UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE SCRIPTURES.
IN dealing with such an important subject as is before us, we need the same Holy Spirit to enlighten the mind which indited the word of Holy Writ. It need not surprise us that the enemy of all righteousness should undertake to overthrow any attempt to find the truth concerning God's plan of salvation. That there are many conflicting theories concerning the ages, especially concerning the future ages, none will deny. This being true, we should be very careful to follow closely the divine revelation. God's Word is correct, whether or not we have the correct understanding of it. We may understand a portion of the principles of truth, and misapply them because we are ignorant of other auxiliary principles. By a human rule of interpretation, altho based upon Scriptural teachings we may unconsciously make the Bible seem to teach what it does not really teach. Again, we may, by studying the Word, receive light on one point, but fail to receive all the Lord has for us, because we make an effort to connect the truth we have received with some theological idea we have previously held. It is very natural for Bible students to do this. From this way of studying, men have come to differ on almost every point of truth taught in the Scriptures. All have some principle with which they can agree with others, but each has his way of interpreting and applying the teachings of God, until the skeptic is led to believe that the Bible is like an "old fiddle," on which any tune you desire can be produced. But it is unjust to charge the Bible with making a skeptic of one, a libertine of another, a latitudinarian of another, a bigot of another, a Pharisee of another, a Mormon of another, a Baptist of another, etc. The influence of the Scriptures, without human interpretation, acts as one harmonious whole, for one harmonious end, to make man wise unto salvation. The Bible does not make a Christian of one and an atheist of another. That is not God's plan. The Scriptures do not incite to good and to evil. They do not conform and adapt themselves to all capricious phases of belief and character. The mind in them, altho written by forty writers, covering a period of sixteen hundred years, is one and unalterable, and so are the influences that proceed from them. The results of these influences are determined by the character of the mind on which they fall. If a man charges the Scriptures with being contradictory in their influence, we can deny the accusation, and affirm that whatever may appear to be contradictory can not be attributed to the Scriptures, but to causes altogether apart from them. The parable of the sower fitly represents this principle. The seed was all good, but it did not all produce the same results. That which fell upon the wayside never sprang up, while that which fell among the rocks and thorns did not produce any fruit, but, on the contrary, withered away. Matt. 13:1-8. Infidels, skeptics, Mormons, etc., are all formed outside of the Scriptural teaching. They come into existence by rejecting, neglecting, or perverting the Word of Truth. The light of truth may shine, but they will not see, or they look through diseased eyes or colored glasses. The most beautiful painting has no influence on a man who is blind, or who, seeing, has no power to distinguish colors. The sweetest song has no influence on a man who is deaf, or who is totally devoid of taste for music. So with the influence of the Bible. Its words fall upon some with no spiritual effect, because there is wanting an appreciative mind. To others, who live in the same community, they prove a great benefit. These "walk in the light," and enjoy the harmony and beauty of God's words. Like David, they say, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." Ps. 19:10. As we have already said, the reason for this difference is in the minds brought under the influence of the Bible. To the one its words are the "savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life." 2 Cor. 2:16. We are told by some scientists of the present day that the world has outgrown the Bible, and that its influences are obsolete! It would be just as reasonable to say that the world has outgrown the light of the sun because electricity has been discovered. Do all the improved methods of light and fire which science has discovered, render the sun obsolete? Do the scientific improvements in mechanics and agriculture make the laws of nature and the necessity of human nature obsolete? Until science can reveal a god of greater intelligence, wisdom, holiness, love, and power, than the God of the Scriptures, we need not throw aside the Bible. Until science can reveal a religion that will realize to man more equity, justice, purity, and happiness than are revealed in the Scriptures, we need not hold science in advance of the Bible. Had there been no Scriptural influences acting on the minds of men in the past, would science have attained that eminence which it now occupies in the intellectual world? Which nations have advanced most rapidly in science,—those that have not the Bible, or those that have it constantly taught to their people? The Bible has come through the centuries of the past abused, slandered, persecuted, as only human depravity could persecute it; and to-day it is wreathed with trophies of universal victory, and is fresh with all the pristine beauties of holiness. Its power is as young and buoyant as it was centuries ago. It has been the fountain at which myriads of thirsty souls have quaffed and been refreshed; and still its life-giving streams are satisfying the millions at this moment. As well might we fear that men could stop the uprising of springs from the reservoirs of nature, as that scientists, or freethinkers can stop the mighty forces of the word of Jehovah. "The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever." 1 Peter 1:24, 25. Scientists and scoffers come and go, they are changing and changeable, like the waves of the sea; but the Bible, like the rocks, stands firm on its everlasting foundation. "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." "Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law." Deut. 32:2, 46. Divine revelation is given that we may grow in the knowledge of God and enjoy His love. We need to know how rightly to divide the Word of Truth that we may rightly understand God's plan of salvation for lost humanity.