The True Amulet by S. Cornelius, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 4, 1886

The True Amulet.

By S. Cornelius, D. D.

An amulet is defined by Webster as "an ornament, gem, scroll, or the like, worn as a remedy against evils or mischief, such as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms or characters." The same thing is popularly known as a charm. Many people have had a superstitious regard for a ring or a locket, or some family heirloom, the wearing or keeping of which they have thought would surely bring them good fortune. Wear in your bosom the pearl of great price, and you will surely have good fortune. Cherish with faith and love the sacred heritage of God's word, and no serious ill can befall your soul.

Such thoughts have come to my mind in seeing so much display of the favorite charm, the horse-shoe. This, or some resemblance of it, is to be seen almost everywhere, hanging on the wall, or lying on the mantel or the table, or worn upon the person, "for good luck." There is an amulet, which, if we wear it in the right place, will bring us good luck indeed. It is described by David when he says: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Men have always been seeking immunity from evil, escape from trouble and grief, and deliverance from the awful consequences of sin and folly. The Bible alone furnishes the needed relief; we seek it elsewhere in vain.

Would you wish, amidst your daily cares and worries, and sudden and strong temptations, to find a preventive from falling? You have it in your Bible. Get some lesson from it every morning to be pondered and prayed over through the day, and you will find that it will strongly uplift and illuminate your soul. Not only will it avert impending evil if you use it aright, but it will secure present and eternal good. The mere ownership of a Bible will not do this, but the believing appropriation of its truths will do it. The word of God has been so written as to give us great and glorious thoughts in few and simple but sublime words. Some texts, in particular, are at once as portable and as brilliant as diamonds, the brightest gems of heaven compressed into the smallest compass. Thus such texts as John 3:16 and 1 Timothy 1:15 have been well called "little Bibles" because they contain so much. It is a very slight burden for the memory to carry such brief passages, and they flash new light into the soul the more we look at them. They are at once indispensable aids to devotion, and mighty guards against temptation. The old superstition was that a horse-shoe would keep off witches; we know that the word of God is a weapon with which we may drive away the wicked one. Luther conceived that the devil once came to him in his chamber. Luther threw his Bible at the foul fiend, and was at once rid of his baneful presence. Instead of the malign presence of Satan, the great enemy of the Bible, we may have the gracious presence of the Holy Spirit, the glorious author of the Bible. In order to have this, it is only necessary to plead the promises with a believing heart.—S. Cornelius, D. D., in Baptist Flag.