Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-01
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
TIE HOLY DIHIi;.
~.

Now ye nra clean though the word which
have spoken unto you.-John Xv:3.
The bible is a book OF incxhaustible treasures
of wisdom divinity inspired. and lis profitable
for doctrine. for rcproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness; that tho man
OF God may he perfect. thoroughly furnishc d
unto all good works."
However this estimation or the worth OF
the Scriptures the source whence the in
dvdual may equip himself with the truths
necessary to guide him into all right livif z.
finds not the degree OF acceptance In tho
present age that II obtained In former times
when the teachers of righteousness appeal led
to it's pages in all their efforts to instruct the
people in those things which make for both
their temporal AMI their eternal welfare.
Although In the sense that the people can
read ana write. the proportion of them That
are educated far exceeds that OF former
ages. II Is n truth which only needs to he
stated to bc accepted by observing persons
that the proportion of Bible readers even
among nehbcrs OF the church. IL steadily
growing less. II Is within the memory OF
any man Of middle age that It the rule
when he was a boy i'm every Christian home
for the Bible to occupy not only n consrcu-
Gus place. but to he read daily. Now, how
ever. IT. is the rarest thing find Bill. on
the center table in the homes OF Christian
people and still To find home where
1t is read regularly by one mombcr Of
the family. other books and other things
have usurped its place In the affections Of
the rcople.'
Likewise. 1t is lcss depended on by tho
religious teachers of the age for that lin
struction in rightcousness for which not
only themselves. but those whom they are
sent to minister stand In much need.
Other books and other doctrine not found
In It's sacred pages. relied upon by them
In the prosecution of their ministry for the
upbuildng or the people. Hence It has In
many instances come to he that they "havc
a Of hut thn
thereof. 1t is from such teachers as these
that we are warned by ST. Paul to turn away,
For as he says, "of this are they
which creep into houses, and lead captive
silly women laden with sins. led away with
divers lusts. ever learning. ana never able to
come TO the knowledge OF the truth" And
from such the people are turning away. as
the cxigcncies OF the occasion seem more
and more to demand
oh. that it could be said of every young
man. as Paul said TO Timothy: and from
n child thou hast known the holy scriptures
which are able to max" thee wise unto sal
vntion through faith which Is in Christ
jesus Men talk about tho vicious icndcn-
ces and growing deprnvity of the youth Of
tho present generation. and vainly beat the
air and turn the legislative mill for a rem
cGy. when it is to he found i'm the thorough
grounding of tho youth In tho home in tho
fundamental morality which an intimate
knowledge OF Scripture truths-the key to
universal truth and 10 the harmonious work
inEs of all Natures laws-iS so well de-
signed to permanently impress upon them
So. back to the text which is the founla-
tion OF these observations: Now yc are clean
through The word which have spoken unto
YOU This is the language of Jesus Himself
stronger testimony could no man wish Ito
opened the understanding OF his followers
10 the truth meaning Of 1.-The Word which
lie had come. not to nulllfy. nor to minimize
hut to fulhli. and lie Proclaimed its suni-
cheney TO make clean every unit"
Hear Him again Search the scriptures:
for in them We think yc have eternal life
and they are they which testify of Nc"