p. 9 | AFRAID OF THE BIBLE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 49.

"AFRAID OF THE BIBLE."

SAYS the New York Observer:—

“Some people are afraid of the Bible. That is the plain truth. It is a curious species of timidity, but one which is yet quite prevalent in certain quarters. The Romish Church has never been the real friend of the Scriptures, since its pet theories, man-made in the half light of superstition, can not stand in the clear light of revelation. Romish zealots in England in 1415 passed a law making it treason to read the Bible. All the copies of William Tyndale’s first edition of the New Testament were bought up and burned. With the money thus obtained, however, Tyndale was enabled to publish a better-printed edition in 1530—which also was to a large extent destroyed.”

All of which is doubtless true; but are not Protestants following the same path, cringing under the same fear? If not, what mean these unprotestant appeals to civil power for religious institutions? What means the frantic efforts to obtain Sabbath laws? Can not God care for his own? Do not then appeals to law on the part of Protestants show that they are “afraid” that the Bible is on the other side of the Sabbath question, both as to the day of the Sabbath and the methods of supporting and promoting its observance?