The Bible bears a stamp of Dignity and Majesty, un- like what is found in any Human Production......... The Bible is adapted to Man's wants, inasmuch as it The System of Duties enjoined in the Bible is far purer CHAPTER XVIIL THE GUIDING STAR; OR, THE BIBLE GOD'S MESSAGE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. "I WONDER What we shall have to talk about on Sabbath evenings, this winter," said Fanny to her brother James, one Sabbath, just after tea. "I don't know. Perhaps mother will let us choose a subject, as we did last winter," said James. "Yes, I daresay she will. But I should not know what to choose." "I should. There is something I have been curious about, ever since I rode with father to W, last summer." "Is there, indeed?" said Fanny, rising from her half-recumbent position in the rocking chair. "What is it? How strange that you should never have said anything about it before!" "That is because there never seemed to be a good time for it. You know we have been travelling all this autumn, and there has been no opportunity for long talks." "Very true. But do tell me what it is, and what your riding in the coach had to do with it." "What I wish to know is, how to prove that the Bible is the Word of God." "What a strange question! Why, of course it is the Word of God." "It may seem of course to you, but it does not to everybody." "How do you know?" “Why, there was a man in the coach who said he did not believe a word of it, and that the writers of the Bible were a set of impostors." "Why, James! how shocking! I have heard about infidels, and I suppose he was one?" "Yes, father said so afterwards. But now how would you go to work to convince such a man that the Bible is inspired?" "I am sure I don't know," said Fanny speaking slowly, and as if she were considering. "Why, you know it says in the Bible that holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And there are other " "Yes, but they won't answer. An infidel would not mind what the Bible says about itself." "No, of course he would not; that was a foolish argument. Well, then, there are the prophecies, they have been fulfilled, you know; mother always makes us notice that, when we read history." "But this man who talked in the coach would not allow that any prophecies had been fulfilled. In those cases where it appeared so, he said that the prophecies were written after the things happened." "Did he?" said Fanny, beginning to look puzzled and troubled. "But you don't believe what he said, do you?" "No, of course not. But still I should not know how to argue with such a man." "Neither should I, I am sure. But how strange it is that I never thought of that question before! It is like my-you re |