Thus wrote king Solomon. Who could judge better than he? With the wealth of a kingdom at his disposal; with wisdom, honor, and renown; with peace and prosperity on every hand; he tried all the pleasures that these abundant resources promised to give. After he had tasted of all of them, he turns away with disappointment, and exclaims, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
How different is his conclusion, when he discourses of God, and the pleasure there is in obeying him. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
All persons, in their sober moments, will agree with Solomon in his conclusions. The poet has well said,
"How vain are all things here below!
How false, and yet how fair!"
I was forcibly impressed with this fact by a few circumstances that came under my observation a short time since. Where we were, great preparations were made for celebrating the fourth of July. Great speeches were to be made, a great dinner was to be prepared, charming music was to be heard, &c., &c. The people, especially the young, were all animated by the anticipation of the pleasures to be enjoyed on the "Fourth." Persons who were "too poor" to take a paper or buy a few religious tracts, had dollars to give for "fun on the Fourth." At length, the long-wished-for day came, and with it hundreds of men, women, and children, to hear the speeches, eat the dinner, hear the music, &c. But alas for human hopes and promises! The speech was short and dry, and interested no one. As for the dinner, most of the people could have had as good a one at home. The music was poor; and all was over in two short hours. For the rest of the day, these crowds of people stood round gaping at each other. Occasionally one would ask the other, "How did you like it?" The uniform answer was, "I didn't like it at all." At length, night came, and all started for home, weary, disappointed, and dissatisfied with themselves and every one else. When they reached their homes that night, I think that they would have agreed with Solomon that "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
But did this lesson make them any wiser? No; for ten days afterward, a circus came along, promising great things as usual. There was to be a "golden chariot drawn by twenty magnificent chargers," mighty exploits were to be performed, such as the world had never seen, &c., &c. The people received all this as Bible truth, and concluded that they would now certainly have the pleasure which they had vainly sought on the Fourth. So, circus day saw the streets full of "lovers of pleasure," eagerly looking to see the promised wonders. The first sight must have dampened their hopes somewhat, for instead of the "golden chariot and twenty magnificent chargers," they saw only a painted wagon full of rowdies, drawn by some very common horses. Apparently not at all discouraged by this, they all flocked to the tent, paid their half-dollar each, and "saw the sights." Again they were deceived and disappointed. Their time and money were gone, and nothing gained or learned. Again they could say, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." Their anticipated pleasure was only an ignis fatuus, ever just out of reach, alluring them into folly and disappointment.
So it ever is with the vain pleasures of this world. They promise great things in advance, but when tasted, leave only bitterness and disappointment behind.
The world is one grand game of deception. Great promises are made which are never fulfilled; glowing advertisements are published which are never met; and bright hopes are excited which are never realized. Thousands rise up every day to bear witness to these facts; yet the mass of the people, disregarding this testimony and the evidences of their own senses, blindly press on to seek pleasure and happiness where all have failed before them. Before they realize it,
their days are past, and their life is a failure. As they close a useless life and sink into the grave, their last words are, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
On the other hand, the Creator of the universe has promised glory, honor, and immortality, to all who will obey him. He has confirmed this promise with an oath, even swearing by his own life, that it shall never fail. He has proved his truthfulness by hundreds of trials. Thousands are ready to testify that he never fails to fulfill all that he promises. Those who have followed his advice through life, die rejoicing that they have chosen the good part, and served a faithful Master. Yet, how few believe his promises; how few care for his ways; how few heed his counsel!
Solomon, after thoroughly investigating the facts on both sides of this question, gives in the following decision: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. xii, 13, 14.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Vassar, Mich.
A Peculiar People.
By C. M. Willis
GOD has declared in his word, that he would have a people—a people that will be a peculiar blessing to himself, to preserve his name and laws from oblivion, and prevent the nations of earth from sinking into heathen darkness. And his promises are rich in blessings to such as keep his laws inviolable. For this purpose he has left a chart, that all who wish, may consult, and thus be enabled to steer clear of the shoals and quicksands that beset the voyager on the sea of life. This chart points out the only sure and safe channel that leads to the haven of rest.
One class of directions require those who consult its infallible rules for safety, "not to be conformed to this world," nor the "fashions of the world." I believe this to be one of the most dangerous chain of rocks to be found in the voyage, one that has wrecked the greatest number of souls. They are rendered still more dangerous by the innocent deception of their appearance, while the line that divides them from the right channel is invisible, except to the most vigorous scrutiny. No sooner has one entered their enchanted realm, than he begins to lose his sense of danger, and while he is amusing himself with the glittering baubles which surround him, his chart is neglected, he listens more attentively to the voice of the siren, sails complaisantly along with the tide, and is shipwrecked.
When God led out the children of Israel, he told them, "Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure to me, above all people; for all the earth is mine." The blessings that were showered upon them without measure, while they obeyed the judgments that overtook them when disobedient, their final casting off, and the acceptance of the Gentiles, are facts too well known to the Bible reader, to need repeating here. But this fact is apparent: They, as God's chosen people, were typical of his church in all ages; and as they through disobedience were cast off, so will it happen to all people, nations, or churches, who imitate their example. We find on examination, that they74were mostly led astray by mingling with those who knew not God, neither obeyed his statutes, and by conforming to their manners and customs.
Years ago when the preaching of the word was attended by the Spirit of God, when there was power enough in two or three sermons, to lead to the conversion of a score of sinners, the observation was often made, that one could tell professors as far as they could see them by their dress. Then we had peace at home and abroad. The farmer sowed his seed without fear of chinch bug, caterpillar, or weevil, and the land yielded her increase without drouth or failure. The people improved the time between morning duties and church service, in reading, meditation and prayer, consequently were in a proper frame for the solemnities due to the house and worship of God. Their dress and manner of living were both simple and plain; therefore their morning duties were few and easily performed, and their minds in a fit frame for the service of God. No lingering by the way, further than to exchange the neighborly greeting, when the amen was said, but with their families they hastened to their own firesides, to close the day with such devotional services as they thought most profitable. Their crops, the weather, or their neighborhood affairs were considered as week-day themes, not so much as to be introduced on their worship-day. While they continued in this humble condition, they were made the recipients of Heaven's choicest spiritual blessings. True, while they held aloof from the world, they were scorned and persecuted; but this only made their godly profession shine forth all the brighter.
But like backsliding Israel the church did not retain her integrity. The allurements of earth appeared so innocent and attractive, while the dress of the worldling looked so lovely beside the homely, plain garb of the Christian, there surely could be no harm in improving their outward appearance a little, or in adding a few adorings to their persons. The addition of one useless article of apparel called for another, one ornament but made room for more. A collar looked plain without a dress-pin, a pin looked lonely without ear-rings, these in turn called for finger-rings, ribbons, laces, flounces, artificials, and all the useless paraphernalia that help make up the dress of a fashionable lady. Nor were the other sex willing to be left in the background. And the precious hours that used to be passed in fitting the mind for the solemn duties of the day, must be spent in adorning the body to please the eye. The additional expense of the wardrobe, called for an extra sum of money, and to obtain this, extra labors were required; while these desires opened the door for driving close bargains, cheating the poor, and all other kindred evils attendant on worldly lusts, and love of wealth.
Thus have those who once formed the true church of God retrograded step by step, conforming more and more to the world, until you can hardly tell a professed child of God, unless you hear him speak in the public congregation. "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts, is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant," says Isaiah, after describing the care of the Lord for his vineyard, which in return brought forth only wild grapes. "And he looked for judgment, but behold oppression, for righteousness, but behold a cry. Wo unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth. Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them. And the harp and the viol, and the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts. But they regard not the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands." What class of people are here described as having gone so far astray, as not to regard the Lord? The prophet answers, that it is those that have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the Holy One of Israel. As the world does not profess to be guided by the law of God, we must necessarily look for this class of people in the churches. And can this be true of those who profess to be the followers of Him who had not where to lay his head? Take your seat in the pew of any of the popular churches on Sunday morning, and there receive your answer. How are you going to tell the members from the rest? Not by their dress certainly. The church member is as gaily dressed as the most devoted votary of fashion. I know of no way, only to consult the class book; whether it agrees with the record of the book of life, God only knows! This I do know however, that Paul speaks of some who "measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." This clearly explains the whole matter. It is a self work, the salvation by faith in Christ is no part of their transformation; hence they fail to bear the fruits of meekness, gentleness, love, &c., and this shows too, why the world occupies so large a share of their thoughts.
And the poor thoughtless youth see this love of display, and they are dazzled by its attractions, and at once conclude if it is not wrong in a Christian, it can be no harm for them; and a desire of emulation is awakened, a desire to imitate or excel those whose dress is gayer than their own. And if worldly circumstances will not permit them to gratify this foolish ambition, many will barter virtue, honor, self-respect, yes, even their eternal all, to obtain it. The degraded position which many of the female sex occupy, may in numberless instances be traced to an inordinate love of dress; and perchance, the very person who first awoke this vain desire was a church member! What an influence to have to meet at the bar of God! How will they answer the charge of conforming to the changing, useless fashions of earth, and spending the precious talent given by their master to be occupied in his service, in adorning their outward persons in foolish nonsensical fineries, for no other purpose than to excite the admiration or envy of the vain, or the baser passions of the lewd, and thus leading a fellow-being to forsake a path of rectitude and virtue, for one of dishonor and shame, whose end is speedy destruction?
Nearly every sin except those repugnant to every moral mind, finds apologists among church members. What kind of an influence would Christ and his apostles have exercised, had they been found mixing with all promiscuous assemblies, frequenting groceries and bar-rooms, listening to the profanity of the profane, or laughing at the foolish gibberish of the drunken, without a word of rebuke, or a mention of the holy doctrine which they came to promulgate? Would it not sound strange for a preacher to arise in the sacred desk, and turning to the Acts of the Apostles, read, for the profit and encouragement of his audience, that they had a political meeting at Rome, and that Paul took the stand and spoke two hours, to a highly interested audience, calling his opponents all sorts of evil names? or that Peter won a heavy purse at a horse race at Athens? or that James and John had laid in a large supply of tea, tobacco, and whiskey, to last till the fishing season was over? And yet if the history of the every-day lives of some of the loudest professors of to-day were written out, how very different from the above do you suppose it would be? And these are the common examples of pious parents before their children. No wonder they grow up with little or no respect for the Bible, or its teachings. No wonder Isaiah, while scanning with a prophetic eye, earth's future pages, should cry out in bitterness, even while he heard the saying, "From the uttermost parts of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous,"—"My leanness, my leanness! woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously;" and then go on to predict that "fear and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth."
When we meditate on all the promises of God, to those whom he has chosen, we are sensibly impressed with his goodness. And when we compare the present position of the churches, with the requirements of his word, we can but tremble at the mighty judgments which we see ready to burst on a guilty world. If the church has ceased to be a peculiar treasure to the Lord, then has the cry been uttered, "Come out of her my people." Who is willing to do this? Who is willing to cast off all useless adorings, to separate themselves from earthly pleasures, "to stand still in the way, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, that they may find rest to their souls?" It is the old paths they are to inquire after, the paths which Christ and the apostles trod. "They have healed the hurt of my daughter slightly," says the prophet, "Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations? Nay, they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush."
Dear fellow travelers, this is no idle tale. Other churches have fallen through a blind conformity to this world. The sad effects are too plainly visible to be denied. We profess to have answered the call to come out of Babylon. Is there none of her filth still clinging to our garments? none of her iniquities which we have brought with us, and which we are fostering in our hearts? none of her pride, love of dress, popularity, worldly lusts? Let each carefully examine, lest our Saviour be constrained to look further ere he chooses a people from this untoward generation, to be a peculiar people unto himself, and when we knock for admittance at the gate of the celestial city, he from within shall say, "Depart I never knew you."
C. M. WILLIS.
Charlotte, Mich.
Faith.
FAITH is a very simple thing,
Though little understood:
It frees the soul from death's dread sting
By resting in the Blood.
It looks not on the things around,
Nor on the things within:
It takes its flight to scenes above,
Beyond the spheres of sin.
Faith is not what we feel or see:
It is a simple trust
In what the God of love has said
Of Jesus as "the Just."
The Perfect One that died for me,
Upon his Father's throne
Presents our names before our God,
And pleads himself alone.
What Jesus is, and that alone,
Is Faith's delightful plea;
It never deals with sinful self,
Nor righteous self, in me.
It tells me I am counted "dead"
By God, in his own Word;
It tells me I am "born again"
In Christ my risen Lord.
In that he died, he died to sin;
In that he lives—to God;
Then I am dead to Nature's hopes,
And justified through blood.
If he is free, then I am free
From all unrighteousness;
If he is just, then I am just;
He is my Righteousness.
What want I more to perfect bliss?
A body like his own
Will perfect me for greater joys
Than angels' round the throne.
The Bible Alone.
By John McMillan
The profession of Protestants is, that the Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice. But among the different bodies of professing Christians there are three classes:
1. Those who read but little on the subject of religion, or living holiness. These believe pretty much as their fathers did, and think the greatest danger is in changing their opinions.
This class virtually deny the deceitfulness of the heart, and the necessity of self-examination; and in their willful ignorance are in danger of claiming the favor of the Lord, when he will profess unto them, "I never knew you, Depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
2. There is another class who are more progressive, but who read more at the feet of Gamaliel, than from the mouth of Christ, and the teachings of his Spirit.
They believe that the opinions of the great and learned in this enlightened age are the essence of all that is good and lovely in the dark and foggy teachings of the Bible. Among this class are many honest unsuspecting souls who admit the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and practice, but who are somewhat stupefied by their early mysticism and dare not venture a dissent from the wisdom of the learned. This class is in danger of placing an undue estimate on the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God, and thereby make their worship vain or unacceptable, by teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
3. There is a third class though few in number, who believe that God has hidden many things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes; that not many wise, not many mighty, are chosen; that God looks to the man that is of a humble and contrite spirit. They believe that they should obey God rather than man, and that God has given his creatures a revelation of his will, and what is their duty; that it is able to make them wise unto salvation; that it is so plain in all the essentials pertaining to the glory of the Creator, and the happiness of the creatures, that he that runs may read.
Serious candidate for immortality, to which class do you belong? If you profess to take Christ as your guide, be consistent at least with yourself. Christ said, Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me. To the law and the testimony should be your appeal for the truth of every statement of doctrine. There are some that "cannot endure sound doctrine," and their number is on the increase. In the struggle that is fast approaching between truth and error, those only will be the "invincible," who understand the Holy Scriptures, and have felt their sanctifying power.
As corroborative evidence of the completeness of the Scriptures as their own interpreter, I give the following remarks of Bishop Horsley:
"It should be a rule with every one who would read the Holy Scriptures with advantage and improvement, to compare every text which may seem either important for the doctrine it may contain, or remarkable for75the turn of the expression, with the parallel passages in other parts of holy writ; that is, with the passages in which the subject matter is the same, the sense equivalent, or the turn of expression similar.
"It is incredible to any one who has not in some degree made the experiment, what a proficiency may be made in that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation, by studying the Scriptures in this manner, without any other commentary or exposition of them, what the different parts of the sacred volume mutually furnish for each other.
"I will not scruple to assert that the most illiterate Christian, if he can but read the English Bible, and will take the pains to read it in this manner, will not only attain all that practical knowledge which is necessary to his salvation, but by God's blessing will become enlightened in every thing relating to his religion, to such a degree that he will not be liable to be misled, either by the refined arguments, or by the false assertions, of those who endeavor to engraft their own opinions upon the oracles of God.
"He may safely be ignorant of all philosophy except what is to be learned from the sacred books, which indeed contain the highest philosophy adapted to the lowest apprehensions.
"He may safely remain ignorant of all history except so much of the history of the first ages of the Jewish and Christian church, as is to be gathered from the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. Let him study these in the manner I recommend, and let him never cease to pray for the illumination of that Spirit by which these books were dictated, and the whole compass of abstruse philosophy and recondite history will furnish no argument with which the perverse will of man shall be able to shake this learned Christian's faith. The Bible thus studied will indeed prove to be what we Protestants esteem it, a certain and sufficient rule of faith and practice, a helmet of salvation which alone may quench the fiery darts of the wicked."
A Word about Prayer-Meetings.
By Cuyler
Three or four years ago we prepared for the columns of The Independent a brief account of a "Model Prayer-meeting." The wide currency given to the paragraph—on both sides of the Atlantic—testified to the universal interest among working Christians in the question of making prayer-meetings lively, earnest, and successful. Many churches are well filled on the Sabbath, whose weekly meetings are so thin that, if a musket were fired through the room, "it would endanger no Christian life." Those who attend are seldom any other than the church-officers, and "of devout and honorable woman quite a few." The meetings are usually formal and stereotyped; they begin with "Mear" and "Ortonville," or "Old Hundred," then a chapter lazily read, then a deacon, then an "opportunity for remarks," then a silent pause, then a hymn or a deacon, and the closing prayer dismisses the handful to their homes. Do such solemn somnambulisms build up a church? Do they bring spiritual baptism and promote revivals? Do they attract the young, the thoughtless, the backslider, or any classes that need to be prayed for? Do they quicken God's people? Just about as much as the thin sea-fog that blew in last night from the Long Island Sound watered this drought-smitten Greenfield Hill.
Such prayer-meetings not only paralyze the growth of a church, but they stand in the way of something better than themselves. The sooner they end, the sooner will a living religious service be born in their stead. Perhaps a hint or two may be profitable to those who long for that soul-quickener, a spirited, delightful prayer-meeting.
I. Freedom is a prime point to be gained. To make the meeting easy, informal, social, is a great desideratum; as little like a staid public convocation, and as much like a Christian family-circle, as possible. Is it well, therefore, always to run each meeting into the mold of its predecessor? If a judicious leader chooses to conduct the service on one evening differently from the usual routine, let him do so. If more of prayer seems demanded, let him encourage it; if more of praise and thanksgiving, let him give out frequent jubilant hymns. If there be a great topic of the day that demands admission, let him introduce it at the outset. There is a great deal in giving a happy "pitch" to the service. If any one present has a single telling remark to offer, however short, or an appropriate verse of scripture to quote, let him launch it forth. Then, too, a sweet verse of a devotional hymn (like "Rock of Ages," or "Nearer to Thee") may be chanting itself through some brother's mind; why should he not, at a proper interval, break out, and sing it, leaving the rest to join in with him? In revival meetings—when the glow of Christian love melts away all rigid formality—every one is free to speak, to pray, to sing, or to read an appropriate incident, just as the spirit gives him utterance. The distinguishing merit of the prayer-meeting in Plymouth church, Brooklyn, is its unrestricted family freedom. A church prayer-circle is a household gathering of Christ's flock; stiffness is fatal to its Christian liberty and love; let every one be made welcome there, and every one who has a petition or a word of good counsel speak them out. If any garrulous character wearies with his "much speaking," it is easy for the pastor or the leader to give him a gentle private hint.
II. We ought not to go to our devotional meetings unprepared. The pastor cannot go without forethought and prayer to the pulpit; neither should private Christians to their social gathering in Christ's guest-chamber. The leader should have some plan or programme in his mind; he should not read his chapter of God's word at random, or take the first hymn he opens to. Each person who expects to take part should be treasuring up some rich thought, or some personal religious experience, for the benefit of his spiritual kindred whom he will meet in the room of prayer. If we have a trying case of conscience to be settled, the prayer-meeting is often the best place to propose the question and to obtain counsel.
Young converts should be encouraged to open their lips in social prayer, and speaking at once. If they do not begin while in the ardors of their first love, they never will. At a delightful prayer-meeting we attended lately, a young man arose, and told the company present how God had lately taken a dear child out of his arms, and how the providence had awakened his guilty conscience, and how he had given his heart to Jesus on the very same day, and had been a happy Christian ever since; and the young disciple's touching speech gave a new and blessed inspiration to the meeting. It gave a stamp too to the man himself. Henceforth he will not likely be a "silent-partner" in any church to which he belongs.
III. Prayer-meetings should be cheerful—not sanctimonious or lugubrious. It is no place for trifling; nor is it a place for cant or pharisaical mock humility. Everything should be sincere, cordial, honest, devout, and filial. Christians should "rejoice in the Lord" at a prayer-season. Love should illuminate the countenance and warm the lips. The impenitent are more likely to be reached by a cordial gushing outflow of Christian joy, and by winning words of entreaty, than by sour words and frigid formalisms. If God's Spirit is in a meeting, it cannot be a failure. Begin then with humbly imploring the presence and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, no prayer-meeting should be allowed, except in extraordinary circumstances, to exceed a single hour.
Earth Not Our Abiding Place
EARTH NOT OUR ABIDING PLACE.—Prentice eloquently says:
I cannot believe that earth is man's only abiding place. It can't be that our life is cast up by the ocean of eternity to float a moment upon its waves and then sink into nothingness! Else why is it that the glorious aspirations, which leap like angels from the temple of our heart, are forever wandering about unsatisfied? Why is it that the rainbow and clouds come ever with beauty that is not of earth, and then pass off and leave us to muse upon their favored loveliness?
Why is it that the stars, who hold their festival around the midnight throne, are set above the grasp of our limited faculties, forever mocking us with their unapproachable glory? And, finally, why is it that bright forms of human beauty are presented to our view, and then taken from us, leaving the thousand streams of our affection to flow back in Alpine torrents upon our hearts? We are born for a higher destiny than that of earth; there is a realm where the rainbow never fades—where the stars will be spread before us like islands that slumber on the ocean—and where the beings that here pass before us like shadows will stay in our presence forever.
The Word of God.
By J. H. Lord
TIME's treasure! and the wisdom of the wise.
—Young.
Be thou my star in reason's night,
Be thou my rock in danger's fright,
Be thou my guide 'mid passion's way,
My moon by night—my sun by day.
—Milman.
Thou art mine,
Mine, to tell me whence I came;
Mine, to teach me what I am;
Mine, to chide me when I rove;
Mine, to show a Saviour's love;
Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner's doom:
Oh! thou precious book divine,
Priceless treasure! thou art mine!
Thou truest friend man ever knew,
Thy constancy I've tried;
When all were false, I've found thee true,
My counselor and guide.
—Morris.
Let all the heathen writers join
To form one perfect book;
Great God, if once compared with thine,
How mean their writings look!
Not the most perfect rules they give,
Could show one sin forgiven,
Nor lead a step beyond the grave;
But thine conducts to Heaven.
That lamp
Which God threw from his palace down to earth,
To guide his wandering children home.
—Pollok.
This holy book, on every line
Marked with the seal of high divinity,
On every leaf bedewed with drops of love
Divine, and with the eternal heraldry
And signature of God Almighty stamped
From first to last,
—Pollok.
This Book unfolds Jehovah's mind,
This Voice salutes in accents kind,
This Sun renews and warms the soul,
This Sword both wounds and makes us whole,
This Letter shows our sins forgiven,
This Guide conducts us safe to Heaven,
This Charter has been sealed with blood,
This Volume is the Word of God.
Read the Bible : it will point you
To bright scenes of bliss on high,
Where there's rest for all the weary,
And our loved ones never die.
Holy Bible! thou wilt cheer me,
When I lay me down to die.
Whence, but from Heaven, could men unskilled in arts
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why,
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?
Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.
—Dryden.
If on the book itself we cast our view,
Concurrent heathens prove the story true;
The doctrines, miracles, which must convince,
For Heaven in them appeals to human sense;
And though they prove not, they confirm the cause,
When what is taught agrees with Nature's laws.
—Dryden.
Then for the style, majestic and divine,
It speaks no less than God in every line;
Commanding words! whose force is still the same
As the first fiat that produced our frame.
—Dryden.
Childhood's preceptor, manhood's trust,
Infinity's ally;
Our hope—when we go down to dust—
Of immortality.
Word of the ever living God!
Will of his glorious Son!
Without thee how could earth be trod,
Or Heaven itself be won?
We won't give up the Bible,
God's blessed book of truth,
The blessed staff of hoary age,
The guide of early youth.
—Com. by J. H. Lord.