THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Southland Times, Issue 1594, 21 June 1872, Page 3

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

SlB, — On the principle that we should strike while the iron is hot, I crave 3 our indulgence while making a few remarks upon a question which is just now (and rightly so) agitating the public mind, viz., that of Education. It is one of paramount importance ; it behoves us well and earnestly to consider it, for upon our action, our decision now, may in a great measure depend the physical, moral, and eternal welfare of our posterity. Since being out in these colonies, which I have been now Jor nearly twenty years, I have been astonished at the number of persons I have met with unable to read or write, and with shame I must confess that the majority have been Engli hmen. Education is to the mind what eyes and ears are to the body. We might just as well expect persons to see without eyes, as expect them to become intelligent without education. Yet, to be beneficial, it must be of the right description. " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it," says the inspired record, and many of us who have grown to manhood can testify to its truth. How much of crime and misery in after life may be due to improper training in youth God only knows, but doubtless much, for as has been well said, " the boy is father to the man." It is just now very hotly debated whether the Bible should be read in, or excluded fromj our public schools. To my mind the question does not admit of the shadow of a doubt. To exclude it would, I believe, be sin, and would bring down upon us (and justly so) the wrath of an offended God. lam one of the " ucenlighted few " who

believe in the plenary inspiration of the Bible. I regard it as the word of God, as a gracious message from the great first cause, to us his creatures in this portion of his boundless universe. No human production can or ought to be placed in competition with it. Other sources of knowledge are useful and necessary to fit ns for our duties here, hut they should be such us are in accordance with its precepts, and subservient to its commands. It forbids nothing that is for our welfare. We may range through the fields of science and of art, may take our fill of ancient or of modern literature, and yet come back with relish to its sacred pages, and declare there is no book like the volume of inspiration, no knowledge equal to that which it contains. Some may say it is mysterious. I admit it does contain some mysteries ; it would not be like its author if it did not. ** Who by searching can find out God 9" What is needful' for us to know is very clearly revealed ; we are told everything that is necessary to guide us in our passage to eternity, whither we are all bound. Secret things belong to the Almighty, who will doubtless for ever Temain, in some respects, the " unknown God." The word He has graciously given us is I the pole-star of hnman hope, our only safe directory. Were its precepts universally obeyed, they would transform this sin-cursed world of ours into the very vestibule of heaven. Take the compass from the mariner, the rudder from his storm-tossed vessel, and expect him in safety to reach the port ! If you had the power, shut out the sun from the material world, and you would not be guilty of such arrant folly, not to say wickedness, as would be incurred by withholding the Bible from the rising generation. Shall we in our fancied wisdom reject everything that is mysterious, and believe only what we can clearly comprehend P If so, we must believe but very little, for we ourselves are, and are surrounded by, mysteries, which we must nevertheless believe. We know we live, but who can explain the mysterious principle of life ? The B ible tells us that it is the breath of God. He has breathed into us a living soul — at his command we live, and at his bidding we must die. I grant that reason has been given to man as a most precious boon and guide. Whatever is clearly opposed to its dictates should not be believed, yet I maintain the written word of God contains nothing contrary to, though some things which are above, human reason. What we know not now, we shall know hereafter. This is an age of semiinfidelity. Men are exalting human reason above what is written, and profanely endeavoring to pry into futurity by what they call spiritual aid. Their conduct is clearly foretold in that book which they pronounce antiquated, and uninspired. 2 Tim. iii. 1, "In the last days perilous times shall come ;" and 1 Tim. iv. 1, " Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Why, if their very names had been mentioned tbey could not have been more expressly pointed out. I do not place undue reliance upon human testimony, yet what a galaxy of illustrious names are arrayed on the side of revelation { Newton, Milton, Locke, Young, Chalmers, Hale, and hosts of others, were believers, men of giant minds, mighty intellects, but whom our modern lights would designate the " unenlightened few." Men who have scarcely taken one sip of the vast ocean of knowledge which lies before them, but who in lieu of brains, are largely endowed with self-esteem, will question and cavil about truths which they have never investigated ; these modern lights, forsooth! I am very sorry to come into collision with one of our representatives, Mr Calder. I highly esteem, and believe him to be a sincere Christian, and that's the highest title any man can or ought to bear, yet I consider that by his reply to a question proposed to him by an elector at a late public meeting, he has, unintentionally no doubt, publicly degraded the Word of God by placing it upon a level with the human histories of Greece and Borne. 1 feel assured he will take an early opportunity of as publicly removing the damaging impression which his language produced. It would be very illiberal aud narrow-minded to exclude any book on ancient history, yet it could scarcely be said to be really wrong. It would be a great pity, and also injurious, to do bo, but with reference to the Scriptures, to my mind, the question is not one of liberality or the reverse, but of right and wrong. Our great Creator in wisdom and mercy has given us His Word, and shall we, puny mortals, presume to talk about liberality in allowing it to be read P Again I say I regret the necessity, but it would be a gross dereliction of duty to allow such a sentiment to pass unchallenged, even though uttered by the beat friend I ever had. The importance of the subject must be my apology for the length of this communication. — I am, &c., " Okb op thb Ukbi*li&htbkb_» Fbw." Invercargill, June 16, 1872.