The Scriptures Able to Make Us Wise Unto Salvation
There is no work, of human production, that containssuch a variety of principles, which, when viewed as awhole, make such a complete system as the Bible. It isthe great fund of knowledge. It reveals to us the mysteryof creation. There we learn the character of God:—Hisattributes and perfection—His justice and mercy. Therewe learn the history of man—created as he was in theimage of Him who rules the universe; endowed withintellectual powers, and moral capacity, perfect and upright—acandidate for immortality. Restrained by onecommand, yet acting with a free, unbiased will, we see himtranscend the law of God, we hear the sentence fall fromthe lips of his "Maker,"—"Dust thou art, and unto dustshalt thou return." But will He leave him to his owninevitable fate? Will it be an eternal sleep? Shall thatdust never be reorganized? Will Satan triumph over the"Eternal Jehovah?" We look! We listen!! We hearthe announcement, I have found a ransom. There we seethe "plan of God" developed, counteracting the influenceof His rival, Satan. There we see men of the meanestcondition, the smallest capacity in the eye of the world,inspired by the spirit of Him who fills immensity with Hispresence; revealing the fact of man's salvation, througha crucified Saviour. There we behold the most sublimetruths—the most comprehensive sentiments; principlesmore philosophical than those of "Pythagoras"—of moremoral worth, than those of "Socrates." There we seeshepherds, announcing the birth of the Son of God, andlistening to that enraptured strain, "Glory to God in thehighest, peace on earth, good will to men." There we seethe "Fisherman" called to leave his net, commissioned tocure all manner of diseases, and to preach the "Gospel,which is the power of God unto salvation, to every onethat believeth." "There we admire the purest morality inthe world." The "Bible" accounts for the evils entailedupon the posterity of Adam; it presents a plan, which, ifbelieved, will ultimately free us from all the maladies consequenton the fall. There we read of the wonderfulconception of the Son of God—His birth—His miracles.The fulfillment of the many predictions, connected withHis first Advent; the circumstances attending His death,when "He made his soul an offering for sin;" His resurrection,His ascension, His intercession, His second coming,the judgment of the world, the resurrection of the dead,the translation of the saints, the destruction of the wicked,the establishment of the everlasting kingdom, "the restitutionof all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth ofall His holy prophets, since the world began."
The above are some of the items contained in this wonderfulbook—the "Bible." And who can wonder at theremark of Paul to Timothy, They (the "Scriptures") areable to make thee wise unto salvation? "All Scripture,"says the apostle, "given by inspiration of God, is profitablefor d