Life and Literature Part 8

112

To receive a benefit is to sell your liberty.

--_Laberius._

113

He who receives a benefit should never forget it; he who bestows one should never remember it.

114

To act always from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings.

Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

115

Bereavement makes the heart tender and sympathetic.

116

If you wish to become acquainted with your betrothed, travel with him for a few days--especially if he is accompanied with his own folks--and take your mother along.

--_Unknown._

117

The Bible is The Index to Eternity; He can not miss Of endless bliss That takes this chart to steer his voyage by.

--_Herbert._

118

The following lines of Sir Walter Scott are said to have been copied in his Bible:

Within this awful volume lies The mystery of mysteries.

Oh! happiest they of human race, To whom our G.o.d has given grace To hear, to read, to fear, to pray, To lift the latch, and force the way; But better had they ne'er been born Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.

119

Remember, that in prayer, you are speaking to G.o.d; that in reading the Bible, G.o.d is speaking to you.

120

FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE.

The learned prince of Grenada, heir to the Spanish throne, imprisoned by order of the Crown for fear he would aspire to the throne, was kept in solitary confinement in the old prison at the Palace of Skulls, Madrid.

After thirty-three years in this living tomb, death came to his release, and the following remarkable researches, taken from the Bible, and marked with an old nail on the rough walls of his cell, told how the brain sought employment through the weary years.

The 35th verse, 11th chapter of John, is the shortest.

The 9th verse of the 8th chapter of Esther is the longest.

The 8th verse of the 97th Psalm is the middle verse of the Bible.

Each verse in Psalm 136 ends alike.

The 37th chapter of Isaiah and 19th chapter of 2d Kings are alike.

The word "girl" occurs but once in the Bible, and that in Joel, 3d chapter and 3d verse.

The word "Lord" is found 1853 times, the word "Jehovah" 6855 times, the word "reverend" but once, and that in Psalms 111th chapter and 9th verse.

The four most inspiring promises are in John, 14th chapter, 2d verse, 6th chapter and 37th verse; Matthew, 11th chapter and 28th verse, and in Psalms, 37th chapter and 4th verse.

The finest chapter is in Acts, 26th.

--_Christian Observer._

120a

THE BIBLE.

Who, coming to this sacred book, with a sincere desire to know G.o.d's will for the direction of his life, will say that he can not find it?

Who, desiring to be instructed in the way of salvation "through faith which is in Christ Jesus," will consult its pages, and say it is not made plain to him? Who, coming to it for equipment of his spiritual life, will say that there are still needs of that life which are left unprovided for? Who, seeking direction in the way of the life everlasting, can doubt that, if he faithfully obeys its teaching, he will reach that goal? The Scripture fulfils the ends for which it was given; no higher proof of its inspiration can be demanded. * * * * *

What the closing verse of the 20th chapter of John's Gospel says of that book: "But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d, and that believing ye may have life through His name," may with equal truth be applied to the Bible as a whole.

--_James Orr, D. D._, Glasgow.

121

_A Little Bird Told Me_--The origin of this phrase is doubtless to be found in Ecclesiastes, x, 20:--For a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

122

Old birds are hard to pluck.