study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第48节
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you are right； how tremendously ahead of other sacred books is the Bible！
The difference strikes one as almost unfairly great。〃＇1＇ Writing in an India
paper； The Kayestha Samachar； in August； 1902； a Hindu writer said： 〃I
am not a Christian； but half an hour's study of the Bible will do more to
remodel a man than a whole day spent in repeating the slokas of the
Purinas or the mantras of the Rig…Veda。〃 In the earlier chapters of the
Koran Christians are frequently spoken of as 〃people of the Book。〃 It is a
suggestive phrase。 If Christianity has any value for American life； then the
Bible has just that value。 Christianity is made by the Bible； it has never
been vital nor nationally influential for good without the Bible。
＇1＇ Speer； Light of the World； iv。
Sometimes； because of his strong words regarding the conflict
between science and theology； the venerable American diplomat and
educator； Dr。 Andrew D。 White； is thought of as a foe to religion。 No one
who reads his biography can have that impression half an hour。 Near the
close of it is a paragraph of singular insight and authority which fits just
this connection： 〃It will； in my opinion； be a sad day for this or for any
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people when there shall have come in them an atrophy of the religious
nature； when they shall have suppressed the need of communication； no
matter how vague； with a supreme power in the universe； when the ties
which bind men of similar modes of thought in the various religious
organizations shall be dissolved； when men； instead of meeting their
fellow…men in assemblages for public worship which give them a sense of
brotherhood； shall lounge at home or in clubs； when men and women；
instead of bringing themselves at stated periods into an atmosphere of
prayer； praise； and aspiration； to hear the discussion of higher spiritual
themes； to be stirred by appeals to their nobler nature in behalf of faith；
hope； and charity； and to be moved by a closer realization of the
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man； shall stay at home and
give their thoughts to the Sunday papers； or to the conduct of their
business； or to the languid search for some refuge from boredom。〃＇1＇
Those are wise； strong words； and they sustain to the full what has been
urged； that these times still need the religious influence of the Bible。
＇1＇ Autobiography； vol。 ii； p。 570。
The influence of the Bible on the literary； moral； and religious life of
the times is already apparent。 But that influence needs to be constantly
strengthened。 There remains； therefore； to suggest some methods of giving
the Bible increasing power。 It should be recognized first and last that only
thoughtful people will do it。 No help will come from careless people。
Moreover； only people who believe in the common folk will do it。 Those
who are aristocrats in the sense that they do not believe that common
people can be trusted will not concern themselves to increase the power of
the Bible。 But for those who are thoughtful and essentially democratic the
duty is a very plain one。 There are four great agencies which may well
magnify the Bible and whose influence will bring the Bible into increasing
power in national life。
First among these； of course； must be the Church。 The accent which it
will place on the Bible will naturally be on its religious value； though its
moral value will take a close second place。 It is essential for the Church to
hold itself true to its religious foundations。 Only men who have some
position of leadership can realize the immense pressure that is on to…day to
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draw the Church into forms of activity and methods of service which are
much to be commended； but which have to be constantly guarded lest they
deprive it of power and concern in the things which are peculiar to its own
life and which it and it alone can contribute to the public good。 The
Church needs to develop for itself far better methods of instruction in the
Bible； so that it may as far as possible drill those who come under its
influence in the knowledge of the Bible for its distinctive religious value。
This is neither the time nor the place for a full statement of that
responsibility。 It is enough to see how the very logic of the life of the
Church requires that it return with renewed energy to its magnifying and
teaching of the Bible。
The second agency which may be called upon is the press。 The accent
of the press will be on the moral value of the Bible； the service which its
teaching renders to the national and personal life。 There seems to be a
hopeful returning tendency to allusions to the Scripture in newspaper and
magazine publications。 It is rare to find among the higher…level
newspapers an editorial page； where the most thoughtful writing appears；
in which on any day there do not appear Scripture allusions or references。
When that is seriously done； when Scripture is used for some other
purpose than to point a jest； it helps to restore the Bible to its place in
public thought。 In recent years there has been a noticeable return of the
greater magazines to consideration of the moral phases of the Scripture。
That has been inevitably connected with the development of a social sense
which condemns men for their evil courses because of their damage to
society。 The Old Testament prophets are living their lives again in these
days； and the more thoughtful men are being driven back to them for the
great principles on which they may live safely。
The third agency which needs to magnify the Bible is the school。 The
accent which it will choose will naturally be the literary value of the Bible；
though it will not overlook its moral value as well。 Incidental references
heretofore have suggested the importance of religion in a democracy。 But
there are none of the great branches of the teaching of the schools； public
or private； which do not involve the Bible。 It is impossible to teach history
fairly and fully without a frank recognition of the influence of the Bible。
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Study the Reformation； the Puritan movement； the Pilgrim journeys； the
whole of early American history！ We can leave the Bible out only by
trifling with the facts。 Certainly literature cannot be taught without it。 And
if it is the purpose of the schools to develop character and moral life； then
there is high authority for saying that the Bible ought to have place。
Forty years ago Mr。 Huxley； in his essay on 〃The School Boards： What
They Can Do； and What They May Do；〃 laid a broad foundation for
thinking at this point； and his words bear quoting at some length： 〃I have
always been strongly in favor of secular education； in the sense of
education without theology； but I must confess I have been no less
seriously perplexed to know by what practical measures the religious
feeling； which is the essential basis of conduct； was to be kept up； in the
present utterly chaotic state of opinion on these matters； without the use of
the Bible。 The pagan moralists lack life and color； and even the noble stoic；
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus； is too high and refined for an ordinary child。
Take the Bible as a whole； make the severest deductions which fair
criticism can dictate for shortcomings and positive errors； eliminate； as a
sensible lay teacher would do if left to himself； all that is not desirable for
children to occupy themselves with； and there still remains in this old
literature a vast residuum of moral beauty and grandeur。 And then consider
t
