ives but borrows none."

"The power that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
Its truth upon the nations rise;
They rise but never set!"

In the beginning was the Word. _Christ is the Word._ It giveth light.
Read His power in the Gospel. Notice the connection between natural
light and spiritual faith in Christ.

"And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed Christ.
And behold two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that
Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou
son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold
their peace; but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on
us thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said,
What will ye that I should do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that
our eyes may be opened. And Jesus being moved with compassion touched
their eyes, and straightway they received their sight and followed
him."

2. The infinite superiority of the Divine Word to that of all earthly
traditions, and the best literary productions is best judged by
results. The works of Plato, Lycurgus, Demosthenes, Homer, Virgil,
Dante, Milton, Scott, Burns, Bryant, and Longfellow are not for one
moment to be compared to the Bible. When Scott, the great writer, was
departing life, he turned to his son-in-law, Lockhart, and said:

"Bring me the Book."

"What book?" asked Lockhart.

"There is but one Book--the Bible!" was the reply. What spiritual and
spontaneous enthusiasm in Divine things are stirred within us when we
read the sacred pages.

Now turn to the picture painted by her who is now with the redeemed on
high; she says:

"_After receiving the Bible they were greatly changed, and attended our
place of worship on the Sabbath._ They gave evidence of being now deeply
impressed." What impressed them? Two things worthy of notice: 1. The
Word. 2. The Worship. Now, there are some people who imagine that they
can go to heaven if they stay at home and read the Bible. This is all
very well in its place, but we must not forget the assembling of
ourselves together as the manner of some is. Some try to live a
Christian life outside of the Church. This is a sad mistake.

CHAPTER XVI.

STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS.

Oh! land of the blessed, thy shadowless skies
Sometimes in my dreaming I see:
I hear the glad songs that the glorified sing
Steal over eter