Report of the Committee on the Propriety of Studying the Bible in the Institutions of a Christian Country Presented to the Literary Convention at New York

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Allen & Ticknor, 1832 - Bible - 24 pages

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Page 7 - Scriptures, contain, independently of a Divine origin, more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains, both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected within the same compass from all other books that were ever composed, in any age or in any idiom.
Page 7 - I have regularly and attentively perused these Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been written.
Page 2 - Literary Convention" was held in the city of New York, at which a committee was appointed to consider and report, at a future meeting, on " the propriety of studying the Bible, as a classic, in the institutions of a Christian country." About the first of November, 1831, the convention reassembled, and the committee presented their report. " After an extensive correspondence with gentlemen of various religious opinions...
Page 23 - believing the Hebrew Scriptures to contain a revelation from heaven, they are not to be counted worthy of our study ? Shall years of toil and expense be occupied in the study of Greek and Roman history and mythology ; shall no efforts be deemed too great to accomplish this purpose ; and yet not one feeble attempt be made to lead the youthful mind to the original source of all true history, and of the only...
Page 7 - Moses' songs, or equalled Isaiah, describing the majesty of God. Never did any ode, either Greek or Latin, come up to the loftiness of the Psalms. In all its diversified compositions, every part bears the peculiar character that becomes it. The history, the particular detail of laws, the descriptions, the vehement and pathetic passages, the miracles and prophecies, the moral discourses, — in all these appears a natural and beautiful variety. In short, there is as great a difference between the...
Page 23 - ... be admitted then, that the sentiments contained in the Hebrew writings are of so pure and illustrious an origin ; and if the general views of the character of those writings as given in the preceding lectures be allowed to be just ; it is a very natural inquiry, Why are not these works more valued ? their contents more studied and better understood ? How is it, that in literary communities their legitimate claims as works of talent, are so generally overlooked ? And, what -is more serious still,...
Page 24 - ... clergy, for all their knowledge of those books which profess to bring life and immortality to light?' On this point, he thus expresses his own feelings. ' Much as I respect and love my brethren in the ministry, I do not wish the keys of the kingdom of heaven to be entrusted solely "to their hands. This has once been tried, and the shadow of death spread over the nations.. The sun of righteousness set, and polar midnight succeeded.
Page 24 - And I beg leave to add the conviction of my own mind, that it is a question which no consistent believer in divine revelation, who reflects with a suitable degree of seriousness on the subject, can answer to his own satisfaction. But let me not be misunderstood. I have no objection to make to the study of the Greek and Latin classics, pruned, as I think some of those productions ought to. be. I believe them to be the best ground-work of a truly liberal and enlarged education. I would recommend them...
Page 7 - Moses' songs ; especially the last, which all the Israelitish children were to learn by heart. Never did any ode, either Greek, or Latin, come up to the loftiness of the Psalms: particularly that which begins thus ; * ' The mighty God, even the Lord hath spoken,' surpasses the utmost stretch of human invention.
Page 7 - ... Read likewise Daniel denouncing to Belshazzar the divine vengeance ready to overwhelm him : and try if you can find any thing in the most sublime originals of antiquity that can be compared to those passages of sacred writ. As for the rest of scripture, every portion of it is uniform and consistent, every part bears the peculiar character that becomes it. The history, the particular detail of laws, the descriptions, the vehement and pathetic passages, the mysteries, and prophecies, and moral...

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