A PLEA FOR THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7657, 16 June 1896, Page 4

A PLEA FOR THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

!s£«£-• ", ■Wo ihb Editor of the Heiuwj.) great question which is MfJ&teing ; so . rnuoh controversy both in isSpUblio and private life, whether the Bible Ip^ehould or should not be taught in public iSSchools, -la i - indeed a solemn question. P^litttesxty... 27,-44, 45. The Bible was ||J|jnflp'ired for ' the purpose for which it was |f,r;{giVeaWtqßhow the way of salvation, to MJjfisfkjß'tmsn'£ihee&. _|md God's grace in i^ClljirjßJlH^^aihVvo^the Old and New |S9B^^»6%BiV ; palled, 'the scriptures or i^^n^^^Xi^v^a^lnAhat iphvaae and in ||» t tl«M|ns'tDeß', everyone,, it seems to me, Igplllll^e^rr'tlje^acflent -of reverenb and

grateful submission. A close survey of the New Testament will deepen the convictiou that It claims for the old the fullest inspiration with whioh it is possible to credit it. There is a belief, and one, too, which is frequently expressed, that its predictions must be fulfilled. The certainty and necessity of their accomplishment are as absolute as that light follows the sun's rising or darkness its setting. Here, for example, when our Lt>rd Jesus Christ was entering .Jerusalem after the unusual preparation of sending for the young colt, the evangelist says : " All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet." Matt, xxi., 4., Zachariah IX., 9. Of such instances the Bible teems. The New Testament therefore refuses to sustain the contention that the history of scripture is uuinspired and unreliable. On the contrary God had to do both with the making of the history and with the recording of it. The word of God came " through the prophet," but it was spoken by our Lord. This distinction is repeated again and again. Prophecy came not at any time by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pot. 1., 21. -'All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Tim. in., 16. 17. Through all the different pages of this divine book, in prophecy and in psalm, in type and_ in symbol, teems the promise of a Coming One, who will bruise the serpent's head, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, the Descendant of David destined to reign for ever upon His throne ; the Light to lighten the Gentiles ; the Desire of all nations ; the Star out of Jacob ; the Sceptre out of Isrrel, the Redeemer of the purchased possession ; the Wonderful Counsellor ; the Mighty God ; the Everlasting Father ; and the Prince of Peace.

Through all the writings of prophets and poets, of seers and saints, this is the Hero of this Wondrous Book. Its sacred pages are studded over with great and glorious truths, tender and loving messages, and with solemn warnings to us all, meant for all people, languages, and tongues, all nations and ages. Who, then, can comprehend the Bible in all its vast and measureless weilth 1 "If a truth be established, objections are nothing. The one is founded on our knowledge, and the other on our ignoranco." Let us hope, then that in the estimation of all true-hearted men and women they will not think it more necessary for the children to know the rules of arithmetic than the rules of life, the heights of the world's mountains and the lengths of her rivers, than the ten commandments and the precepts of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gipsy Lysnae.