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THE KING ' S BUSINESS
REALLY KNOWING THE BIBLE There are many who busy themselves with the Intricate problems of the Bible who have no mastery In the experi– m ental knowledge of Christ. They spend their time In studying the guide– post but they have no vital acquaint– ance with the road. They have a mag– niflcent knowledge of the map of the country, but they are not famllar with Its bracing air, and Its refreshing springs, and Its coverts from the tem– pest, and Its pleasant arbours by the way, and Its lilies of peace, and Its rich and plentiful fruits which are good for all the changing seasons of our life. They know the Book In the let– ter, they are strangers to the spirit. They know It as literature, they do not know It as revelation. They come to It as students, they do not come to It as sinners; they bring their curiosity, they do not bring their needs. If you will test the teachings of the Bible ex– perimentally, honestly, earnestly, per– sistently, by submitting your life to their control and direction, you will find the reality of their challenge. Try them! Prove them! Subject yourself to their counsels, and In personal ex– perience resolve the q uestlon as to the essential value of their claims. -J. H. Jowett. ~ ~ ANOTHER ONE NAILED It ls frequently said by liberalists that those who believe in the verbal In– spiration of the Scriptures regard all parts of the Bible as of equal value, so that a book like Ecclesiastes was as Important as the gospel of John. Answering this charge W. H. Owens says: "Such an argument Is beating the wind, because no rational believer In verbal Inspiration would ever assert anything of the kind. Because things come equally from the divine Author, It does not make them of equal value. For Instance, most people have on their
feet two little toes, and In their heads two eyes, but because God made both the toes and the eyes no rational per– son suggests that, therefore, the two toes are of equal value with the two eyes, although both have a useful pur– pose. In the same way all the things In the Bible, although from the same divine Author, are not of equal value, though all of use In their place. "As the Scriptures declare that 'holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit' ( 2 Pet. 1: 21). and that 'all Scripture Is given by Inspira– tion of God' (2 Tim. 3:16), we have a sure foundation; and the humble souls who r everently turn to the sacred Scriptures as containing the Inspired 'words of God' have also abundant reason on their side." ~ ~ LOOK AWAY AND LOOK UP "Taking the shield of faith, where– with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph. 6: 16). Unbelief puts circumstances between Itself and Christ, so as not to see Him; as the disciples did, through the mist, "and they cried out for fear." Faith puts Christ between itself and circum– stances; so that It cannot see them "for the glory of that light." Unbelief fixes Its gaze on men, and things, and like– lihoods, and possibilities, and circum– stances. Faith will not concern her– self with these; she refuses to spend her time and waste her strength In considering them. Her eye Is fixed steadfastly on her Lord. 0 trembling heart, look away, and look up! Your sorrows have been multiplied by look– ing at difficulties and second causes. Cease from all this. Talk no more about the walled cities and rugged paths and dark valleys. But think of the love, the might, and the wisdom of the Shepherd! Your salvation does not depend on what you are, but on what He is. For every look at self, take ten looks at Chrlst.-F. B. Meyer.
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