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T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
How familiar the Book is, too,—*1 speak now as to my own feelings— as to all that concerns us! It talks about my flesh, and my corruptions, and my difficulties. Some would sneer at them, and laugh; but this Book sympathizes with them. It knows my tremblings, my fears, my doubts, and all the storm that rages within the little world of my nature. This Book has been through all my experience; somehow or other it maps out all of my way, and talks with me as if it were a fellow-pilgrim. And how often the Book has answered inquiries! I have been amazed in times of difficulty, to see how plain the oracle is. You have friends, and they could not advise you; but you have gone to your Bible, and it has told you. You have questioned, and you have puzzled, and you have tried to elucidate the problem, and lo! in the chapter read at morning prayer, or in a passage of Scripture that lay open before you, the direction has been given. ABE YOU A REAL STUDENT? Our interest in the Scriptures may be a matter of merely mental interest, and not the eager quest of the soul. It may be inspired by curiosity and not by piety. It may be a question of taste and not devotion. A man may have a passion for theology, and yet his passion may be absolutely divorced from moral purity and spiritul aspiration. Our study of theology may be as abstract-, as the higher mathematics, and just as sep arate from vital moral issues. The study of the Bible can be as detached from the bell-summons of the con science as the study of Euclid. Bible study may be just a pleasant exercise and not a spiritual crusade.— Sel.
tiful miniature painting of Rossini him self. There is no denying that this is char acteristic of a certain type of Chris tianity. It values its' ethics and is ac quainted with and appreciates much, of its teaching, hut it has not discovered the inner secret which gives supreme value. The portrait of Christ is still hidden. When the secret spring is touched, and the face of Christ is recog nized, the whole attitude of mind and theory of values is changed.— Thomas Payne, D. D. THE TALKING BOOK Charles H. Spurgeon “ When thou awakest; it shall talk with thee.”— Prov. 6:22. ROM the text we learn that Holy Scripture is very familiar. “When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.” To talk sig nifies fellowship, communion, familiar ity. It does not say, “ It shall preach to thee.” Many persons have a high esteem for the Book; but they look upon it as though it were some strangely elevated teacher speaking to them from a lofty tribunal, while they stand far below. I will not in the least con demn such reverence, but it were far better if they would understand the familiarity of God’s Word; it does not so much preach to us as talk to us. It is not, “When thou awakest, it shall lecture thee,” or, “ it shall scold thee.” No, no; “ it shall talk with thee.” We sit at its feet, or rather at the feet of Jesus, in the Word, and it comes down to us; it is familiar with us, as a man talketh to his friend. How tenderly Scripture comes down to our simplicity! In the gospel narrative the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err. It is familiar talk; it is God’s great mind brought down to pur littleness, that it may lift us up to His greatness.
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