The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-23

and inspirations. experiences ana ac
uons II represents the best that men
have felt and thought. said and done
the best OF which humanity is cana
Die. This means that the Bible was
hrst written on human hearts in the
conflicts. failures, sorrows tempta-
tons, and victories OF real life II Is
therefore. a Book OF living and not ar
the dead. 1t reveals what men OF ike
passions with us thought and felt,
said and did, under the life giving
touch Of the Holy Spirit. 1t flashes
on the canvass God INSPIRED men in
their conflicts with doubt and fear and
sin, but seeking with undying hope
the Golden City beyond the glimmer-
ing stars, where the wicked cease
from troubling, and the weary are
at rest
1t ls, therefore, the most human
Book in the world. 1t shows US I'm
man nature at its best and its worst
1t lays bare the secret springs OF de-
sire, motive, impulse. volition thought
ana acton. 1t shows Us what God in
splred men Will do. 1t reveals what
devil-inspired men have done and Viii
do. 1T throws on the canvas 4 Moses
who, turning aside to see God al the
| flaming bush, turned his back on the
throne of Egypt to suffer affliction
with the people OF God that he might
| inherit the true riCheS-riChes Of no
| bic manhood on earth, and riches
among the high-born Of light in heay-
| en-. But in opposition to this NJ loses
we have devil-inspired man-Pha-
raoh, who shut his eyes To the light
hardened his heart, and refused to
respond to the voice Of God 1T paints
in vivid Colors John the Baptist. re
buklng lust degraded prince, and
losing his head for the sake OF right
and duty But in contrast with this
| fearless John we see a cowardly poll
tcian-Pilate. who delivered the Son
or God to be Cruciled. because he
feared the rabble more than he fear
ed God. Then we have that entranc-
ing picture Of the woman who an
nolnted Jesus with the precious oint-
| ment, not counting the cost, because
OF the love she bore for Him But in
opposition TO this good woman we
have another devil-inspired man
Judas, earthly, sordid. greedy, covet
Gus, Judas, who turned his back on
| heaven, and sold the world redeemer
| for little cash.
Faith and Hope and Courage.
Another claim l make for this grand
old Book is that it has inspired faith
and hope and courage in fainting
| hearts as no other Book has or can.
1t IS, therefore, the best Book for men
| in trouble. 1t Is the best Book for the
defeated. 1t offers strength and VIC
best Book for the poor. 1t has plead
the cause of the poor with divine clo-
QuenCe. Il teaches the poor how to
be useful and happy in spite of the
to eternal success. 1t is the best
| Book for the rich. It lelis where 10
deposit our treasure secure from rust
and robbers 1t is the best Book for
the young, pulsating with high hopes
and ardent deslreS-it points the way
to enternal success. II is the best
Book for the old tottering on the
brink Of the grave-it floods the fu-
ture with heavenly light, and sings
with divine assurance. All boundless
universe is life. there is no dead II
is the best Book for sinners whose
burden Of guilt and sin has become in
tolerahle-it cries with triumph. BE
hold, the Lamb of God that taketh
away sin"
For these and other reasons II is
the most popular Book II il loved
and read and studied by more persons
than any other Book. II is keenIy ap-
preCiated by both the educated ard
uneducated- In its essential truths
for personal salvation il is the easiest
Book understood. Even children can
appreciate its luminous pages. ON the
human side of salvation its three
great words are: Believe Love Obey
| II is the most democratic Book. Ii
! condemns every form Of slavery OPP
preston and uurighteousnesS- II
makes men and nations free indeed
1t proclaims liberty to the captives
| and deliyerance to all who are holnd
in fetters OF iron II opens the prison
doors and unlOCks the gates Of brass
| It values man not for what ne has by
the uncertain chances of earthly for
| tune, but for what he Is and may be
| come as an immortal spirit. made IN
the divine image and redeemed by the
l. of b.. .f,sz
the child of God and the heir Of etcr-
nifty. Its distinctions are moral and
60 4tinu1l on Page Twelye)