University of South Carolina Libraries
BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY. AUGUST 14, 1SU8. VOLUME XV1---NO. 16. ADDRESS, Delivered before the Abbeville District Bible Society at its Forty-fifth Anniversary, 29th July, 1868, by w. a lee, ebq. Akbevit.le, S. C.,.) July 29th, 1S08. J W. A- Lee, Esq.?Dear Sir :? Having had tho groat ploasuro of hoaring your Address to tho Abbovillo District Biblo Socioty to-day, wo doBiro, for tbo good of tho causo, that you will furnish a copy of it for publication in our papers. \T irnnra ROBT. H. WARDLAW, R. A. FAIR, THOS. THOMSON, Rev. E. A. BOLLES. abbeville C- IT., 1 July 29, 1808. j Messrs. Rout. II. "VVardlaw and others ? Gentlemen :?lndoferonco to your wishes, and with tho hopo that tho Address may accomplish some good, I herewith transmit a copy for publication. Reapoettully yours, W. A. LEE. My Friends of the Bible Socierz, and Respected Auditory :?It is with feelings of profound difHJencc ] ' that I approach the discussion of a i -subject appropriate to this occasion. | Thoy who arc accustomed to minister at the altar, may approach with boldness, but a stranger, "I pause, and enter awed, the templo of my theme." 13rieflyJL proposo to considor some of evidences which Natural Theology | offers of the boing and attributes of < CJod, next tbo conncction betweon Natoral and llevoulod Religion, and last- '< Jy tho most striking proofs and did- ] tinguishing characteristics of lievela- < Jtion. 1 "I had rather believo," says Lord Hacon, "all tho fables in tho legend, tho Talmud ond tho Alcoran than j that this universal frame wks without j .a mind : heuco (i-nrt I , | fmirnclo to convince Atheism, because I 'liin ordinary woiks convince it." j ' Who that surveys the starry heavens above us; who that looks npon the 1 broad earth beneath us; who thai 1 regards the myriad forms of existence 1 that surround us; who that feels tho ' pulsations of tho physical and intellectual life within us; who that is conscious of tho moral law, that regulates every hoart; who standing in this temple -of universal naturo, so replete with evidences ot tho being and attributes of God, himself the highest manifestation, and tho moet convincing proof of the Divine power, and wisdom and goodneFS, can be guilty of the amazing blindness, tho supreme folly of unbelief; can refuse bis tribute of i'aitli to tho great Creator, who set his constellations in the sky, ' "And llie well balanced earth on hinges bung, And cast the dark foundations deep,And hid the weltering waves, their oozy channel beep." But great as is tho folly of tbo .atheist, he still stops far short of the tremendous presumption of anti- . theism. He doas not positively affirm thut God is' not, but asserts merely, that there is no adequate proof of his oxistonce. Any other position would be in the highest degree absurd. It would be to assume the attributes of tbo Deity himself/?the very omni<jienco atid omnipresence of the Godhead. To be able to say that there is a God, we have only to examine.tho proofs of his presence and power in some definite territory of his wide dominions, but to be able to affirm that there is no God, we must have ransack* f>d the countless ages of eternity; wo must have travorsed the wide fields of universal existence; we fnoet have sounded the depths of all . knowledge, and comprehended the an&nite itself. In other words, unless tho anti-tbeist would preclude another Deity, by being one himself, be cannot know that the being whose existence ho denies, does not exist. But whilst he is guilty of; the ab surdity of arrogaliog to himself, the ubiquity and omniscience of the-Godbead, the atheist in bis blindness and insensibility, to iho proofs of the Divine existence, sinks beneath the lQve.1 of our conmoD nature. " These proofs Are so many, so vartoqsr and so overwhelming, that we knojy of no truths "^hicb are bettor established, or more an? veroally Cftpoeded; than the being jMKiaUribtttero?. 0od. They. 5ro bo iq-dj^ndergtbosl >j? the ..jp^^nowi^ettdf J)ho ?ame time, t??*?rtbey derive additional i(Wstration and fresh confirmation from the researchesofieionoe. The instinctive freling and. intuitive perception, that Avery- effect must, have a cause, which lies at llio foundation of all knowledge, forms tbo baBis of the liigh argument, that a world exhibiting evidont marks of wisdom and design could only have originated iroin a being of infi;;ito wisdom, und powor, and goodness. This argument admits of only one reply, that tbo world lias always continued as it is, and that thoro has been an eternal succession of finito beings; which involves a contradiction and mauifost. impossibility. uonsidcr lor a moment Ihoso manifestations of tho Divino oxifltonco and character which are exhibited in the varied operations of naturo. Hehold the prevailing ordor and harmony of tho universo, proclaiming the existence of universal law, regulating as well "tho smallest as needing its care and tho greatest as not exempted from its power"?law which establishes tho typical forms of organized being, and harmonizes tho infiuito devolopemontB of organized life?law which gives harmony to colors and symmotry to forms?law which controls tho appetency of plants and tho instinct of tho animals, which guides tho uuerring mcchanism of tho bee, and tho suro migrations of the waterfowl?law, tho same yesterday, Lo-day, and forovor, tho ono i^nd unchan&insr. and whinh amwl ..11 ?l?? fleeing forms, and varied scones of this present being, manifests tlio eternal archotypos of Divino ordor, und harmony and beauty. Again bohold Lho wondorful adaptation of means to an end, which is imprcssod upon tho whole creation? the collocations and arrangements of matter?tho manifold adjustments of place, and figuro and magnitude, jf light and hoat and color, by which the varied forces of natnre ?ro mado to subservo a common purposo and carry out tho groat designs of the Creator. Who that observes the frumo work of any human mechanism?the construction, lor cxamplo of a watch? tho elasticity of tho mainspring, tho regularity of tho balance wheel, the i vail ing forces of tho levers,?all cor\- j tributing to a~t-ingle result, but will j conclude nccossarily; that this is tho work of an intelligent and skillful arlint. And turning to tho great, laboratory of Xaturc, we are surronnded on all smIjr willi the cvidonccs oi' design. Tlio human frame itself " fearfully and wondorfully made," with its delicately constructed eye, taking in wiih lens and retina, the beauty and! bright noss^of every eceno, with its ear , keenly alivo to all the harmonies of Nature, with its complicated network of brain and nerves^ and muscles and ligaments forming the nicely adjusted instrument by which the soul holds communion, with the outer world, sensitive to every external impression and obedient to every internal impulso, furnishes tbo highest manifestation of the wisdom and bo npvnlan/ia nf I Ka HintnA A -..L N ? - WW* VJWMVV W4 V>'U XTif llio .11 /Ullt'UU* Again, survey tho events of the Divine Providence, manifesting his controlling supervision over the world which ho has made, and guiding, all tho lorcos of Nature to the accomplishment of his all-wiso purposes, and learn from those that he is not only the Great Creator, but tho wise and beneficent ruler, displaying bis presence and power, alike' in the operations of nature, the mutations of race, the checkered destiny of nations, and the experiences of tho individual consciousness. Turn to the human soul itself, " tho presence chamber ol" tho King of Kings,-' and there beholding the manifestations Of tho visible presence, ask yourselves in the emphatic language of Scripture, " He that formed tho eye shall he not see) he that planted the ear shall he not bear; he that teacheth man knowledge shall he not know ?" That blind and unconscious matter oanhot originate the phenomena of mind, is one of those intuitions i:~ _ i * i? i s- - * - -1* i ? wuivu no an tun uttttio- ui nil nuowiedge, and is proved by tho light of its own consciousness. The Vory fact that' the soul is capable entertaining these -* thoughts which- wander through eternity/' perceptions dim though they an ay be ?i the infinite and. eternal, indefinite happiness and boundless; a&pirations which lift It to the infinite source of tbo " Good, the Beautifal-and the True," proves its heavenly lineage and Divine original. But would you learn one of the most striking proofs' of the existence of, a moral;Governor of the; universe. ypn mast .derive it irom the moral (Jjjnfttitatipti of raan, and the supremacy of conscience. Philosophers may differ as to whether consciflnoe be An original or a derived faculty, ^ bat . all cqnonr that it4irft?* rigtatfaf -master, tad logiti mate-arbiter over tho passions, appetites and affections of 001 # naturo. Its monitions may bo un-- 1 heodod, and its authority disregarded, i i but though dethroned, it is tho right- f ful moi.aich still, enforcing its sane- I tions by thoso keen inflictions of ro i morso, which form tho penalties of ils i violated law. Tho idea of supcrin- ( tendency and snpromacy is a nocessa- i i ry constituent in our apprehension of c ! this faculty, and belongs to it from t tho vory economy and constitution of e our naturo. "Had it strength as it e has right," says Bishop Butler, "had c it power as it has manifest authority, i " ' c | it would absolutely govern the e world." An internal monitor and c over present judge, it suggests neces- < warily the conviction of tho cxietonce j of a Supreme Judgo and sovcroign t ruler who placed it in tho human a breast, as tho representative of his au- a thority, and the witnoss of his will u and character. To borrow tho lan- a guago of C halm or s, "There is a depth c of mystery in everything connocted t with the existence or tho origin of ? evil in creation, yet oven in tho fior- s cost uproar of our stormy passions, ^ conscionco, though in her softest c whispers, gives to tho supremacy of ii roctitudo, tho voico of an undying L testimony, and her light still shining v in a dark placo, her unquellcd aceonts a still hoard, in tho loudest outcry of o nature's rebellious appotitos, forms a tho strongest argument within roach v of tho human faculties, that in spite oi v of partial or temporary derangements, s Supremo Powar and Supremo GooJ- a ncBB aro at ono." t Such aro some of tho proofs which t "Natural Theology IVrnishes of tho bo- t; ini; and attributes of (inrl Tlwm m f tabiisii tho cxistencoof a Diviuo lvul- I or, seated upon tbo throne ot the uni c vtrso, and demonstrate tho perfect- V ions of his character. This order c and harmony of naturo, those mani- il told adjustments, and adaptations to s< man's physical, intellectual, acd moral ti constitution, this sustaining powor and providential caro, these prompt- j, ings of the moral law within, all pro. | u claim tho Wise Creator, the Hcnofiuent _ Parent, tho Moral Governor and tho f, Righteous Judgo. They constrain us to say,. "Tlicsc ns thpy o1??ncj* A1 rniftlif-y Father, theac Aro but llieJVHrieJ God : the rolling your n Is full of lliec." ' |) Whilst such aro the proofs which ti Natural Theology furnishes of the bo o ing and attributes ot God, it can fur- j o nish very littlo light upon tho etate < r and destiny of man- Ilcre it but p proposes problems which it cannot j,| solve, discloses mysteries which it r cannot fathom, arid conducts to o labyrinths of difficulty where it can n furnish no guiding cluc. But oven e hero it has a high function to dis- i charge. The hopes which it inspires p and the fears which it awakens, fur- a nish tho motives which prompt c the search and point tho way to that t purer and bettor light which is reflect- ii cd from God's eternal word. It re- s quired no voice from tho Almighty to t teach us that our nature is in ruins, li Tho world without and the world with- t in alike proclaim it. "War, and pesti- r I lenco and famino, disease and sick- f noas and death, all show how the c courao and constitution of naturo has e been disordered, and its beauty and t harmony disarranged. Tho prompt-, f ings of each individual consciousness e tolls us how much our nature has lost r its original brightneeB, and-its divine c impress, how the natural gradation of- a its faculties has bcon iuvortod, the su- I promacy of conscience been lost, and 1 uui ivuuic uniuru uHiruugeu irom luc c love and adoration which is due to g the creator. Nature discloses our c lost and rained condition, bat it fur- j nibhes no means of deliverance?no c city of rofuge from the hand of the i avenger?no Jacob's ladder reaching i to the skics?no ark of safety from t tho stormy billows of the deluge. It f prompts tbe enquiry, but it cat furnish t no satisfactory response to tbe ques \ tion ''How. shall fallen man be just \ with God." It bold* up before him; i ao angry judge and violated law, but i provides no sin-atoning sacrifice. It | disclosos a moral Governor of tho universe, rewarding virtue and punisji- ' ing vice, and providing a-future stato, ( whero the manifold inequalities and- , irregularities of this present life of probation, and discipline shall bo finally and eternally adjusted. Bat how? < What mercy oan Natural Theology < offer to repentant rebels who have bVaved the justice of God and done "1 despite to the authority of bis law?, \ - Can contrition make amends -for J transgression 7 The only solution is > frvnn/l in 4-Vni V\i**SnA a flvv ?/w au wuv X'l v HID (?VWUVIilQUV|a tevealed' in 'tho H&iy Scriptorea, by 1 Which reconciliation and forgiveness , and extended to ft guilty world, and < tho jasticeand mercy of God ard eni tirely harmonized. *? . !. "JPbo Soriptaroa then, whilst ooafirming tbe truths of Natural ii^ligion,. j ,1)0 moral syHtom of tho-woihl and tho otribnlions of a future lifo, exhibit a ichome of redemption not discovera)le by roason, in which man sustains icw relations to tho Ilivino Being, and s hcnco callod upon t6 discharge, hith>rto unknown dutios. Natural ani cvealed Religion?thus form parts of >110 great schomo of Providence, and lieir analogy to tho courso and cenititulion of nature furnishes a coneluiivo vindication ot their truth. Is it jbjected that tho doctrines of religion aro mysiorioua and incomprehcnnblo, and that tho view which they liscloso of God's dealings with his :reatures impugn his charactor for ustice and benevolence ; it is shown, hat thoro is no difficulty in theology vhich docs not firntcmcrgo in nature; ind no objection to religion, which nay not bo urged to that constitution ,nd courso of naturo which lias been stablishod by tho Natural and Moral iovornor of tho Univorso. Dooa tho inito and fooblo intellect of man preurao to scan tho purposes, aod comirohend tho plans ol tho infinito and tornal ? Doos it prcsumo to apply la own narrow4coinpasso8 and light lalanccB, to moasut-o thoso couneols yhich embraco tho infinito univorso, nd find thoir development in tho verlasting ages ? It is mot in naturo, liko as in revelation, with difficulties ?hich bafllo enquiry and mystorios pbich transcend the finito comprohonion, and find in tho ignoranco'of man tid tho imporfoction ot Ins faculties, hoir only propor solution. All objeeions then, which aro urged to Ilevclaion as a schomo rnvstftriniin nn#? in. omprohonBiblo, aro entirely frivolous. )id it contain clear immoralities, or ontradictions, either of these would >rovo it false; but certainly it is no bjection to Divino .Revelation, that i ombraces much which is abovo rea on, and the gasp of our finite capaciies. But turning from the schemo of revelation, lot us considor for a inolont the evidouco upon which it rests -its credentials, that it is. a uiessago om God. First wo have a train of miraclos, ttcHlcd in the most authoritative mailer, which is within tho competence of iMtory. It is an acknowledged hisjrica! fact, that tho great doctrines f the Old and New Testaments wore -I.- * 1 _- ? i - uuicu iu niu wuriu iinu claimed to DO cccivod on Uio authority of miracles, ublicly wrought in attostation of licir trail)?that in thi3 respect oar eligion differs from ull othor religius?and that upon tho faith of these liracles, tho truths of tho Biblo wcro mbraced and professed, and that, too, n spite of tho opposing claims of tem?oral inlcrest, education, prejudice nd authority. Can we doubt tho ompetency of witnesses who tostiliod o facts which wore publicly wrought a their presence? Can we doubt tho incority of men, who boro atlostaion to tho truth at tho peril of their ivos, and vindicated their faith by heir sufferings and death? No! tho airaclos of tho Jewish and Christian aith wcro too well established by :ontemporary ovidence to be gainsayd, in tho agos which wilnesBod hoir occurrence; but it was reserved or tno critical eagaoity of a Paatus md a Strauss, or the philosophic acunen of a LLuine to deny tho possibility if a miracle, or tho conclusiveness of iny teslitnony, which might be irought to oatablish its occurrence. L'ho position of Hume that all oxperitnce is against miracles, is a mere beg* ;ing of the question, * whilst on tho :ontrary to assume that what is berond experience, is contrary to it and :annot bo proved, involves the absurdty of rejecting every new discovery n scienoor The miraclo is not con rary to ifaturo, becadBO it emanates rom the God of nature himsolf. It is nerely an exercise of power beyond ts ordinary manifestations, by which be God of nature and Revelation dolignB to aceredit his messengers and vindicate bis troth,'and extort from a believing world the testimony of Nioodemus, "Rabbi, we know that thon art % teacher come from God, for no man can do those miraclos that thou docst axcopt God.be with him." But torr.ing from miracle to prophecy, we And proofs equally conclusive of tho Divine origin .'of, .Revelation. Roll back the stroam of tirao and listen with me in imagination to that prophetic promise whiob first.tempered the bitterness of the carse, "The Bead of the'Worn ah shall bruise tho serpent's head.0. Go with me In imagi* nation to the bedside of the dying patriarch of Israel, a* gathering his sons together^ and viewing wife prophetic oje, the checkered lines of'their successors, he disclosed the heaven, appointed cnrse, upon Rcabod''and Sijdcoh and Levi, the temporal' Mes~ '' - - ..v V4V* J ,. ? . - J.' - .. 1. - . . > !ft sings which should crown tho lot of Joseph and tho spiritual proominonco ! which should form tho glory of Judah, 1 as announcod in that striking propbeC}', "Tho scoptro shall not dopart from ( Judah, nor a lawgivor from between ' bis feet, until Shiloh cotno, and unlo 1 j him Bhall tho gathering of tho people 1 | be." Follow Ibo long lino of judges and lawgivers and puophots and hear thorn proclaim tho wrath of lloavun 1 upon the uncircumcisod idolator; and backsliding Israelite, upon Moab, and Ninovch and Babylon and Jerusalem. Stand with tho Savior upou tho pozch of Herod's temple, and hoar bim pronounco tho doom which should consign its beautiful columns to tho dust, and razo its vory foundations. Iload thoso prophotic pro-figuration* which portain to tho Messiah himsolf, wheth or symbolized in tho blocding sacrifico of Abol, or drawn in charaoiors of light by tho burning pencil of Isaiah. now iurn irom prophecy to history for their wondorful fulfilment, as timo unrolls the scroll of dcatiny, and discloses the characters whioh havo boon inscribed by tho finger of omnis'jionco. See Assyrian and Babylonian, Greek and lloraan, successively carrying out tho purposos of Jehovah, and preparing tho way for tho coming of him, to whom all tho prophecies pointed, and tho choson raco itself miraculously preserved in Egypt, in tho wilderness, and by Babol's stream ; still as a distinct nation, with records untouch? I 1 ? " - - - uu, uiiu goaaaiogies unurolcon, and slill 1 with toraplo service and smoke of 1 morning and ovening sacrifico, until t tho final oblation of that sacrificial t lamb, "slain from tho foundation of tho world," who though of the city of j David and tribo of Judab, was as do- j scribed in prophecy, "tho Wonderful, | Counsellor, tho Mighty God, tho liver- j lasting Father, tho Prince of Peace." e But apart from miracle and proph- t ecy, thore is iu the autiquity and won- c derful preservation of the Sacred ? Scripturos and their connectioti with I tho ordinary facts of Jewish history, 1 a remarkablo confirmation of their ' truth. Wo have here an unbroken " record, going back to a period long t antorior to that when profano history c i is lost in tho twilight of fable, aod > ! long antorior to the era of Eomun, t j and Greek, and Babylonian, and As- < ! syrian civilization, tracing the origin ? | and migrations of a singular people 1 I whose afier-history is connected with i ' that of a.11 othor rifttinriB a t>annfA i supplementing all other history and ' itself remarkably confirmed by tho < testimony of profane historians?a 1 record of the origin of institutions l which are still existing, and of the < promulgation of a body of laws, > which has moulded the civilization > and controlled tho destiny of tho t world. r But why linger upon tbo outor | walls, to toll the towers and maj-k the bulwarks of Z\on, or survey tho outer j glories of tho Temple, when wo may may cntor "tho Holy of Holies," and ^ behold ovorahadowing tho mercy-seat, tho miraculous Shekinah which symbalizcd the Divine presence ? Why pore over musty records for proofs ol tbo Divine origin of the Soripl&res,. whon we may see impressed upon each page, the signet seal of the Eternal ? in our search after truth,, wo may apostrophize this Book in tbo language of the disciplo to our Lord, "Master to whom else shall we gothou bast tbo words of eternal life." To what other book can wo go for any proper conceptions of tho Divine Churaoter?his unity, his omnipresonco, bis justioe, his infinite purity and holiness ?his unity as thus set forth?"I am tho Lord and there is none else, and there is no God beside mo"?his omnipresence?"Whither shall 1 gj from thy spirit, or whither shall I floe from thy presence"?bis justice?*'justice and judgmont are tho -habitation oi thy throno; meroy and truth shall go J before thee'V-his bolinoss?''Thou "art t ^ I of purer eyes, than to behold evil and ( canst not look upon iuiquity." Otb- , er religions'haVo only deified tbo attributes of our nature,?to ado gome apotheosis of martial virtue in Mars, J <)r, ofhufnaii lovoin Vonus. Thefoun- I tain bus not been able to rise abotfo its BQUroe^nor' the best creations of < the unuidotf reason above the ootn- < raon passions and frailties of our na? ? lure- Bat in tbe Qgjy Scriptures/ wo { have revealed a Being whose exalted ' attributes furnish the only-proper otv i jeotof love and >doratioo?a ?ivfne ' < Saviour, in the perfections ofwhose "< deified humanity we have that pat-' 1 torn of holy things shown ' to MoaeB I on the Mount, the exemDla*. uhnn l - ? . 9 T' "# Whom we may remodel and rostoro i oar lost'and rained- natart, and 1 throogb the ttiuminttiioa of the Sfiirrt ' aspire to bigheh and bigberdegBee/of .1 jwrtwiien: ' ' " ^1 * - -V- * I But with tho most oxalted conception of tho Divine Character. tho Scriptures also exhibit tho most profonnd knowledge of tho human hoart, disclosad not merely in parable and provorb, but iu the moving panorama of ovoryday life?in tho sins of David and iho transgressions of Solomon, the weakness of Peter, and tho guilt of 'that baso Judoan, who threw tho precious pearl away." With such ioncoptions of God and with Buch estimates of man, can wo wonder that n tho Scriptures aro disclosed tho >nly true theology aud tho only puro Morality that tho world has over soen. xuia liooic uogms wuu jraraaiBO ana ;ndB with Paradise, and as it discloses ,he linoamuuts of thatDiviuo original kvhich has boon lost, and the features jf our present marred and defaced lumauity, it reveals also a rumodial jystom by which man may regain his irigiual brightnoss, and primoval bliss, ind bo restored to a brightor homo :,han Eden?that now lleaven and now lartb, and that holy city which John saw cumo down from lloavou," "which lad no need of the sun, neither of tho noon to shine in it, but tho glory of xod did highten it, and tho Lamb is ,t)A lirrltf t " 1 - Sa <!*"? ?? .WW x^wv wnvt WUI. xu in illUO A3 tw coaling tho only propor object of lovo ind adoration, and as disclosing a remedial system, which, whilst harnoniaing tho divino attributes, is itself n moBt wonderful harmony with our jroaont intellectual and moral constiution, that tho Iloly Scriptures e^libit ihoir most distinguishing charac oristio, and tho most striking proof of ,heir Divino origin. 1 havo loft myself, my friends, very ittlo time to speak of tbo literary at.raciions of tho Bible?as a book of earning no less than roligion?as tho msis of civilization, no less than of alvalion?as a chartor of right no lees ban an oraclo of faith and manual of icvotion. "Books, says Lord Bacon," is ships pass through tho vast seas of imo, and make distant ages partici>ato of the wisdom, inventions aud lluminations, tho one of tho other j" ind what scholar does not rccollect ho burning words, in which an clo[iient essayist tolls us how much tho vorld and civilization owe to tho imnorlal influence of Athens, ovon whon >xhibitod "by tho lonely bed of Pascal n tho coll of Galliloo, aud on the scufbld of Sidney." But how insignificant in character, and how foeblo in influence aro tho productions of jirecian and ltoman genius, when compared wit^i this Book, com)ilod by prophets and law-givers md apostles, which, whilst it is the >racle of God, is also the highest uonument of human civilization? vhich taking its origin in the fountains of a remote antiquity, like some loblo river has been rolling down its ertile flood through each successive jentury onrichod by the contributions )f every age, and itself quickening into ifo the arts and civilization of every mtion?overcoming national prejulicea, giving laws itself to great comnunities, varying in every conceivablo liveraity of language, raoe, mannors md customs, and controlling the rov lutions of thought, tho progross of tociety fand the changes of civilization low wonderful this Book in its ori-. jui) iu) preuorvuuon, tao ricunoes and rarioty of its contents I What infinte variety of thought and style, of abject and authors, yet what pervadng unity?in the clear, vivid narraliv ob >{' Genesis, in the touching.simplicity >f llutb, in tho melting sweetness of Javid, in tho pregnant wisdom of Solonan, in tho seraphic firo of Isaiah, in be severe majesty of tho Gospels, in ho burning eloquence of tho .Epistles, n tho rapt vision of tho Apocalypse? ill attuned to the same high do to, but vith cadences as varied, and harmonts as changing as the strains of some tweet Eolian lyre. Hero is poetry noro exchartting, than bis of "Soto's ocky isle," history more captivating ,ban. " tivy's pictured page,-' elo luence more overpowering -than his y ho "Fulmiaed over Greeee. To Macedon aud ArUucerea* throne." Here are lessons.to win the ear and captivate tho fancy of childhood} themes to stir the eoul and test the iatollect >f manhood, and draughts of oonSolato soothe the' wearied spirit of ige. Hero the scholar may draw something of that inspiration which 'touched' Isaiah's hallowed' iipa with Ire?* orprotnpted that immortal song vhosehigh thtme it is/to "vindicate iteftial provtdonco and justify tho' ways "of God lotnafl.**" Here the <Sra/Or duty find a full armbry of weapon/? .o reaeh ttfe popular heart?the b ufflog in veotivo, the swifUwihgcd metaphor?*imaflros aa variad u nature. rffaioh touch *11 the c?n|s of ?ftrly 9* (ooiation, nod *w<.fc?m r*flpon?Lve ichoos, io every .Leart. r N # V r But what shall wo say of our own glorious English voreion, with its mar* volous boautlos, lingering in tho oar like the sound of church-boll or tho strains of Homo half-forgotten molo* djT?a version which growing with the growth and strengthening with tho strength of our language in tho succosbive versions of Tindalo and Covordalo and Crammer, and in tho Goneva and Bishop's Bibles, finally seized its beauties at their full efflorescence, fixod and anchorod fast oar noble Saxon idioms, and made tho dia* lect of Baoon and Shakespeare, and .QnnnOftW A n/1 Qi/lnATV na 1 m m nl U^UIIOOl HUU kJIUUVJ | no AUIlilUlbUl (Ml the truths which it enshrines?a version which has brought the consolations of religion to tho homes and hearts of our people?which has sent the arrow of conviction with the winded words of prophet and apostle, and awakoncd tho tears of penitence or tho notes of thanksgiving with the sweot strains of tho Psalmist?a version which lingors in tho momories of childhood, is aesociated with the joys and sadness of manhood and whoso seraphic strains shall nshor the departing spirit into a glorious immor* tality. With such conceptions of this Heavenly logacy?these precious pearls, these priceless jewels, these seeds of immortal Truth?can wo doubt aB to our obligations to dissem> inate them fur and wido. The spirit of tho gospol is a missionary spirit, instinct with lovo. love to God and lovo to man, all embracing, all per* vading, as high as Heaven, as wide as Humanity. Would we carry out tho spirit of our Divine Master, we must disseminate his Divine Word. "Go preach my gospel" is the command, and tho promise is that thoy that "turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars forever and ever." With Heaven's own appointed means the Christian Church, thee* Bible societies are the great agencies to ushor in that glorious millennial morn, when "earth keeps jubilee * thousand j'ears." i'Yea, Truth and Justice tliea Will down return to men ; Meroy will sit between. Throned iu celestial sheen, And heaven, as at some festival, Will open wide tho gates of her high palace hall." "Rise crowned with light, imperial Salom riM Exalt thy towery head, and lid thy eyea, See a long race (by spacious courts adorn, See future eons and daughters yet ouborn, See barbarous nations at thy gates attend, Walk in thy light and in thy temple bend No more the rising eun shall gild the morn. Nor evening Cynthia fill her silver horn, But lost, dissolved iu thy superior raya. One tide of glory, one unolouded blaze, O'erflow tby courts?tbe Light bimself sh*U shino, Revealed, and God's eternal day be thin* I The seas shall waste, tfie skies in amQka daeajr. x*ucjts inn lo uuai, ana mountains melt away, But fixed his word, his saving power remains, Thy realm forever last, thy ownMe&aiah reigns." ^ a ^ A Cube fob Chills.?About two years since, says the Columbus (Ga.) Iaquirer, we stated that a citizen Of this vicinity bad told as that he had broken and cared a spelt*of .chills a,nd fever by ibe use of pare apple vjne> gar, drinking aboat a wine-glass fall at a time, at intervals before the time for the return of the chili. Borne (Ga.) Courier reports cares by the same coarse in its neighborhood. It Baje tbat a lady friend has known t Hia VAnnJnf 4a ko ?ioa4 ? ? ? m?w m. wwi?y uu uodu ill uiailjr UtttStiBj and has never known it to fail in caring chills and fover: "Take a wino glass full of the Lost apple vinegar for nine mornings in this way. Take it three succeBsivo days, then omit it three days, and so on until the vinegar must boa first-rate article of apple vinegar." tm* 9 ' Givino the Davii bis Dub.?A-pastor was making a call Open an old lady who made it a habitual rule nam to apeak ill *( another, and had observed it bo closely that tfhe Always justified those whom she ' ItAAWI'Avil anAlron ? ?1 * -*? ? ?... xfvusu vi. jwwiv ui? uiu iiiuy mado lior Appearance in the parlor, Tier wveral children w?re speaking of tbispeouiarily ef their mother, and one of them playfully added, ^JBotber has anch a habit of speaking well of* everybody, that I beJievo if J3atan; hunielf were the subject of conversation, mother would find out a6me virtue or good f .qualify evon in him."./ Of course,, this rtifierk elicited some smiling and irieriimefct* at the otigioniUj of .the idea, in the wldtt qF -frfaiail-tba old lady enjered the'fofito^ aed oft.baiof teld what had jiwi bo?Hi aaid, aha immediately and v6taritariiy i$p]?od ~ my children, X with wediM bad Satan's perseverance fitid iddustry.^ We mtfet pass through ibis world to unlock Jj*e myateriea of tho next, and it isonly in the nefct that we. can fipd a k$qpto unlock the my stories of thia. n # ^ W+ m