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September 6, 1911 ] T H E P
common things. Holy ordinances were not to be
considered as common affairs.
The people were to understand that God's
laws respecting the government of his people
were holy laws, distinctly unlike the common
laws of the laud. They were required to observe
the sacredness of every divine institution and
officer. They were to remember that common
things did not stand on the same plane that holy
things did. And note the fact that so long as
such distinction was disregarded, the people
were under the cloud of God's displeasure, and
therefore they were not prospered by Him.
Thev must return to a. faithful nhsorvnnnp nf
the laws and institutions which God made holy.
This is the lesson for all people of our day. It
becomes every true Christian to set examples of
devoted regard for the holy things which God
has instituted. Such ones have God's favor.
C. II. Wetherbee.
THE BIBLE IN LITERATURE.
by margaret h. barnett.
Any student of the literature of the English
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will be impressed by the very marked influence
which the Bible has exerted upon literature.
Considering first, books of a distinctively theological
character, the number of volumes which
it has inspired is astonishing, books which have
been written about it, to help to a better understanding
of it.
Any one who had not before thought on the
subject would be surprised, I think, on visiting
a minister's librarv. or on studvinff a eataloima
of theological works, at the number of commentaries
on the Bible, Bible dictionaries concordances,
evidences of Christianity, lives of
Christ, interpretations of the prophecies of the
Bible, explanations of its types and ceremonies,
of the customs which it mentions, books on the
language in which it was written, books on the
land in which it was written, books, in short,
on every subject which concerns it. Mentioning
only a few titles, selected at random, by
way of illustration, one finds such books as
these: Kitto's "Daily Bible Illustrations," in
eight volumes; "Cyclopoediia of Biblical Literature,"
in three volumes; "Pictorial Bible," in
three volumes; "The Biblical Educator," in four
volumes; "Biblical Things not Generally
Known." in two volumes; "Hours with the
Bible," in six volumes; "Introduction to the
Old Testament," in two volumes; "Correct
Chronology of the Bible;" Handbook to the
Bible;" Legends of Old Testametnt Characters,"
in two volumes; "Christ and Other Masters,"
in two volumes; "The Bible in Nature;"
*'The Desert pf Exodus;" "Historical Illutrations
of the Old Testament;" "Bible Echoes
in Ancient Classics;" The Land of the
Book;" "Times of Abraham;'" "Connection
Between Science and Revealed Religion;"
"Word Studies in the New Testament,"?the
list might be extended almost indefinitely, and
new works on theological subjects are constantly
appearing. On the single subject of the relation
of the Bible to Modern Science a very large
number of authors have written during the last
fifty years. It must be remembered, too, that
the list of writers on theological themes includes
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scholarship. One is forced to the conclusion
that mankind has not been indifferent to the
Bible, since it has practically created a literature
of its own.
In considering this subject, we must remember
the very large number of hymns which the
Bible has inspired. Charles "Wesley, who was
a lyric poet of the first rank, published over
four thousand hymns, many of which are still
RE8BYTERIAH OF THE SO
in use. Hymn writing has been practically the
life work of the blind poet, Fanny Crosby.
Many hymns are beautiful as poetry, for example,
"Lead Kindly Light," "Abide "With
Me," and "Come Ye Disconsolate." Hymns
are sung to-day which have been sung for many
years, and which will continue to be sung, probably,
as long as the English language is used.
The list of hymn writers includes the names of
Watts, Cowper, Addison, Moore, Milton, Mont
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in other departments of literature.
Turning from the more permanent forms of
literature, the influence of the Bible is seen,
also, in current literature, in the large number
of religious reviews, magazines, newspapers, and
other periodicals which are constantly published.
Its influence is seen in the dailies and
other secular papers in the. news of the churches,
comments on the Sundayschool lessons, and
Christian Endeavor topics, and other news of
a religious character which they publish.
Its influence is seen in the popular secular
magazines. To mention only one instance, a
few years ago one of the popular magazines had.
as one of its attractions, a life of Christ, written
by a popular author, and profusely illustrated,
which was published as a serial.
But not only is the influence of the Bible seen
in the religious literature which it has inspired.
Its influence is very marked, also, in general
literature.
President Butler, of Columbia University,
?ays: "Without the Bible, it is impossible to
understand the literature of English language
from Chaucer to Browning." If this be
true, the subject of the influence of the Bible
on general literature is a very broad one, and
one which it would take much time and study
to master. But some inRtAnees nf its inflnonno
may be mentioned, which will serve to show how
necessary is a knowledge of the Bible to an
intelligent reading of literature.
To begin with a notable example, take the
works of Milton, the great epic poet. His
"Paradise Lost," his greatest work, in based on
the Bible account of the temptation and fall
of Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden; while
his "Paradise Regained" is based on the temptation
and resistance of Christ, during the forty
days in the wilderness. Among his shorter
poems is, "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity,"
which needs no comment, as its title tells
its character. In his beautiful sonnet on his
blindness, which is religious in sentiment
throughout, there is a reference to the parable
of the talents in the lines,?
"And that one talent, which is death to hide,
liodged with me useless, though my soul more
bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide."
ah tnese writings require a knowledge of
scripture, in order that they may be understood.
Take the writings of Shakespeare, the greatest
of English dramatists; here are some of the
many quotations, which might be given, to show
the influence of the Bible upon his writings:?
In King Richard II we read these lines,?
'Many a time hath banished Norfolk fought
For Jesus Christ, in glorious Christian field,
Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross
Against black pagans, Turks and Saracens;
And toiled with works of war, retired himself
To Italy, and there at Venice gave
His body to that pleasant country's earth,
And his pure soul unto her captain, Christ,
DIB (843) 3
Unler whose colors he had fought so long."
And a little further on,?
Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the
bosom
Of good old Abraham."
In the same play are these lines,?
"Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this
garden,
How dares thy harsh, rude tongue sound this
unpleasing news?
What Eve, what serpent hath suggested thee
To make a second fall of cursed man?"
And these,?
"Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny
Shall here inhabit, and this land be called
The field of Golgotha, and dead men's skulls."
And again,?
"Did they not sometimes cry, all hail! to me?
So Judas did to Christ; but he, in twelve,
Found truth in all, but one: I in twelve thousand,
none."
The betrayal of Christ is also referred to in
King Henry VI, where, after kissing an infant,
one of the characters says,?
"And, that I love the tree from whence thou
sprang'st,
Witness the loving kiss I gave the fruit.?
To say the truth, so Judas kissed his master,
And cried?all haill when as he meant?all
harm."
The murder of Abel by his brother Cain is
several limes reterred to. In King Richard II
are found these lines,?
"With Cain, go wander through the shade of
night,
And never show thy head by day nor light."
In King Henry IV are these lines,?
"But let one spirit of the first born Cain
Reign in all bosoms, that, each being set
On bloody curses, the rude scene may end,
And darkness be the burier of the dead."
In King Henry VI are these lines on the same
subject,?
"This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt."
And in Hamlet are found these lines,?
" O! my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal, eldest curse upon it,
A brother's murder."
These lines, on a different subject are found
in King Henry IY,?
"Therefore, friends,
As far as to the sepulchre of Christ,
Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross,
*117 " ~
?*e are impressed, ana engaged to tight."
11 To chase these pagans, in those holy fields,
Over whose acres walked those blessed feet,
Which fourteen hundred years ago were nailed 6^ b I
For onr advantage on the bitter cross." ^
There are a number of scriptural illusions to ^ ,*2>
be found in King Richard III. Among them
are the following,?
(Continued on page 5).