SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

GETTING AT THE PRECIOUS TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE. [BY HEV. G. CAMPBELL MORGAN.] It is necessary first to state briefly the position I occupy with relation to the Bible. 3. I proceed upon the assumption that the Bible is the Y>ord of God— His message to men. 2, It is to be read in order to know what is His mind and will concerning man. It is not to be treated as a scientific text-book, nor yet as a full and exhaustive history of the human race. It records the doings of Go among men, and His sayings to them. 3. The Bible is to be road for practical purposes—not merely that man may know what G'xl has done and said, but in order that life and service may be conditioned within His will.

These thing* being granted, certain demands are made upon the reader. There must bo a recognition of the need of the guidance of "the Author. The most precious truths of the Book can only be discovered by those who take it up in child-like dependence upon the di.'ccfc illumination of the Holy Spirit. The law o'. : progress in understanding the Word is that the truth already received shall have been obeyed in the life. The Bible is a scaled book to thousands of people because there has not been response in their lives to the measure of truth received.

There must be the disciple's heart fox the reception of truth. The characteristics of the true disciple are willingness to learn and determination to work. Prejudice and laziness will inevitably dull the mind and obscunp the vision. Once again, there are certain elementary facts which must he borne in mind. The Bible is a library consisting of sixtysix books, written by at least forty different authors.

The writing of these books extended over a period of fifteen or sixteen centuries. Thus many men, of different nationalities. of different' tongues, wrote sixty-six books which form one message. In the principles i-imii i;e-".-U mi );• velation, and this because through forty writers, one Aid tor has ex pressed His mind. These things being granted, we may proceed to discuss the true method of studying the Bible. That method may be indicated by three wordsread, examine, meditate. In order to read, let all mere.}- mechanical arrangements be set on one side, so that the orderliness of the Spirit may be disj covered and obeyed. By mechanical arrangements is meant all those methods which approach the Bible from tne standpoint of having to read it as a duty. For instance, there are those who attempt to read the whole book through every year. This I have never been able to do, though I have tried again and again. Some portion of it has always arrested me and retained me bevond the time allotted. Neither do I look upon it as wise only to read portions that someone else has selected. There may bo value in International readings, but the true Bible student will assuredly hare some independent lines of study. I have met many who have read a portion allotted, from a sens© of duty, who, ten minutes after the reading, were unable to give any_ clear account of what they had read. It is far better to read one verse so as to discover its light and hear the musie of spiritual intention breathing though it than to read a set portion and, yet know nothing of its spiritual teaching. There is y?t another mechanical method against which I would warn all Bible students —that, namely, of using the references in an ordinary Bib'e, and imagining that this 13 searching the Scriptures. Turning from the negative" to the positive side of the question, my first advice is of a practical nature. Obtain an ordinary Revised Version paragraph Bible, and then commence your reading. First read an i compare the list of the books in the two Testaments, and note the fact that in both there is the same structure, each containing history, devotion, teaching, prophecy. Nov/ take a book and read it through at a sitting. This may seem a large order, and I think I lies?: someone say that their usual portion lias b-.;en about twelve verses a day. Yes, and if all the truth is told, they should add that when the twelve verses have been read they hare taken up another book and read some hundreds of its pages. Leave the other book for a while, and give the Word of God the same opportunity. This reading through of a book will enable you to form some idea of ■"t-s general scope. Even this will hardly be obtained in one reading. I have personally fo md it of enormous advantage to read aloud . It is so easy, when reading silently, for the mind to wander upon a side issue. Reading aloud is a great aid to concentration of thought. Having read the book through, lay the Bible down, and attempt to remember the thoughts impressed on your mind. Write these though-,'; at as great length as possible. First impressions may not be accurate, but, as the work proceeds the mistakes will be discovered and corrected. And such reading i 3 of infinite value. Having thus discovered something of the purpose of a book, read it again, more slowly, endeavouring to get at its scheme. Let this process bo repeated until the general outline of the book is stamped upon the memory. For instance, the Gospel of Matthew read in this way will reveal Jesus as King. He will be seen moving in the majesty of kingship, with the sceptre in His hand, enunciating laws, and directing the order of His Kingdom. Finally, He will be seen rejected of men, but ascending to the throne. This process should ic followed with all the books of the Bible.

Having thus found the general scheme of a book, now proceed to careful examination of each one of its sections. Taking one of these, analyse it. I use the word in the sense in which we used it at school. Find the subject,* predicate, and object of each sentence. Distinguish between the principal sentence and the coordinate sentences. Take each sentence carefully to pieces. Do not rest until you feel you have discovered the real thought in the mind of the writer. Your business is not to make the Bible support your _ opinions, but to disc-over what is its teaching. Pass again and again over these sections, comparing the one with the other, and it is very probable that this exercise will compel you to rearrange your first schome. Thus you are making a definite progress in your understanding of the book. ( Having examined each section, yet a- closer 'work of examination awaits you. Take every word, and attempt to understand its value. Search for its root, discover its use in other places, and mark its particular force in the sentence under review. This process will often make the whole statement flash with new meaning, and you will find that the Spirit of God is the most wonderful author you have ever read, because He has selected the right word, the best word, to give expression to the mind of God. It would be of incalculable value ,if all young Christians gave themselves to a study of New Testament Greek. For those unable to do this' there are aids at hand to-day of inestimable value. With a little practice anvone with an average education can make such use of Dr. Strong's " Exhaustive Concordance" and the Englishman's "Greek and Hebrew Lexicons" that they will be able to discover the value of the original words. To those prepared to do this the Bible will inevitably becomo a new book.

Now follows a most important subject— that of meditation. Here we are in great danger of failing. There are many who read a set portion, and give themselves to the examination of words, and then imagine that they have done all that is necessary. It is a great mistake. After the reading and examination let time be taken to meditate upon the truth discovered. Apply the teaching to your own character and conduct. Ask

whether conduct is in harmony with tli» Divine thought. " Apuly the truth to the affairs of men and to the government of nations, and thus discover your proper attitude as to personal life, and as to service for God. The three means described form one method of study—that is to say, ail should go forward at the same time. One book should bo und»r close scrutiny from day to day until i; is completed. While this is being done the rest of the Bible should not bo neglected, but took after book should be read through again and again. Mediation should follow both processes. No one need have any fear of exhausting the Bible if tiny study it on these lines. I venture- to say to any young men who are preparing for tie ministry that, if the Bible be studied in this way, they will never ha\e to '.o outside for their sermons. As the days pats on the first handful of bread broken to the people of God will multiply in the breaking, until, whatever crowds may henceforth hang upon their wort's, the crowds will be fed, and yet there will he left treasures that infinitely surpass those with which the work began.

BE STRONG IX THE LORD. Be strong in the Lord who loves thee, Kememberir-g His power and His might. Lay hold on His grace and His mercy. The Saviour will guide thee aright. Let nothing dismay or distress thee. His grace ; = abundantly strong. And His mantle of love shall enfold thee And hide thee from danger and wrong When varying scenes, and alluring. Shall crowd on thy pathway below. His strength and His love reassuring /re gifts that His bounty will show. An.'< His wings of compassion and love Will hover around like a dove. Till thy weakness and sorrow at hmsrth Are merest in the joys of His love. Put thy trust in the Lord, weary soul, So surely thy joys shall increase, And though waves of adversity roll God will guide thee to glory and peace. J.R.H.