Thatisacomparativelylatefeeling。Itissuespartlyfromthefactthatthisisascientificage，whensciencehashaditsattentionturnedtotheneedsofhumanity。
Anotherresultofourscientificageisthemagnifyingofthenatural，whiletheBiblefranklyassertsthesupernatural。NoefforttogetthesupernaturaloutoftheBible，inordertomakeitentirelyacceptabletothemanwhoscoutsthesupernatural，hasthusfarprovedsuccessful。
Ofcourse，thesupernaturalcanbetakenoutoftheBible；butitwilldestroytheBible。Noristheremuchgaininplayingwithwordsandinsistingthateverythingissupernaturalorthateverythingisnatural。Thereisadifferencebetweenthetwo，andinanagewhichinsistsuponnatureornaturallawsorforcesoreventsasall-
sufficientitisalmostinevitablethattheBibleshouldloseitshold，atleasttemporarily。
Regardingallthistherearesomethingsthatneedtobesaid。Foronething，this，too，isapassingcondition。Asamatteroffact，menarenotcreaturesoftime。Theyactuallyhaveeternalconnections，andthegreatoutstandingfactswhichhavealwaysmadeeternityofimportancecontinue。Thefactisthatmencontinuetodie，andthatthemenwhoareleftbehindcannotavoidthesenseofmysteryandawewhichisinvolvedinthatfact。Thefactalsoisthatthehumanemotionscannotbeexplainedonthelowerbasis，andtheonlyreasonmenthinktheycanbeisbecausetheyhaveinthebackoftheirmindstheoldexplanationswhichtheycastintothelowerforms，deceivingthemselvesintothinkingtheyarenewideaswhentheyarenot。
ItoughttobeaddedthattheBiblehasgreatlysufferedinallitshistoryatthehandsofmenwhohavebelievedinitandhavefoughtinitsbehalf。Manyofthecontroversieswhichwerehottestwereneedlessandinjurious。Allthefollyhasnotbeenononeside。Someonereferredtheotherdaytoalistofmorethanahundredscientifictheorieswhichwereproposedatthebeginningofthelastcenturyandabandonedattheendofit。Scientificmenarefeelingtheirway，manyofthemreverentlyanddevoutly，someofthemratherblatantlyandwithareadinessforpublication，whichhastensthemintonotoriety。Buttherehasbeenenoughfollyonbothsidestomakeeveryonegocautiously。IthasbeenremarkedthatinDr。
Draper'sbookTheConflictBetweenScienceandReligionhemakesscienceappearasastrong-
limbedangelofGodwhereasreligionisalwaysagreatass。Thetitleofthebookitselfisnotfair。Innoproperunderstandingofthewordscantherebeanyconflictbetweenscienceandreligion。Therecanbeaconflict，asDr。
AndrewD。Whiteputsit，betweenscienceandtheology。Therecancertainlybecontestbetweenscientistsandreligionists。Scienceandreligionhavenoconflict。
Itisinterestingtoobservehowfarbackmostofthesupposedconflictsactuallylie。Thereisnowarfarenow；and，whileourfathersoneortwogenerationsagofeltthattheymustflytothedefenseofreligionagainsttheattacksofscience，nomanwasteshisstrengthdoingthatto-day。
Thatperiodhaspassed。Thetroubleisthatsomegoodpeopledonotknowit，andarejustfondenoughofabitofatussletokeepupthefightinginthemountain-passeswhileoutintheplainthemainarmieshavelaiddowntheirarmsandarebusytillingthesoil。
Theperiodofconflictispast，partlybecausewearelearningtodistinguishbetweentheBibleasitreallyisandcertainlong-establishedideasabouttheBiblewhichcamefromothersourcesandhavebecomeattachedtoituntilitseemedtosustainthem。TheproperdoctrineofevolutionisentirelycompatiblewiththeBible。ThegreatDr。HodgedeclaredthattheconsistentDarwinianmustbeanatheist。Forthatmatter，Shelleydefendedhimselfbysayingthat，ofcourse，"theconsistentNewtonianmustnecessarilybeanatheist。"Butfiftyyearshavemadegreatchangesinthedoctrineofevolution，andtheoldscarehasbeenoverforsometime。Newtonishonoredinthechurchquiteasmuchasintheuniversity，andDarwinisnotanametofrightenanybody。UnderstandingevolutionbetterandknowingtheBiblebetter，thetwodonotjangleoutoftunesobadlybutthatharmonyispromised。
ThedoctrineoftheantiquityoftheworldisentirelycompatiblewiththeBible，thoughitisnotcompatiblewiththedateswhichArchbishopUssher，inthetimeofKingJames，putattheheadofthecolumns。Thatissowithotherscientifictheories。Anyonewhohasreadmuchofhistoryhasattendedtheobsequiesofsomanytheoriesintherealmofsciencethatheoughttoknowthatheiswastinghisstrengthintryingtobringaboutaconstantreconciliationbetweenscientificandreligioustheories。Itishisparttokeepanopenmindinassuranceoftheunityoftruth，anassurancethatthereisnofactwhichcanpossiblycometolightandnotruetheoryoffactswhichcanpossiblybeformedwhichdoesnotservetheinterestofthetruth，whichtheBiblealsopresents。TheBibledoesnotconcernitselfwithalldepartmentsofknowledge。
Sofarasmistakeshavebeenmadeonthesideofthosewhobelieveit，theyhaveissuedfromforgettingthatfactmorethanfromanyotheronecause。
Ontheotherhand，ithassometimesoccurredthatbelieversintheBiblehavebeenquitetooeagertoaccommodatethemselvestopurelypassingphasesofobjectiontoit。Themattermentionedamomentago，theexcisionofthesupernatural，isacaseinpoint。Theeasyandglibwayinwhichsomehavesoughttogetarounddifficulties，bytalkinginlargetermsabouttheprogressivenessoftherevelation，asthoughtheprogresswerefromerrortotruth，insteadoffromhalflighttofulllight，isanotherillustration。Thenimblewayinwhichwehaveturnedwhatisgivenashistoryintofiction，andallowedimaginationtoroamthroughtheBible，isanotherillustration。OneofourlaterwriterstellsthestoryofJonah，andsaysitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?AnothertellsthestoryoftheexodusfromEgypt，andsaysitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?
Well，certainlytheobjectionisnottothepresenceoffictionintheBible。Itisthere，openly，confessedly，unashamed。Fictioncanbeusedwithgreatprofitinteachingreligioustruth。Butfictionmaynotmasqueradeintheguiseofhistory，ifmenaretobeledbyitormasteredbyit。Ifthewaytoberidofdifficultiesinanarrativeistoturnitintopiousfiction，thereareotherinstanceswhereitmightbeusedforreliefinemergencies。ThestoryofthecrucifixionofChristcanbetoldsothatitsoundslikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?CertainlythestoryoftheconversionofPaulcanbemadetosoundlikefiction；whynotcallitfiction?
AndthereishardlyanybitofnarrativethatcanbemadetosoundsolikefictionasthelandingofthePilgrims；whynotcallthatfiction?Itistheeasywayout；thedifficultiesareallgonelikeAlice'scat，andthereisleftonlythebroadsmileofsomemorallessontobelearnedfromthefiction。Itisnot，however，thecourageousnortheperfectlysquarewayout。Violencehastobedonetotheplainnarrative；historicalstatementhastobemadeonlyamask。Andtheonlyreasonforitisthattherearedifficultiesnotyetcleared。Asforthecharactersinvolved，CharlesReade，thenovelist，callinghimself"aveteranwriteroffiction，"declaresthattheexplanationofthesecharacters，Jonahbeingoneofthem，byinventionisincredibleandabsurd:
"Suchaman[ashimself]knowstheartificesandtheelementsofart。Heretheartificesareabsent，andtheelementssurpassed。"Itisnotuncommonforonewhohasfoundthiseasywayoutofdifficultiestodeclarewithawaveofhishand，thateverybodynowknowsthatthisorthatbookintheBibleisfiction，when，asamatteroffact，thatisnotatallanadmittedopinion。TheBiblewillnevergainitsplaceandretainitsauthoritywhilethosewhobelieveinitarespinelessandtoppleoveratthefirsttouchofsomeone'sobjection。ItcouldnotbeagreatBook；itcouldnotservethepurposesofaraceifitpresentednoproblemsofunderstandingandofbelief，andallshortandeasymethodsofgettingridofthoseproblemsarecertaintoleaveimportantelementsofthemoutofsight。
AllthismeansthatthechangesofthesetimesratherpresentadditionalreasonforarenewedholdontheBible。Itpresentswhatthetimespeculiarlyneed。InsteadofmakingtheinfluenceoftheBibleimpossible，thesechangesmaketheneedfortheBiblethegreaterandgiveitgreateropportunity。
AddthreenotablepointsatwhichthesetimesfeelandstillneedtheinfluenceoftheBible。
First，theyhaveandstillneeditsliteraryinfluence。
Sofarasitsideasandforcesandwordsareinterwoveninthegreatliteratureofthepast，itisessentialstilltotheunderstandingofthatliterature。ItremainstruethatEnglishliterature，certainlyofthepastandalsoofthepresent，cannotbeunderstoodwithoutknowledgeoftheBible。TheYaleprofessorofliterature，quotedsooften，says:"ItwouldbeworthwhiletoreadtheBiblecarefullyandrepeatedly，ifonlyasakeytomodernculture，fortothosewhoareunfamiliarwithitsteachingsanditsdictionallthatisbestinEnglishliteratureofthepresentcenturyisasasealedbook。"
FromtimetotimethereoccurpainfulremindersofthefactthatmensupposedtoknowliteraturedonotunderstanditbecausetheyarenotfamiliarwiththeBible。Someyearsagoacollegepresidenttestedaclassofthirty-fourmenwithascoreofextractsfromTennyson，eachofwhichcontainedaScripturalallusion，noneofthemobscure。Therepliesweresuggestiveandquiteappalling。Tennysonwrote，inthe"SupposedConfessions":
"MysinwasathornamongthethornsthatgirtThybrow。"
Ofthesethirty-fouryoungmennineofthemdidnotunderstandthatquotation。Tennysonwrote:
"LikeHezekiah's，backwardrunsTheshadowofmydays。"
Thirty-twoofthethirty-fourdidnotknowwhatthatmeant。Themeaningoftheline，"ForIhaveflungtheepearlsandfindtheeswine，"
wasutterlyobscuretotwenty-twoofthethirty-
four。Oneofthemsaiditwasareferenceto"goodopportunitiesgivenbutnotimproved。"
Anothersaiditwasequivalenttothecounsel"nottoexpecttofindgoldinahay-stack。"
Eventheline，"AJonah'sgourdUpinonenight，andduetosuddensun，"
wasutterlybafflingtotwenty-eightofthethirty-four。Oneofthemspokeofitasan"allusiontotheuncertaintyofthelengthoflife。"Anotherthoughtitwasareferenceto"theoccasionofJonah'sbeingpreservedbythewhale。"Anothercountedit"anallusiontotheemesisofJonahbythewhale。"Anotherconsidereditareferenceto"theswallowingofJonahbyawhale，"andyetanotherconsideredthatitreferredto"thingsgrand，butnotworthyofworshipbecausetheyareperishable。"ItisamazingtoreadthatinresponsetoTennyson'slines，"FollowLightanddotheRight——formancanhalfcontrolhisdoom——
TillyoufindthedeathlessAngelseatedinthevacanttomb，"
onlysixteenwereabletogiveanexplanationofitsmeaning!Thelinesfromthe"HolyGrail"
wereequallybaffling:
"PerhapslikeHimofCanainHolyWrit，OurArthurkepthisbestuntilthelast。"
Twenty-fourofthesethirty-fouryoungmencouldnotrecallwhatthatmeant。Onesaidthatthekeepingofthebestwineuntilthelastmeant"waitingtillthelastmomenttobebaptized!"
Allthatmaybesolelythefaultoftheseyoungmen。ProfessorLounsburyoncesaidthathisexperienceintheclass-roomhadtaughthimtheinfinitecapacityofthehumanmindtowithstandtheintroductionofknowledge。VerylikelyearnestefforthadbeenmadetoteachtheseyoungmentheBible；butitismanifestthattheyhadsuccessfullyresistedtheefforts。
IfTennysonweretheonlypoetwhocouldnotbeunderstoodwithoutknowledgeoftheBible，itmightnotmattersomuch，butnoonecanreadBrowningnorCarlylenorMacaulaynorHuxleywithentireintelligencewithoutknowledgeofthegreaterfactsandforcesofScripture。
Thevalueoftheallusionscanbeshownbycomparingthemwiththoseofmythology。NoonecanreadmostofShelleywithentiresatisfactionwithoutaknowledgeofGreekmythology。ThatisonereasonwhyShelleyhassomuchpassedoutofpopularity。WedonotknowGreekmythology，andwehaveverylargelylostShelleyfromourliterarypossession。ThechiefpoweroftheseothergreatwriterswillgofromuswhenourknowledgeoftheScripturegoes。
Thedangerisnotsimplywithreferencetothegreatliteratureofthepast。Thereisdangeroflosingappreciationofthemoredelicatetouchesofcurrentliterature，sometimesofacompletemissingofthemeaning。Anoratordescribingpresentpoliticalandsocialconditionsusedafinephrase，that"itistimethenationcampedforaseasonatthefootofthemount。"OnlyaknowledgeofBiblehistorywillbringasaflashbeforeonethenationinthedesertatSinailearningthemeaningandpoweroflaw。Yetanintelligentman，hearingthatremark，saidthathecounteditafinefigure，thathethoughttheredidcomeinthelifeofeverynationatimebeforeitbeganitsascenttotheheightswhenitoughttopauseandcampatthefootofthemountaintogetitsbreath!AfterLincoln'sassassinationGarfieldstoodonthestepsinNewYork，andsaid:"Cloudsanddarknessarearoundabouthim!GodreignsandthegovernmentatWashingtonstilllives!"Yearsafter，someonereferringtothat，saidthatitwasabeautifulsentence，thatthereferenceto"cloudsanddarkness"wasabeautifulsymbolism，butthatGarfieldhadagreatknackinthebuilding-upoffinephrases!HelackedutterlythebackgroundofthegreatPsalmwhichwasinGarfield'smind，andwhichgivesthatphrasedoublemeaning。
IfwegobacktoTennysonagain，someonehasproposedtheinquirywhyheshouldhavecalledoneofhispoems"Rizpah，"sincetherewasnooneofthatnamementionedinthewholepoem!
When，someyearsago，abookwaspublished，TheChildrenofGideon，oneofthereviewerscouldnotunderstandwhythattitlewasused，sincenooneofthatnameappearedintheentirevolume。AndwhenMrs。Wharton'sbook，TheHouseofMirth，cameoutsomeonespokeoftheironyofthetitle；butitistheironyoftheScripturesandthebookcallsforaScripturalknowledgeforitsentireunderstanding。
Takeevenanencyclopediaarticle。WhocanunderstandthesetwosentenceswithoutinstantknowledgeofScripture?"MarloweandShakespeare，theyoungDavidsoftheday，triedthearmorofSaulbeforetheywentouttobattle，thenwiselylaiditoff。""Arnold，likeAaronofold，standsbetweenthedeadandtheliving；
but，unlikeAaron，heholdsnosmokingcensorofpropitiationtostaytheplaguewhichhefeelstobedevouringhisgeneration。"[1]Thatisinanencyclopediatowhichyoungpeopleareoftenreferred。WhatwilltheymakeoutofitwithouttheBible?Inawidelydistributedschoolpaper，inthequestion-and-answerdepartment，occurstheinquiry:"WhocomposedtheinscriptionontheLibertyBell?"Theinscriptionis，"Proclaimlibertythroughoutallthelandtoalltheinhabitantsthereof。"[2]Itistobehopeditwasaveryyoungpersonwhoneededtoaskwho"composed"thatexpression!
[1]NewInternationalEncyclopedia，art。onEnglishLiterature。
[2]CurrentEvents，January12，1912。
Thisappliestoallthegreatclassics。Therehascomeabouta"decayofliteraryallusions，"
asoneofourpaperseditoriallysays。Inmuchofourwriting，eitherthetransientorthepermanent，mencannolongerriskeasyreferencetoclassicalliterature。"ReadersofAmericanbiographymustoftenbestruckwiththeimportantpartwhichliteraryrecollectionplayedinthelifeofaculturedpersonagenerationortwoago。ThesemenhadreadHomer，XenophonandVirgil，Shakespeare，ByronandWordsworth，Lamb，DeQuinceyandColeridge。TheywerenotafraidofbeingcalledpedantsbecausetheyoccasionallyusedaLatinphraseorreferredtosomegreatnameofGreeceorRome。"
Thatisnotsocommonlytrueto-day。EspeciallyistheredangeroflosingeasyacquaintancewiththegreatBiblereferences。
Therearefamiliarreasonsforit。Foronething，therehasbeenagreatincreaseofliterature。
Oncetherewaslittletoread，andthatlittlebecamefamiliar。Onewouldhavebeenashamedtopretendtocultureandnottoknowsuchliteraturewell。Nowthereissomuchthatonecannotknowitall，andmostmenfollowthelineofleastresistance。Thatlineisnotwheregreatliteraturelies。Oncetheproblemwashowtogetbooksenoughforafamilylibrary。Nowtheproblemishowtogetlibraryenoughforthebooks。
Magazines，papers，volumesofallgradesoverflow。
"TheBiblehasbeenburiedbeneathalandslideofbooks。"TheresultisthatthegreatestliterarylandmarkoftheEnglishtonguethreatenstobecomeunknown，orelsetobelookeduponasofantiquarianratherthanpresentworth。ThereourPuritanfathershadtheadvantage。
AsPresidentFaunceputsit:"ForthemtheBiblewasthenormandgoalofallstudy。Theyhadachievedtheconcentrationofstudies，andtheBiblewasthecenter。TheylearnedtoreadthattheymightreadtheliteratureofIsrael；theirwritingwasheavywithnobleOldTestamentphrases；thenamesofOldTestamentheroestheygavetotheirchildren；
itswordsofimmortalhopetheyinscribedontheirtombstones；itsMosaiccommonwealththeysoughttorealizeinEnglandandAmerica；itsdecaloguewasthefoundationoftheirlaws，anditsprophecieswerealightshininginadarkplace。Suchaunificationofknowledgeproducedaunifiedcharacter，simple，stalwart，invincible。"
Itisverydifferentinourownday。
Asso-calledliteratureincreasesitrobsgreatliteratureofitsconspicuousoutstandingcharacter，andmanymenwhopridethemselvesontheamounttheyreadwoulddofarbettertoreadathousandthpartasmuchandletthatsmallerpartbegood。
AnotherreasonforthisdecayoftheinfluenceofliteraryknowledgeoftheBibleistheshallownessofmuchofourthinking。IftheBiblewereneededfornothingelseinpresentliterarylife，itwouldbeneededforthedeepeningofliterarycurrents。Thevastfloodofflotsamandjetsamwhichpoursfromthepressesseldomfloatsonadeepcurrent。Itissurfacematterforthemostpart。Itdoesnottakeitselfseriously，anditisquiteimpossibletotakeitseriously。Itdoesnotdealwithgreatthemes，orwhenittouchesuponthemitdealswiththeminatriflingway。
TomeninterestedchieflyinliteratureofthiskindtheBiblecannotbeofinterest。
Thatisapassingcondition，andoutofitiscertaintocomehereandthereamasterpieceofliterature。Whenitdoesappear，itwillbefoundtorevealthesameinfluencesthathavemadegreatliteratureinthepast，issuingmorelargelyfromtheBiblethanfromanyotherbook。
ThatisthemainpointofabitofcounselwhichProfessorBowenusedtogivehisHarvardstudents。ToformagoodEnglishstyle，hetoldthem，astudentoughttokeepnearathandaBible，avolumeofShakespeare，andBacon'sessays。Thatgroupofbookswouldenlargethevocabulary，wouldsupplyastoreofwords，phrases，and，allusions，andsavethenecessityofransackingameagerandhide-bounddictioninordertomakeone'smeaningplain。ColeridgeinhisTable-Talkaddsthat"intensestudyoftheBiblewillkeepanywriterfrombeingVULGARinpointofstyle。"SoitmaybeurgedthatthesetimeshaveandstillneedtheliteraryinfluenceoftheBible。
Addthatthetimeshaveandstillneeditsmoralsteadying。Everyageseemstoitsownthoughtfulpeopletolackmoralsteadiness，andtheytendtocompareitwithotherageswhichlooksteadier。Thatisavirtuallyinvariableopinionofsuchmen。Thecomparisonwithotheragesisgenerallyfallacious，yetthefactisrealforeachage。Manythingstendinthisagetounsettlemoralsolidity。Someofthemarepeculiartothistime，othersarenot。ButoneofthegreatinfluenceswhichtheBibleisperpetuallytendingtocounteractisstatedinbesttermsinanexperienceofHenryM。Stanley。
ItwasonthatjourneytoAfricawhenbefoundDavidLivingstone，undercommissionfromoneofthegreatnewspapers。Naturallyhehadmadeuphisloadaslightaspossible。OfbookshehadnonesavetheBible；butwrappedabouthisbottlesofmedicineandotherarticlesweremanycopiesofnewspapers。Stanleysaysthat"strangestofallhisexperienceswerethechangeswroughtinhimbythereadingoftheBibleandthosenewspapersinmelancholyAfrica。"HewasfrequentlysickwithAfricanfever，andtookuptheBibletowhileawayhishoursofrecovery。
Duringthehoursofhealthhereadthenewspapers。
"Andthus，somehoworother，myviewstowardnewspaperswereentirelyrecast，"whileheheldloyaltohisprofessionasanewspaperman。ThisisthecriticalsentenceinStanley'stellingofthestory:"Asseeninmyloneliness，therewasthisdifferencebetweentheBibleandthenewspapers。TheoneremindedmethatapartfromGodmylifewasbutabubbleofair，anditmademeremembermyCreator；theotherfosteredarroganceandworldliness。"[1]
Thereisnodenyingsuchanexperienceasthat。
ThatispreciselythemoraleffectoftheBibleascomparedwiththemoraleffectofthenewspaperaccountsofcurrentlife。Democracyshouldalwaysbehappy；butitmustalwaysbeserious，morallysteady。Anythingthattendstogivemenlightviewsofwrong，tomakeevilthingshumorous，tosetouttheridiculoussideofgrosssinsisperiloustodemocracy。Itnotonlyisinjurioustopersonalmorals；itisboundsoonerorlatertoinjurepublicmorals。ThereisnothingthatsopersistentlycounteractsthattendencyofcurrentliteratureasdoestheBible。
[1]Autobiography，p。252。
Fromanethicalpointofview，"theethicalcontentofPaulisquiteasimportantforusasthesystemofSchopenhauerorNietzsche。TheorganizationoftheNewEnglandtownmeetingisnomoreweightyfortheAmericanboythantheorganizationoftheearlyChristianChurch。JohnAdamsandJohnHancockandAbrahamLincolnareonlythenaturalsuccessorsofthegreatHebrewchampionsoflibertyandrighteousnesswhofacedPharoahandAhabandputtoflightarmiesofaliens。"ButasidefromthedefiniteethicalteachingoftheBiblethereisneedforthatstrongimpressionofethicalvalueswhichitgivesinthecharactersaroundwhichithasgathered。TheconceptionoftheBiblewhichmakesitappearasasteadyprogressionshouldaddtoitsauthority，nottakefromit。Thedevelopmentisnotfromerrortotruth，butfromlighttomorelight。ItissometimessaidthatthestandardsofmoralityofsomepartsofScripturearenottobecommended。ButtheyarenotthestandardsofmoralityofScripture，butoftheirtimes。TheyarenottaughtinScripture；theyareonlystated；andtheyaresostatedthatinstantlyathoughtfulmandiscoversthattheyarestatedtobecondemned。Whendiditbecometruethatallthatistoldofagoodmanistobeapproved?ItisnotpretendedthatAbrahamdidrightalways。Davidwasconfessedlywrong。Theymovemuchofthetimeinhalf-light，yetthesumtotaloftheimpressionoftheirwritingsisinevitablyandinvariablyforamoresubstantialmorality。ThesetimesneedthemoralsteadyingoftheBibletomakemen，notcreaturesofthedayaridnotcreaturesoftheirwhims，butcreaturesofalltimeandoffundamentallaws。
Addthethirdfact，thatourtimeshaveandstillneedthereligiousinfluenceoftheBible。
Nodemocracycandispensewithreligiousculture。
NobookmakesforreligionasdoestheBible。Thatisitschiefpurpose。Nobookcantakeitsplace；noinfluencecansupplantit。
MaxMullermadelifelongstudyoftheBuddhistandotherIndianbooks。HegavethemtotheEnglish-speakingworld。YethewrotetoafriendofhisimpressionoftheimmensesuperiorityoftheBibleinsuchtermsthathisfriendreplied:"Yes，youareright；howtremendouslyaheadofothersacredbooksistheBible!Thedifferencestrikesoneasalmostunfairlygreat。"[1]WritinginanIndiapaper，TheKayesthaSamachar，inAugust，1902，aHinduwritersaid:"IamnotaChristian；buthalfanhour'sstudyoftheBiblewilldomoretoremodelamanthanawholedayspentinrepeatingtheslokasofthePurinasorthemantrasoftheRig-Veda。"IntheearlierchaptersoftheKoranChristiansarefrequentlyspokenofas"peopleoftheBook。"Itisasuggestivephrase。IfChristianityhasanyvalueforAmericanlife，thentheBiblehasjustthatvalue。ChristianityismadebytheBible；ithasneverbeenvitalnornationallyinfluentialforgoodwithouttheBible。
[1]Speer，LightoftheWorld，iv。
Sometimes，becauseofhisstrongwordsregardingtheconflictbetweenscienceandtheology，thevenerableAmericandiplomatandeducator，Dr。AndrewD。White，isthoughtofasafoetoreligion。Noonewhoreadshisbiographycanhavethatimpressionhalfanhour。Nearthecloseofitisaparagraphofsingularinsightandauthoritywhichfitsjustthisconnection:
"Itwill，inmyopinion，beasaddayforthisorforanypeoplewhenthereshallhavecomeinthemanatrophyofthereligiousnature；whentheyshallhavesuppressedtheneedofcommunication，nomatterhowvague，withasupremepowerintheuniverse；whenthetieswhichbindmenofsimilarmodesofthoughtinthevariousreligiousorganizationsshallbedissolved；whenmen，insteadofmeetingtheirfellow-meninassemblagesforpublicworshipwhichgivethemasenseofbrotherhood，shallloungeathomeorinclubs；whenmenandwomen，insteadofbringingthemselvesatstatedperiodsintoanatmosphereofprayer，praise，andaspiration，tohearthediscussionofhigherspiritualthemes，tobestirredbyappealstotheirnoblernatureinbehalfoffaith，hope，andcharity，andtobemovedbyacloserrealizationofthefatherhoodofGodandthebrotherhoodofman，shallstayathomeandgivetheirthoughtstotheSundaypapers，ortotheconductoftheirbusiness，ortothelanguidsearchforsomerefugefromboredom。"[1]
Thosearewise，strongwords，andtheysustaintothefullwhathasbeenurged，thatthesetimesstillneedthereligiousinfluenceoftheBible。
[1]Autobiography，vol。ii，p。570。
TheinfluenceoftheBibleontheliterary，moral，andreligiouslifeofthetimesisalreadyapparent。Butthatinfluenceneedstobeconstantlystrengthened。Thereremains，therefore，tosuggestsomemethodsofgivingtheBibleincreasingpower。Itshouldberecognizedfirstandlastthatonlythoughtfulpeoplewilldoit。
Nohelpwillcomefromcarelesspeople。Moreover，onlypeoplewhobelieveinthecommonfolkwilldoit。ThosewhoarearistocratsinthesensethattheydonotbelievethatcommonpeoplecanbetrustedwillnotconcernthemselvestoincreasethepoweroftheBible。Butforthosewhoarethoughtfulandessentiallydemocraticthedutyisaveryplainone。TherearefourgreatagencieswhichmaywellmagnifytheBibleandwhoseinfluencewillbringtheBibleintoincreasingpowerinnationallife。
Firstamongthese，ofcourse，mustbetheChurch。TheaccentwhichitwillplaceontheBiblewillnaturallybeonitsreligiousvalue，thoughitsmoralvaluewilltakeaclosesecondplace。ItisessentialfortheChurchtoholditselftruetoitsreligiousfoundations。Onlymenwhohavesomepositionofleadershipcanrealizetheimmensepressurethatisonto-daytodrawtheChurchintoformsofactivityandmethodsofservicewhicharemuchtobecommended，butwhichhavetobeconstantlyguardedlesttheydepriveitofpowerandconcerninthethingswhicharepeculiartoitsownlifeandwhichitanditalonecancontributetothepublicgood。TheChurchneedstodevelopforitselffarbettermethodsofinstructionintheBible，sothatitmayasfaraspossibledrillthosewhocomeunderitsinfluenceintheknowledgeoftheBibleforitsdistinctivereligiousvalue。Thisisneitherthetimenortheplaceforafullstatementofthatresponsibility。ItisenoughtoseehowtheverylogicofthelifeoftheChurchrequiresthatitreturnwithrenewedenergytoitsmagnifyingandteachingoftheBible。
Thesecondagencywhichmaybecalleduponisthepress。TheaccentofthepresswillbeonthemoralvalueoftheBible，theservicewhichitsteachingrenderstothenationalandpersonallife。ThereseemstobeahopefulreturningtendencytoallusionstotheScriptureinnewspaperandmagazinepublications。Itisraretofindamongthehigher-levelnewspapersaneditorialpage，wherethemostthoughtfulwritingappears，inwhichonanydaytheredonotappearScriptureallusionsorreferences。Whenthatisseriouslydone，whenScriptureisusedforsomeotherpurposethantopointajest，ithelpstorestoretheBibletoitsplaceinpublicthought。InrecentyearstherehasbeenanoticeablereturnofthegreatermagazinestoconsiderationofthemoralphasesoftheScripture。
Thathasbeeninevitablyconnectedwiththedevelopmentofasocialsensewhichcondemnsmenfortheirevilcoursesbecauseoftheirdamagetosociety。TheOldTestamentprophetsarelivingtheirlivesagaininthesedays，andthemorethoughtfulmenarebeingdrivenbacktothemforthegreatprinciplesonwhichtheymaylivesafely。
ThethirdagencywhichneedstomagnifytheBibleistheschool。TheaccentwhichitwillchoosewillnaturallybetheliteraryvalueoftheBible，thoughitwillnotoverlookitsmoralvalueaswell。Incidentalreferencesheretoforehavesuggestedtheimportanceofreligioninademocracy。Buttherearenoneofthegreatbranchesoftheteachingoftheschools，publicorprivate，whichdonotinvolvetheBible。ItisimpossibletoteachhistoryfairlyandfullywithoutafrankrecognitionoftheinfluenceoftheBible。StudytheReformation，thePuritanmovement，thePilgrimjourneys，thewholeofearlyAmericanhistory!WecanleavetheBibleoutonlybytriflingwiththefacts。Certainlyliteraturecannotbetaughtwithoutit。Andifitisthepurposeoftheschoolstodevelopcharacterandmorallife，thenthereishighauthorityforsayingthattheBibleoughttohaveplace。
FortyyearsagoMr。Huxley，inhisessayon"TheSchoolBoards:WhatTheyCanDo，andWhatTheyMayDo，"laidabroadfoundationforthinkingatthispoint，andhiswordsbearquotingatsomelength:"Ihavealwaysbeenstronglyinfavorofseculareducation，inthesenseofeducationwithouttheology；butImustconfessIhavebeennolessseriouslyperplexedtoknowbywhatpracticalmeasuresthereligiousfeeling，whichistheessentialbasisofconduct，wastobekeptup，inthepresentutterlychaoticstateofopiniononthesematters，withouttheuseoftheBible。Thepaganmoralistslacklifeandcolor，andeventhenoblestoic，MarcusAureliusAntoninus，istoohighandrefinedforanordinarychild。TaketheBibleasawhole；
maketheseverestdeductionswhichfaircriticismcandictateforshortcomingsandpositiveerrors；eliminate，asasensiblelayteacherwoulddoiflefttohimself，allthatisnotdesirableforchildrentooccupythemselveswith；andtherestillremainsinthisoldliteratureavastresiduumofmoralbeautyandgrandeur。Andthenconsiderthegreathistoricalfactthat，forthreecenturies，thisBookhasbeenwovenintothelifeofallthatisbestandnoblestinEnglishhistory；
thatithasbecomethenationalepicofBritain，andisasfamiliartonobleandsimple，fromJohn-o'-Groat'sHousetoLand'sEnd，asDanteandTassoonceweretotheItalians；thatitiswritteninthenoblestandpurestEnglish，andaboundsinexquisitebeautiesofmereliteraryform；and，finally，thatitforbidstheveriesthindwhoneverlefthisvillagetobeignorantoftheexistenceofothercountriesandothercivilizations，andofagreatpast，stretchingbacktothefurthestlimitsoftheoldestnationsoftheworld。Bythestudyofwhatotherbookcouldchildrenbesomuchhumanizedandmadetofeelthateachfigureinthatvasthistoricalprocessionfills，likethemselves，butamomentaryspaceintheintervalbetweentwoeternities；
andearnstheblessingsorthecursesofalltime，accordingtoitsefforttodogoodandhateevil，evenastheyalsoareearningtheirpaymentfortheirwork?Onthewhole，then，IaminfavorofreadingtheBible，withsuchgrammatical，geographical，andhistoricalexplanationsbyalayteacherasmaybeneedful，withrigidexclusionofanyfurthertheologicalteachingthanthatcontainedintheBibleitself。"Mr。HuxleyisanEnglishman，though，asProfessorMoultonsays，"WedividehimbetweenEnglandandAmerica。"ButProfessorMoultonhimselfisveryurgentinthissamematter。IftheclassicsofGreeceandRomeareinthenatureofancestralliterature，anequalpositionbelongstotheliteratureoftheBible。
"IfourintellectandimaginationhavebeenformedbyGreece，havewenotinsimilarfashiondrawnourmoralandemotionaltrainingfromHebrewthought?"Itisoneofthecuriositiesofourcivilizationthatwearecontenttogoforourliberaleducationtoliteratureswhichmorallyareatoppositepolesfromourselves；
literaturesinwhichthemostexaltedtoneisoftenanapotheosisofthesensuous，whichdegradedivinity，notonlytothehumanlevel，buttothelowestlevelofhumanity。"Itissurelygoodthatouryouthduringtheformativeperiodshouldhavedisplayedtothem，inaliterarydressasbrilliantasthatofGreekliterature，apeopledominatedbyanutterpassionforrighteousness，apeoplewhoseideasofpurity，ofinfinitegood，ofuniversalorder，offaithintheirresistibledownfallofmoralevil，movedtoapoeticpassionasfervidandspeechasmusicalaswhenSapphosangofloveorEschylusthunderedhisdeepnotesofdestiny。"[1]
[1]LiteraryStudyoftheBible，passim。
ButthereisaleadingAmericanvoicewhichwillspeakinthatbehalf，inPresidentNicholasMurrayButler，ofColumbiaUniversity。InhisaddressasPresidentoftheNationalEducationalAssociation，PresidentButlermakesstrongpleaforthereadingoftheBibleeveninpublicschools。
"Hisreasonhadnoconnectionwithreligion。Itwasbasedonaltogetherdifferentground。HeregardedanacquaintancewiththeBibleasabsolutelyindispensabletotheproperunderstandingofEnglishliterature。"Itisunfortunateintheextreme，hethought，thatsomanyyoungmenaregrowingupwithoutthatknowledgeoftheBiblewhicheveryonemusthaveifhemeanstobecapableofthegreatestliterarypleasureandappreciationoftheliteratureofhisownpeople。Notonlytheallusions，butthewholetoneandbiasofmanyEnglishauthorswillbecometoonewhoisignorantoftheBiblemostdifficultandevenimpossibleofcomprehension。
Thedifficultiesofcallingpublicschoolstothistaskappearatonce。Itwouldbemonstrousiftheyshouldbesectarianorproselytizing。
ButtheBibleisnotasectarianBook。
ItistheBookofgreatestliterature。ItistheBookofmightiestmorals。Itisgoverninghistory。
Itisaffectingliteratureasnothingelsehasdone。Athousandpitiesthatanypettysquabblingordifferencesofopinionshouldpreventtheyoungpeopleintheschoolsfromrealizingthegrandeurandbeautyofit!
Butthefinalandmostimportantagency。
whichwillmagnifytheinfluenceoftheBiblemustnecessarilybethehome。Itwillgatherupallitstraits，religious，moral，andliterary。
Hereisthefundamentalopportunityandthefundamentalobligation。RobertBurnswasrightinfindingthesecretofScotia'spowerinsuchscenesasthoseof"TheCottar'sSaturdayNight。"
OnecanalmostseeCarlylegoingbacktohisoldhomeatEcclefechanandstandingoutsidetohearhisoldmothermakingaprayerinhisbehalf。Anewspapereditorialofrecentdatesaysthisdecayofliteraryallusionistraceableinparttothegradualabandonmentoffamilyprayers。AnsweringPresidentButler，itisurgedthatitisnotsoimportantthattheBiblebeinthepublicschoolsasthatitgetbackagainintothehomes。"ThoroughacquaintancewiththeBibleisdesirable；itshouldbefostered。
Thepersonwhowillhavetofosterit，though，"
saysthiswriter，"isnottheteacher，buttheparent。TheparentisthepersonwhomDr。
Butlershouldtrytoconvert。"Well，whiletheremaybedifferencesabouttheschool，therecanbenoneabouttheplaceoftheBibleinthehome。Itneedstobeboundupwiththeearliestimpressionsandintertwinedwiththoseimpressionsastheydeepenandextend。
So，bytheChurch，whichwillaccentitsreligiousvalue；bythepress，whichwillaccentitsmoralpower；bytheschool，whichwillspreaditsliteraryinfluence；andbythehome，whichwillrealizeallthreeandmakeitseemavitalconcernfromthebeginningoflife，theBiblewillbeputandheldintheplaceofpowerto-daywhichithashadintheyearsthataregone，andwillsteadilygaingreaterpower。