West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-02-18
THE BIBLE.


Christianity We can only give few items
from the great volumes Of history Of the
Bible aud the Church TO whoss keeping the
precious legacy. baptized In the blood Of the
patient men and women of the ages, was
ccnhded. and whose lives and sufferlnes
form the noblest. sweetest aud mos, solemn
story in all lis pages.
"Of whom the world was no, worthy -
John Renehiin (I473-Isoo) wssa German.
studied Hebrew and Greek under the most
able masters In the University Of Paris
Sent 10 Rome In 1898 and there improved
his opportunities in Hebrew under Abdias
Spbrous. Jewish scholar. lie purchased
all the Hebrew and Greek MSS. ob,ainable.
He there met the illnsirious Greek an,bassa-
dor, Argyropyios. and addressed him in his
own language. The professor, much sur
prised,, asked, 'swhence come you Do
you understand Greek ~ The Greek am
bassador put him to the most critical tests
The result OF their acquaintance was. that
the sons Of barbarous Germany, and those
of ancient Greece, met together IN the
palaces of Rome. The Eas, and the West
eiasped hands. and the former poured in,o
the hands of The latter those intellectual
treasures which il had carried Oh In ia
escape from the barbarism Of the Turks
Those that seemed forever separated from
each other were brought together ia the
great capital of the world. ReuchIin pro.
noupced an address In the audience OF the
Pope, surrounded by his Cardinals, in such
pure and elegant Latin iha, the assembly
were astonished. and the Pope exclaimed,
"rhs man deserves 10 be ranked with the
best orators Of France and Italy" ReuehliD
revised the vulgaie and published the FIRST
Hebrew and German dictionary. and by his
labors made clear the anciea, Scriptures.
Il was Reuehlin who changed the harsh
German name Of his pupil. Schwarzerd, 20
the Greek, Melancihon, the illusirioas friend
Of Luther
An order obiained from the Emperor
Maximiiian t'y the Dsininieans. required the
Jews TO bring all their Hebrew books (the
Bible excepiedl to the Town Hall Of their
respective cities 20 be burned Ia the
council that followed the Emperor took
Reuchiin's advice. lie pointed out all the
books written agains, Christianity, leaving
them 10 their fate, but he tried 10 save the
rest. lie said The hes, way to convert
the Jews would he TO establish in each
University two masters of the Hebrew
language who should teach the Jewish
divines TO read the Bible in Hebrew, and
thus refute the Jewish doctors. " Their
writings were restored and their enemies
were furious against Repchlin, charging
HIM with Judaism and threatening the Ia-
| quisiuon. His writings were condemned TO
the flames. The Pope, however, referred
the affair 10 the Bishop Of Spires, who de-
clared Reuchlin innocent, and condemned
the monks to pay the costs Of the investi-
CATION. The matter made great stir in
Germany and exposed a very large class Of
monkish theologisns, aud drew together ia
closer alliance the friends Of Learning. This
will suffice TO suggest the struggles of the
advance posts of The great contest Afterwards
waged by Luther ard others. The majority
OF the men Of letters we're on the side of the
reformers. IN letter to Reuchiiu, after
his victory over The Dominicans, Luther
writes: ''rhe Lord has wrought IN you
that the light Of Ills holy word may again
shine forth in Germany where for 50 many
ages !, has been, alas, not only stifed, but
extinct F"
Anoshcr tIToIlandl German scholar must
be mentioned In order to connect the chain
of Bible history with other literature; Ger
hard, who occupied high places in the PapaI
Hierarchy. He entered aconvent Of regular
canons withou, taking orders, having strong
aversion TO nsonastic life. next we find him
Archbishop Of cambray, then In the Uni.
versi,y Of Paris. lie used all diligence in
obtaining Greek authors, yet shrank from
sHe Study Of theology. lie irniated the
monks, whom he ridiculed. Constantly
eourted by princes, be declined their invita-
tons. iie refused a Cardinals hat. The
effect Of his studies was beyond his own IN
tession. Who was he The name Of Ger.
hard IS not prominent in history. He
changed his Dutch name into Latin. Disider-
ius. and into Greek, Erasmus Erasmn,
and Reuchiin gave the Scriptures to the
learned. Luther 10 the people
There is yet smother remarkable man Of
this period, who was led to doubt the eli
oscy Of hcvzrious ordinances Of the Church.
Awakened BY the Reformation, the con
fessionsl failed 70 quiet the iewors and
| gloomy fears that sssailsd hlm for past sios,
Il only augmented his distress, for u revived
lhe a,emory OF former liansglsssions. nc
contemplated a return to the vani,ies of the
age, which be had solemnIy renounced, bul
rccoiled, awe-siuck. A. last he met en-
old woman, who predicted ccrsin appear.
anecs Of Jesus etc lie desded that b..
compunciions were of The devil and resolved
to obliteraie his sins from his memory and
70 seek direct communication from the
spirit world. Great we're ihs fevcialion.
among which was ,hc "mysisry Of lhe eoiy
Trinity" These visionsiooi the scnp,nrcsl
became the moving principles Of his hfe
Who was he Loyola, the founder Of a.,
Jssuile order and suilor Of "ConslHa,ions, q
the most effective weapon ever forged foi
subjuesiion Of the human will
The resivaiin literature went hand IN hand
with ihe resurrection of he Bible Iibfaric'
we're established, not limited IS formerly, 4
works and commentaries Of Scholastic divisel
and FATHERS q lso Church, bot Furnished
with books Of literature, law, medicine
history, productions u orators and poets
heather as well ss CbdsGan. Lu,hsr said