THE READING OF THE BIBLE AND PUBLIC WORSHIP.
By William H. Littlejohn
THERE is one book, and but one, which can properly be denominated the book of God. This being true, it follows, as a matter of course, that its authority, as compared with the productions of men, is as much higher as God the Creator is higher than man the creature. In all matters of doctrine and duty it furnishes a source of ultimate appeal; and to depart from its teachings would be ruin. Whether or not our views correspond with its declarations is important only as difference between the two would prove the necessity of a change of opinion on our part, in order to make our conceptions conform to the standard of Him who never errs. For if the book in question is really what we concede it to be, then there can be no doubt that we are wrong just so far as we differ from that which it declares to be true and sound. The value of such a revelation cannot be overestimated. Without it, we should all be adrift upon a sea of wild speculation, bounded only by the possibilities in the flight of human fancy. Every man would be a law to himself; and confusion and uncertainty, the most deplorable in its nature and extent, would reign in those realms of thought where unity and accuracy are absolutely indispensable to the highest welfare of all. This being true, how grateful we should all feel that God has, by making known his will, rescued us from that fatal condition of error into which men so naturally drift when left to themselves. Were there no other consideration than that of the perfect rest and satisfaction which is brought to our minds by a belief in the Bible as containing the revealed will of the Omniscient One, we should have great occasion for thankfulness. The condition of doubt and uncertainty is terrible in the extreme. We recall, as an illustration of this fact, the case of an individual, who, while upon trial for his life, having waited many days for the final verdict of the jury, thanked God when the verdict came at last,—even though it brought with it his condemnation to the gallows,—that his suspense had finally ended; reasoning that he would rather suffer the doom to which he had been condemned than to live longer in a state of doubt. But with us there is not only occasion for gratitude because of the acquisition of clear light as it regards our actual standing, but also because that light shows that there is hope in all our cases, and that if we shall act well our part, salvation will not only be possible, but also certain. In view, therefore, of the benefits which we have received and the joys which we have experienced through the information imparted to us by the reading of the Holy Scriptures, how ought we to give expression to the appreciation which we have of the goodness of God in his dealings with us, in affording us the very knowledge of which we stand in such great need? Manifestly in two ways. In the first place it will be becoming in us to make the Bible the man of our counsel and the guide of our daily lives. We should inform ourselves in regard to its contents by giving it repeated and systematic reading. In the second place, we should be untiring in our efforts to get its light and its truth before our neighbors. No opportunity for this purpose should be allowed to pass unimproved. We should ever be ready to recommend it to them, and, whenever occasion offers, to read it to them in private. Not only so, but we should also seek to bring our friends to the place of public worship, where they may not only hear it read, but also where they may listen to the minister while he may expound the same. Do you reply that it is not the custom of your pastor to read a chapter from the Bible during the public service, and that he contents himself with simply quoting his text and proof-texts therefrom? I answer that his practice is a most unfortunate one; and that proper reflection, if he loves the welfare of the people and desires the glory of God, would lead him to change his course entirely in this matter. He will agree with me that there is no use in preaching the word unless the Holy Spirit shall accompany his utterance. He will also agree with me that the Holy Spirit will be likely to carry conviction to the hearts of the people just in proportion as that which he says is in harmony with its teachings and will. But if this be so, then it follows that nothing which he can say will so fully meet the conditions which will secure the blessing of God as those words which God himself has inspired holy men to write for the benefit of a fallen race. This is true, both because the doctrines taught are necessarily correct and because the spirit in which they are uttered is unquestionably a right spirit. Should it be replied that if this be the case it would be better to dispense with the preaching altogether, I answer that this would be true, provided that men could be induced to listen to the reading of the Scriptures simply, as long and as frequently as they can to preaching and reading combined. This, however, is not the fact; and, in order to adapt ourselves to society as we find it, it is best to furnish such variety in our public gatherings as will enable us both to feed and entertain the hearers. A minister with this end in view will be able, on each occasion, to spend his time most profitably in reading a portion of the word of God, and in illustrating, enforcing, and expounding the same, or some other portion, as the circumstances of the case may seem to require. By this course, even though his sermon shall prove to be a very weak one, he will at least have the satisfaction of knowing that in the reading of a chapter those present have had the benefit of the product of the Holy Spirit, or of the words of Him who spake as never man spoke. Perhaps there never has been a time when ministers and laymen have been more fully alive to the value of Bible reading in the work of convicting sinners and edifying saints, than they are at the present time. Meetings for this especial purpose are becoming quite common, and those preachers who are most successful in saving men, give the most prominence in their labors to the word of God. We confess for ourselves that when we see a minister go into the desk, and, after singing and prayer, enter immediately, without any scriptural lesson, upon the delivery of a sermon, however good it may promise to be, we feel that he is about to feed the congregation with bread which has in it the leaven of error and weakness; whereas he might give to them something as much better as the angels’ food, or manna, provided in the wilderness by the Lord, was better than the ordinary food of the Hebrew people. There seems, also, to be a smack of egotism in the affair, since the minister, judging from appearances, concluding that he has not time enough for both the reading of the word and the sermon, decides that he will lengthen out the latter, as being more important, at the expense of the former. We always say to ourselves under such circumstances, Poor man! what a terrible mistake he is making! The Bible-reading is just the thing needed to prepare the minds and the hearts of the people to appreciate what he is about to say and to profit by it. The Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit, and which is sharper than ever was steel of Damascus, is mighty in the work of slaying the man of sin, and revealing to the hearts of all present the actual condition before God, of each listener. No man, however eloquent, can hope to utter sentences which would compare with it in this particular. It is God’s chosen instrument for this purpose; and when allowed to do its office work, it will always do it well. When we consider, therefore, that not one-tenth part, even of the professors of religion present in any congregation, read the Bible as much as it ought to be read, and when we reflect that the public service furnishes to a large share of those in attendance, through the reading of the word, the only knowledge of the Scriptures which they ever obtain, we are more and more convinced that a minister is never excusable for neglecting to read the word whenever God gives him such an opportunity for this purpose as is afforded by an assemblage of both believers and unbelievers, who are waiting to listen to his ministration.