What the Bible Will Do for Us, and What We Are to:Do With the Bible. By Captain W. H. Dawson. T HERE are three special things that we are told the Word of God is able to do for us. There are many othérs, of course, but there are three special things, and the greater includes the less. The first is James, chapter 1, verse 21 : "Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." Secondly, in 2 Timothy, . 3rd chapter, 15th verse: "The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Thirdly, Acts, chapter 20 and 32nd verse: "I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." f Now, has the Word of God done this for us, or is the inspired Word of God doing these special things for us? St. Paul writing to Timothy, gives us four special things that we are to do with the Word of God. Putting before Timothy various doubts, diffi- culties and dangers, he assures him that they may all be met and overcome by the right use of the Word of God. In the 1st chapter and the 13th verse, "Take hold of it," "Keep hold of it," "Hold it fast." It is thè sword of the Spirit. Take it and use it. We read of Eleanor, whose hand clave unto his sword, and the Eord wrought a great victory. In the next chapter and 15th verse there is a further step. Handle it rightly, "Rightly divining the Word of the Truth," or one reading of it is "Rightly handling it." It is both for attack and defense. It has its cuts and its guards, and its points ; and the best evidence surely of its supernatural power will be the use of it. May we be like Apollos, "mighty in the Scriptures"? We spend a great deal of time in our naval and military services inventing new weapons to use against the nation's enemies, but there is no near weapon for the; sol- diers of Jesus Christ, though there is fresh power; and with that Divine Power, with that Holy Ghost Power the Word of God is indestructible, it is irresistible, it is invincible, it is impregnable. In the next chapter and the 14th verse there is another step, "Continue in it," "Abide in it." . It is the best book, and there is none like it. Lastly," in the fourth chapter and 2nd verse, we have still a wider use for it, and application of it. It seems to sum it all up in those words, "Preach the Word." Preach it by lip and by life; live it and practice it. Not less preaching, but more practicing. No argument on its behalf will be so powerful as. the argument of our lives. And the words are emphatic : "Begin with it, go on with it, keep on with it, make it the habit of your life." But it a,lso means "proclaim the Word." Proclaim it as herald, as messenger, as witness, by preaching, by persisting, by persuading. In the last chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, you remember that St. Paul per- suaded men concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses, and the Prophets, from morning till evening in his own hired house in Rome. Lét ' us go and do likewise.
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