ships of war go to the conflict but the Bible is there. It enters men's closets; mingles in all their grief and cheerfulness of life. The affianced maiden prays God in Scripture for strength in her new duties. Men are married by Scripture. The Bible attends them in their sickness, when the fever of the world is on them. The aching head finds a softer pillow when the Bible lies underneath. It blesses us when we are born; gives names to half Christendom; rejoices with us; has sympathy for our mourning. Under its influence the timid man does not fear to take the death angel by the hand and bid farewell to wife and babes at home. Men rest on it their dearest hopes; it tells them of God and of his blessed Son; of earthly duties and heavenly rest.” From whom am I quoting this eloquent language? Whose is this fervid speech? Whose heart throb is it I feel beating so fervently in this splendid eulogy of the Book of Books? It is the arch-heretic of New England, Theodore Parker. And now, does any one ask the question Is the Bible inspired? Such a question is the question of a child—of a mere babe. But what of it? What matters all this splendid rhetoric to any one of us unless he can say truthfully for himself, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path." VIII THE FIGHT OF LIFE The Revised Version has it: "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage." It seems an extraordinary thing that man's own nature should not be harmonious, that it should be a battle-ground. And yet of the fact there can be no doubt. We soon discover that we have bodily appetites and passions and that unless they are disciplined the whole mind and spirit will be under their control. When a child begins to develop self-consciousness, he has not sufficient understanding of his own nature to be allowed to have his own way. Not only will he eat too much and drink too much; but he will eat and drink of that which will gratify his palate rather than of plain, solid, nutritious food. Instead of going to school, if allowed to have his own way, he will very much prefer to play in the streets. Instead of going to Sunday-school or church he will prefer something else. Hence we see the necessity for a wise and understanding parenthood. The evolutionists have much to say of the prolongation of infancy in the young of the human family, far beyond the time of the most intelligent brute. |