The Bible the Cure for Evils
By Arthur V. Fox
The Bible is admirably adapted for the removal of all the evils of mortal life. Among these stands poverty. By this we mean that lack of spiritual food as well as physical food which God is able to supply. If we live not for others, how can we expect the Lord to supply us with that upon which life depends? "Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Idleness and improvidence are both forbidden in the Word of God. That law which was given on Sinai, while the mount trembled, and smoked, and grew terrific with the symbols of divine majesty,—that law graven on stone, to denote its perpetuity, and by the finger of God, to signify its authority,—requires industry. The gospel is not less exacting than the law. "This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." The Saviour went about doing good against many odds; and his great ambassador to the Gentiles, with the care of all the churches upon his heart, often made his own hands minister to his necessities. One writer has said, "Did you ever see a lazy Christian? As well look for a holy devil." You have seen the poor, contemptible, profane idler converted by the power of the gospel into the contented, faithful laborer, the pest of society turned into its benefactor. In a small village on the western reserve, there lived an influential, strong-minded infidel. He was a tiller of the earth and an officer of the State; he was moral and thrifty, sober and diligent, his habits having been acquired in a Christian family before his change of views on religious subjects. His excellences seemed to give him great power, and it was not surprising that they should secure for him an extensive influence among the youth. In a short time he had the satisfaction of finding himself surrounded by fellow infidels. As his hope of salvation rested upon his moral conduct, he was very kind and benevolent to the poor. Finding, however, that the drafts upon his resources were becoming more and more numerous, he began to inquire how it happened that while all around was prosperity, his neighborhood should be getting more and more thriftless. In prosecuting this investigation, he visited all his neighbors, and was startled to learn that in every home where the Bible was found, there was plenty; and in every abode where the Bible was absent, poverty was present, or was approaching. Not long after, there came into the village an itinerant preacher, who proposed to hold a protracted meeting. His place of preaching was an old schoolhouse. Here he addressed the people who assembled night after night. The truth was presented with such power that it reached the hearts and troubled the consciences of the hearers. Those who were skeptical became demon-like, and began to produce disturbances, and to offer insults to the speaker, who, having appealed in vain to their sense of justice, character, and propriety, at length dismissed them by saying that he felt that he had done his duty to them; and seeing that they put the gospel from them, he would turn to those who would receive it with more respect. The next morning, while preparing to start away, he was visited by the infidel, and urged in the most cordial manner to remain and continue his meeting. To this solicitation he yielded. In the evening he went to his accustomed place of worship, and found his usual congregation, whom he addressed as faithfully as before; but when he had concluded his discourse, and the disturbance was about to be renewed, his infidel friend, who this evening had been seated just below him, arose and addressed the assembly, saying, in substance: "This man must be treated with respect; the law can, and I will, protect him. Infidel as I am, I believe he is doing a good work. I have been around among you, and I find that you who revere the Bible live in prosperity; you who despise it are approaching pauperism, if not actually in distress. I am alarmed at what I have done. I have made you infidels, but in doing so, have I not ruined you? Many of you are young men of good minds. I have a family of daughters, but I would rather follow them all to the grave than see them united in marriage with you. Henceforth I will be the friend of the Bible; it is the instrument of good."