n infallible
rule of life--an immovable ground of hope--an everlasting spring of
consolation--and the only sure guide to eternal life and happiness. A
fine old writer beautifully remarks, "What is there not in the holy
Scriptures? Are we poor? There is a treasury of riches. Are we sick?
There is a shop of soul-medicines. Are we fainting? There is a cabinet
of cordials. Are we Christless? There is the star that leads to
Christ. Are we Christians? There are the bands that keep in Christ.
Are we afflicted? There is our solace. Are we persecuted? There is our
protection. Are we deserted? There is our recovery. Are we tempted?
There are our sword and victory. Are we young? There is our beauty.
Are we old? There is our wisdom. While we live, here is the rule of
our conversation; when we die, here is the hope of our glorification.
So that I may say with Tertullian, 'I adore the fullness of the
Scripture.' Oh blessed Scriptures! Who can know them and not love
them? Who can love them and not delight to meditate in them night and
day? Who can meditate in them and not desire to love them, love to
desire them, and both desire and love to understand them? This is the
Book of books, as David said of Goliah's sword, 'There's none like
that.'" The Bible is, indeed, what that great philosopher, the
Honorable Robert Boyle, called it, "that matchless book." We have
often thought that the sublime descriptions which it gives of God, the
humbling and exalting doctrines which it reveals, and the high-toned
morality which it inculcates, are of themselves proofs decisive of its
divine authority. For, certainly, there is nothing like them in the
most admired productions of the most celebrated authors, either in
ancient or modern times.

_From its peculiar style._ How remarkably simple and plain! No
histories were ever so plainly related as those of the Bible: no
precepts were ever so clear, or promises less ambiguous. How
wonderfully grand and sublime! Whenever the matter requires it, the
style is

"Like the ladder in the Patriarch's dream,
Its foot on earth, its height beyond the skies."

Witness many of the Psalms; the book of Job; the prophets, especially,
Isaiah xl. and xliii.; and the Apocalypse. And how astonishingly
concise and expressive! The sacred writers never burden their subject
with a load of words. They express themselves in words few, and
well-chosen--"in comely dress, without the paint of art." Witness the
Proverbs