Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-18

convenience, was wound around CYL
indrical pieces of wood or sticks The
first five books of the Bible, namely
those of Moses called the Pentateuch,
date from 1900 years u. c., after the
law was given to Moses on Mt Sinai
and the last books of the Bible are
those written by st. John about the
year 20 of the Christian era. The Holy
Bible as IL comes from the Catholic
church to us bears the sanction and
authority of her councils, and particu-
larly that Of the Council of Trent in
France in 1916. when, after the Reform
alton, in answer to questions concern
ing the sacred scriptures, the famous
Canon of Scriptures was defined in ac-
cordance with the belief that the church
had authority not only to define faith
but also what constituted the word of
God in the inspired books. The Holy
Bible comes to us with the sanction Of
the great saints and scholars of the
church, source of knowledge, of life,
library of religious thought and a
compendium of general knowledge. The
Old Testament was the very life blood
of the Jews, it entered into their daily
thought and action, for they believed
it to be the word of God with perfect
authority in every word and they found
in it the law of God. 1t bears to US
their history and their religious life;
it has also for us the story of religion,
| the divine scheme of redemption; it
contains the promise of the Redeemer,
foreshadows the mystery of the incar-
nation, outlines the character and de-
scribes the coming of Christ, and pre-
pares men for it.
The New Testament
The New Testament is the story of
Christ, his life, death and resurrection,
his miracles, his teaching. his code of
morals the establishment of his church,
the history of his apostles and their
ministry among men. The Bible is
history and literature, with a refine
ment of style, nobility of thought and
beauty of moral reflection not to be
equaled in anything else written by
men. 1t has given inspiration to poet,
orator and historian. 1t has given to
mankind the story of religion. 1t is
the most remarkable of all books for
it is the very word of God. 1t is the
book of books, mans warrant for SAL
walton, the evidence of mans redemp-
tion through Christ. 1t is as honey to
the mouth melody to the ear, a lamp
to our steps, an inspiration to the
higher life, a revelation of Gods omni-
potence; but, above all, it is the story
of Gods love for mankind.
the Bible for the world. She has guard
ed its manuscripts and her sainted
scholars have translated them into the
languages of men. She has watched
over its integrity and protected it from
corruption. In our age, when new eff
forts are being made to destroy the
Bible, she stands as its guardian in it's
entirety as it has come to us across
the ages from the synagogue of the old
Low
church. She gives it to us not as
sealed or a chained book, but as Gods
revelation, full of the evidences of
Gods will as to belief and morals, and
she bids us know and love it. Her mis-
sion, her priesthood, her sacraments all
find their warrant in that holy book
From it she forms her ritual and in it
she finds proof of her teachings. She
bids US seek in 1t the knowledge of the
truth which our minds crave, the con-
ISOLATION which our souls need in the
day of trial, and the hope in eternity
which buoys us up through the dangers
of life. With reverent lips she kisses
every page and on bended knee she
reads every word
THE Bible is the most sacred book
on earth, for it is the word of God, the
sacred testament of Gods love. The
church and the Bible form the great
rule of faith. The Bible lessons offer
the solution of the moral and social
questions that affect mankind, for in
the Old Testament is Jesus Christ
promised, in the New Testament is
Jesus Christ in life, the living Re-
deemer whose gospel alone can save
society and the Individual
Bishop Conaty will give the second
sermon on THE Inspiration of the
Bible" Sunday evening, Feb. "a.