83. Bible
Bible
THAT’S MY NAME.—The Dutch farmers in Africa held the black natives in great contempt, the same as American planters despised their slaves. As one of these farmers was riding out, he saw one of these blacks sitting by the roadside, reading, when he jeeringly asked, “What book have you there?” “The Bible,” replied the Hottentot. “The Bible I Why, that boot was never intended for you.” “Indeed it was,” replied the black, “for I see my name here.” “Your name? Where?” asked the farmer, getting down from his horse; “show it to me.” “There!” said the poor fellow, putting his finger on the word “sinner,” “there! sinner! that’s my name. I am a sinner; so that means me.” A SEARCH-WARRANT.—A Roman Catholic priest discovered a peasant reading the Bible, and reproved him for daring to peruse a book forbidden. The peasant proceeded to justify himself by a reference to the contents of the book, and the holy doctrines which it taught. The priest replied that the doctrines could be understood only by the learned, and that ignorant men would wrest them to their own destruction. “But.” said the peasant, “I am authorized to read the Bible; I have a search-warrant.” “What do you mean, sir?” said the priest in anger. “Why,” replied the peasant, “Jesus Christ says, ‘Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.’“ The argument was unanswerable.
INEXHAUSTIVE MINES.—It is said of some of the mines of Cornwall, that the deeper they are sunk the richer they prove; and though some lodes have been followed a thousand and even fifteen hundred feet, they have not come to an end. Such is the Book of God. It is a mine of wealth which can never be exhausted. The deeper we sink into it the richer it becomes.
PRINTED UPON HIS HAND.—During one of the European Wars a soldier who was wounded managed to crawl away from the place where he fell and reached his tent. When he was found he was on his face. Beneath him was the Bible, and on its open pages his hand rested. When his hand was lifted, it was found to be glued by his life’s blood to the book. The letters of the page were printed upon his hand and read thus: “I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth on Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” It was with this verse on his hand that he was laid in a soldier’s grave.
WEBSTER’S TESTIMONY.—Daniel Webster said: “Prom the time that, at my mother’s feet, or on my father’s knee, I first learned to lisp verses from the sacred writings, they have been my daily study and vigilant contemplation. If there be anything in my style or thoughts to be commended, the credit is due to my parents in instilling into my mind an early love of the Scriptures.” AS I EXPECTED.—A clergyman prepared a certain sermon with great care. It was preached with effect, and he came down from the pulpit full of hope. A widow woman stopped him and begged a word. “Ah!” he said to himself, “it is coming as I expected.” Then to the widow, “What part of the sermon struck you most—the beginning or the ending?” “Well, sir,” she replied, “I do not know much about the beginning or the ending; but you said, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’“ The Doctor was struck to the heart. All his fine words forgotten, but one of God’s words made effectual!