Mother wrote it with love- Then yon
would revcrnntly open the yellow
leaves and carefully read that letter.
line by line. If you We're Il true son. If
possible you would follow out the de-
sircs of that maternal letter word hy
word. New convert in the gospel life
and Christian Of older standing. the
Holy Scriptures are Gods letter 10 VA
If vo orn t,e 1Jnoronlr Cothor.s t,.,,o
children wa will toI,a tho lotion ,rJ
+ studv # Wo will translate tho 40.
sires Of that letter into our own lives.
| We will mako Gods thou,,b. 49,,
thouohts and bis u.ove o,,r ,,.,rs
"Rut" some nov couver, save .1f
the knowledge NJ the Holy Scriptures is
essential ia , ,~..lv dovoionod s,,i,.;.,,,I
character tbcn an, not q t,,a ,h,.;s
t,an nractIcoIIv know notbir, ohort
the word Of cod oxcent that .C.od ca
Iovod tho xrorl1 +lo+ bo ro,.o hi. o,,,.
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on him shnr,d no+ norisb h,,+ ,,o,.,
everlasting life That is all know
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