The Washington herald., 1910-05-09
As Important as Food.

As Important ms Food.
To urge the Importance Of the study
OF the Bible 70 those present would seem
almost as trite as TO urge the use OF
wholesome food. of pure water. or fresh
air-the three things essential to physical
wellbeing.
But food and water are not more neces-
sary to bodily growth than a knowledge
OF God and His viii toward us are neces-
sary for our spiritual growth
The reasons for Bible study are:
First-The Bible Is Gods word. In il
He has revealed Himself and His VIII
concerning us. and TO # we must turn
for the food which our spiritual nature
Graves
Truth Must BE Searched.
Second-It is there in unstinted meas
ure, II we would but find il and use IT,
1he way or life is made so plain that
the wayiaring man, though a fool. may
not err therein. And yet God has never
promised TO give US something for moth
ing. or TO make us wise concerning His
truth without some effort on our part "a
apprehend It. A passive receptivitv best
suits our lazy natures, but it would prove
Just as prohtless here as in any other
field, material or mental
We are eXhorted TO search the Scrip
lures, for in them are the words OF eter-
nal life. and we have the promise that
II we diligently search we shall find rich
treasures. more precious than rubles.
Our Bible Study SIipShod.
We all admit that it is impossible TO
gain a knowledge Of any subject without
study, and, in fact, close. hard. persis- !
tent study is eXacted from one who
would become even moderately proficient
IN any serious branch Of learning. Bur
what student would approach any sub |
ject, even the least important. IN the |
Idle, slipshod, half-hearted way I'm which /
much Of our so-called Bible study is un-
dertaken? And surely. no other subject
IS more important than God speaking TO
US through His word
Another reason for the study of the
Bible is because Of Its supreme literary
value. To it We turn for strong, vigor-
Gus, unadulterated Anglo-Saxon. The
Bible. together with the book OF common
prayer, has been the great conserver Of
the language
Well of English Indebted.
It is the pure well Of English unde-
fled. In it we find the most sublime
poetry, the most magnificent imagery.
the exquisite descriptions Of natural OBJ
jects. the most terse and comprehensive
precepts, as well as the profoundest wis
dom. From its inexhaustible source
every taste can be satisfied. from that
of the child, teasing for a story. TO that
Of the gray-haired philosopher or logi- f,
clan.
All literature is saturated with II. we ,
can scarcely read a page Of our besr ,
literature without finding Biblical allu-
5ions. direct or indirect. If we are capa- !
bic Of recognizing them.
Scholars Acknowledge Debt.
Our wisest men. our most learned d
scholars. and strongest thinkers willingly o
their indebtedness 10 the E
Bible, and render tribute to its matcbIess Y
'tyle and majestic thought, even though Y
n many cases they might ignore its re- r.
igious teachings. a
The great Gladstone is said 70 have z,
cad the Book Of Job through AZ least 81
vice each year. not alone as a devout n
elieyer in its divine inspiration. but for b.
he mental stimulus found in it's lofty s,
bought and sublime language. Many n
ther instances could be cited II we had f.
he time. d,
Youth Taught PnEnnism. u
But this Bible. this Book Of Books in
as been carefully and effectuaUv av al
luded from our institutions Of learning
ur youth are instructed I'm pagan myth m
nd philosophy and ology or ism that II
an be known or mentioned. but arc b;
lowed to remain in profound Ignorance III
the only book Of absolute and perfect in
aIue I'm
Can any one give a good and sufficient No
,EsOn for this7 Is
This widespread ignorance Of the Ribla 10
nong our educated youth in this Chris fe
an land has long since ceased TO be y
Ike, but Is n thing TO blush for and TO lal
/, heartily ashamed OF. tn
Educators Urge RevivaIs. III
Our best educators are beginning to 10
alize the necessity for the revival of 10
e study of the Scriptures. both in their "a
erary and ethical value. I have read en-
at a professor at Yale proposes TO base toi
Q entire entrance examination in Itpra-
re on the English Bible trc
Il Is to be hoped that he will carry th'
t his intention; that other institutions th'
ii fall In line. and that the time NAV Gle
t be far distant when the curriculum, up
all our best colleges viii contain 1
Iuired course IN that matchless classic OH
r English Bible taN
the