New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-19

edge Of the Bible Is great moral
and cultural loss. And how or
where are we to make good that loss
OF the scriptures In our Christian
church. our church schools and our
Christian home?
we need TO read and reread our
Bible In our daily and personal as
well as our weekly and public wor-
ship. Because. IN the second place,
1t is only by the repetition OF great
passages like the 1O3rd psalm. the
18th of Hebrews. the 18th of LIST
Corinthians, the 5Srd chapter of
Isaiah that we may one day hope
to take In their full meaning. II, IN
deed. We ever do! Emerson once
declared 1t to be his opinion that
man learns only by iteration and
reiteration.'
ASK a child what story he likes
oest--and ten to one you will ind
him calling for some old familiar
tale he has heard hundred times
or more. But 1t doesn't matter
whether we are young or old, the
reiterated words and hymns will all
grow more welcome, more helpful
as as. they 4, come net, to take permanent
And now third reason why we
need to read and know our Bible.
And that reason is: Because of all
the books in all the world of men
the Bible Is most peculiarly adapted
to our common life. 1t Is pitched to
the key of plain. ordinary folks,
people like you and me. and thou
sands more! 1t is at one and the
same time our least common multi
pie and our highest common de-
nominator. Go through your Bible
with a microscope, II you will, In the
light Of Its contemporary history
and you will find there scarcely a
single element which-when It was
written--was not familiar to the
common people. And In every age
and In all nations-men are very
much alike! One reason you need
to read your Bible Is Just to be re-
minded that one Is your father,
even God. and all We are brethren
Scientists are divided MS to the diff
ferent stocks from which our race
has sprung. But this much is sure:
We all have the same general mould.
Whatever changes climate, inheri-
lance and circumstances have made
from the creation until now there
are certain underlying particulars in
which all men are the same! It Is
to these particulars that the word
Of God Is directed.
But there Is fourth and final
reason why we need our Bible, why
we need to ponder Its pages, and to
present some portion of 1t for our
consideration at every church serv-
Ice. The Bible Is the one great book
in all the world, which aims at the
saving of mankind by God, through
the moral power that indwells us all!
1t Is perfectly true. and no intelligent
preacher will deny 1t, that there are
countless other educating forces In
the world since time began. But we
know OF no other book besides the
Bible that has SO constantly poured
forth such a stream Of influence.
From the earliest records of Genesis
down to the last letter Of Revela-
ton, we read the story Of men-not
as animals-not even as social crea-
tures-but as moral beings! The
Bible maintains one thesis through
out-that man possesses the germs
OF devine nature! That he Is to be
developed. and TO come to full frui-
ton by the infusion OF the Divine
Spirit upon his higher faculties.
Could anything be finer? Can you
tell me Of any other book, with half
so glorious a purpose? In there. be-
meath high heaven any other volume
with one-third the consistency. the
unity, and the power to serve this
high end? This same power, de-
scribed in the Bible and Inspiring the
reformations of Moses and Elijah,
and Amos and the apostles, broke
forth anew with Luther in Germany.
with Calvin in Geneva, with Knox In
Scotland. and with Wesley In Eng
land. We take no unnecessary
chances, when we assert boldly, that
there Is no other book in all history
which contains one-hundredth part
the dynamic power OF this Bible.
when men tell meas they
sometimes do--that the Bible Is
collection OF books--a mere clutter
Of bcoks'-as they term It; when
they Insist that these books were
written in different languages, In DIFF
terent ages. from different stand
points, by different men, when they
add that there are a thousand
discrepancies In the Bible--I say,
nevertheless there Is one spinal
cord that runs through 1t from the
beginning to the end! And further,
I insist that there is In the Bible
power, and glory, and an impor-
lance OF which the world Is still
largely unconscious! And that pow