The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-13
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS

A small casket may hold great gems.
Profound thought may be crystallized
in a few words. The mighty truths of
scripture are summarized in single
fla shing sentences, such as the Sunday
schools wisely call Golden Texts
The mind that is stored with those BIZ
bic epigramS is furnished with weap-
ons for the spirits wars; and with
small loaves of the finest bread.
Countless criticisms have been made
of the way in which the King James
Version of the Bible has been chopped
up into verses each of which is some
times considered as a whole. No other
literary work has been subjected to
such treatment. Nevertheless, all the
harm that has been done by thus slic-
ing into bits a document which was
designed to be received as a whole, is
almost atoned for by the force and
beauty of some of the passages so iso-
lated. Thus we have the precious
shortest verse in the Bible, Jesus
Wept." The verse system also gives
us For God so loved the world Even
little children can memorize the Bible
in the form of texts.
The portability of truth is increased
by compacting into sentences. Many
persons can quote passages from the
Gospels who yet cannot tell the main
characteristic of the books from which
the verses are taken.
The Gospels are the richest mines of
nuggets of truth. because in them We
have the words of Jesus Himself.
They are all about Him. His utter
ances shine from their pages. To know
the Gospel is to understand the mind
of the Master.
Proverbs have been described as the
small coin of truth. They circulate
among the plain people. So, in similar
fashion. favorite verses from the Scrip
lures are the peculiar delight and COM
fort of the average Christian. Many an
unlettered Saint can quote more favor
lite verses than the learned theologian.
A mind stored with bits of the choic-
est literature, passages from the Cos
pelS. for instance is permanently re-
fined and enriched. Parents who watch
without concern their children memoir
izing the latest popular songs, which
are incredibly banal and trivial, are
often equally Indifferent to the fact
that their boys and girls are not mem
orizing the great words of Scripture,
which in hours of trial, become the
spirits stay and light.
A few favorite verses from the Cos
pels are quoted herewith, as of more
worth than any comment upon them:
Repent We: for the Kingdom of
heaven is at hand.-Matthew 3-2.
But he answered and said it is writ
ten. man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedetff out
of the mouth of God.-Matt THEW 4:4.
Blessed are they that hunger and
thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled.-Matthew Sc.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God.-Matthew SIS.
Even so let your light shine before
men; that they may see your good
works. and glorifv your Father who is
in DECENTRALIZATION SIG.
But 1 say unto you, Love your enc
mics, and pray for them that prosecute
you.-Matthew 5:44
And when We pray We shall not be
as the hypocrites: for they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and
in the corners of the streets, that they
may be seen of men. Verify. say unto
you. They have received their reward.
Matthew SIS.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon the earth. where moth and rust
consume. and where thieves break
through and steal: but lay up for your
selves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth or rust doth consume. and
where thieves do not break through nor
steal: for where thy treasure is there
will thy heart be alSo.-Matthew s:
1921.
But when he saw the multitudes. he
was moved with compassion for them.
because they were distressed and scat