Cleaving unto the Bible.
By Watchman
It was a sad confession made by king Josiah when he said: "Our fathers have not kept the book." Too many thus err, not cleaving unto the word of the Lord, to do all that is written in this the holy Scriptures, but virtually giving them up, if not openly renouncing or denouncing them. This is indeed a cause for lamentation, on account of consequences which must follow the surrender of what is so invaluable and indispensable as God's written revelation. By every possible consideration it should be held fast, and no hold upon it should be at all loosened. Some one has said concerning the Book of books: "Out of it have come all pure moralities. Forth from it have sprung all sweet charities. It has been the motive power of regeneration and reformation to millions of men. It has comforted the humble, consoled the mourning, sustained the suffering, and given trust and triumph to the dying. The wise old man has fallen asleep with it folded to his breast. The simple cottager has used it for his dying pillow; and even the innocent child has breathed his last happy sigh with his fingers between its promise-freighted leaves." There is unchanging permanency in that which the Lord has spoken, so that there may be unhesitating adherence to it, with full assurance that it will eternally abide. The eminently evangelical prophet, Isaiah, could say: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; . . . but the word of our God shall stand forever." Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Nothing in the universe is more enduring than the truth set forth in the Bible. It is everlasting in that there is something to hold to which will remain when all pertaining to this world has ended. Viewed also as a means of grace, the word of God should be closely adhered to, and never let go by those who would be partakers of the grace which will be crowned with glory. The psalmist said: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Jesus prayed for his disciples, saying: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." Paul said: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." James exhorted those to whom he wrote: "Receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls." Whatever is so vitally serviceable as these expressions more than imply, should be firmly held, and never given up.—Watchman.