Your ShelfYour Projects

The Bible

13%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 12.

Read the full edition

The Bible

By Jos. Clarke

Is truly a wonderful book, whether we consider its history or its influence. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. This book has a self-impelling power, and acts defensively and offensively. When the murderers of Jesus would use its power in their own justification, it turned its batteries against them, and consigned the nation to destruction. When the papacy thought to take this book into its own care, it burst the doors of its prison, and soon appeared in all the great cities of Europe, and every effort made by the papists to put down the Bible has resulted in its more complete freedom.
The great preparation for the spread of present truth has been going on for many years. The Bible has been printed in different languages and widely circulated; the American Bible Society has, since its organization, issued twenty-nine millions, nine hundred and eighty-two thousand volumes, in thirty-nine languages, representing about sixty different languages and dialects. These Bibles have penetrated everywhere, China and Japan not excepted. The British and Foreign Bible Society has issued above sixty-eight millions of volumes since its first establishment; and it was stated at the sixty-ninth anniversary of this society (May 7, 1873) that no less than two hundred and four versions of the Bible are now issued.
The day of God's preparation is upon us. Shall we meet it nobly, heartily, and liberally? Schools are everywhere doing their work, and the masses are learning to read, and improved methods of labor are affording leisure to the people for investigation. Railroads and other facilities for traveling are bringing the messenger of the truth to every locality; and even the blind may find the precious volume in raised letters for their improvement; and many a grateful soul has sent up to Heaven its heartfelt and tearful accents of praise for this last gift to the blind.
All the world is evidently waiting for this last message of God to man; and while this age is so prolific in improvements, and so rich in privileges, the masses are growing rapidly worse; and in the churches a false idea is on the wing, that the conversion of the world is to follow all this wonderful progress and privilege.
Universal toleration, to a great extent, exists as never before; yet bigotry is assuming new and most dangerous forms, and threatening future trouble; while spiritualism promises to unchristianize Christendom; and all this while, the second advent of the Messiah draws on apace.
The sixth seal has been opened, and the great earthquake and the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, have all occurred; and now we wait the accomplishment of the prophecy. The Bible has nearly finished its mission of love, and its last work is to be the most magnificent and glorious of all.
Great nations never prospered as just before their final disaster—just before their glory has been laid in the dust. Thus with Christendom: she lauds the Bible, and sends it to far-off lands, but, like ancient Jerusalem, she knows not the day of her visitation. Jos. CLARKE.