Never Jest with Scripture
By Palgrave
Never Jest with Scripture.—It is of great importance that we should resist the temptation, frequently so strong, of annexing a familiar, facetious, or irreverent idea to a Scriptural expression, a Scripture text or a Scripture name. Nor should we hold ourselves guiltless, though we may have been misled by mere negligence, or want of reflection. Every person of good taste will avoid reading a parody, or a travestie of a beautiful poem, because the recollection of the degraded likeness will always obtrude itself upon our memories when we wish to derive pleasure from the contemplation of the elegance of the original.—But how much more urgent is the duty by which we are bound to keep the pages of the Bible clear of any impression tending to diminish the blessings of habitual respect and reverence towards our Maker's law.—Palgrave.