Bible Influence.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 July 1913, Page 3

Bible Influence.

Reply to Mr Claud Hopper,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —In opening up this controversy I started out to disprove the inference of Mr Hopper that the Bible has a bad influence upon character, and to prove that the opposite is true. Having done this, and having intimated my readiness to debate this point with him, he replies by disclaiming any intention of implying this is the general effect of the Bible. Now, if after every objection is removed, Mr Hopper refuses the legitimate use of the phrase " Quad erat Demonstrandum," he is certainly turning this problem into the "Pons Assenorum," which means the asses bridge, so called because everything could pass over it but the ass, and it couldn't because it wouldn't.

If my deductions and conclusions are as Mr Hopper says, hasty and^reckless, they are none the less true, and this, as he admits, he is not prepared to deny or disprove. The Devil can quote scripture, and I am afraid he will have a lot to answer for in the example lie has left the sons of men in twisting and turning the Word of God. Why do men pick out a phrase here and there, attribute to them alse ideas and then ridicule the same, when the whole context will not for a moment tolerate such ideas. Mr Hopper quotes scripture to try and reprove me for referring to men of noble thought and birth, but Paul was not deprecating the -worthiest and best of men, but rather reproving self-righteousness, selfconceit, self-exaltation. Listen to what he says in the same chapter : " For I say to every man not. to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly Be of the same mind one toward another, set not your mind on high things but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits take thought for things honourable in the sight of all men." Mr Hopper sneers at the sayings of the lowly Man of Nazareth ; may God grant that he shall yet be able to say with the Apostle Paul, " but thanks be to God I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." Turn to the passage in question (Matt. 10) " Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves, be ye therefore as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. ,But beware of men for1 they shall deliver you up to coun-. oils and they will scourge you. .... And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the' father

liis child, and the children shall

rise against parents and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my sake, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved .... Every one, therefore, who shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father's throne in Heaven." Then follows the words Mr Hopper quotes. Jesus came to wage war with evil oppression ( and wrong, and all those who array themselves on the side of wrong against him must take the consequences. He warned those who forsook sin and would follow him that they should be hated and that oftimes their foes would be of their own household. The class of people to whom Jesus appealed and whose sick he,healed, cried " away with this man, we will not have him to reign over us " ; they refused the only one who is able to restore all things. i Where the Bible has been accepted there has been enlightenment and progress, and through its agency .and fulfilment of its prophecy there shall yet be the restoration of all things. I am, etc. Horace W. Milner. 14-7-13.