Thomas S. Grimke （b. 1786,d. 1834）. This eminent lawyer and scholar was born in Charleston,S.C. He graduated at Yale College in 1807. He gained considerable reputation as a politician,but is best known as an advocate of peace,Sunday schools,and the Bible. He was a man of deep feeling,earnest purpose,and pure life.
1.There is a classic1 the best the world has ever seen,the noblest that has ever honored and dignified the language of mortals. If we look intits antiquity,we discover a title tour veneration unrivaled in the history of literature. If we have respect tits evidences,they are found in the testimony of miracle and prophecy;in the ministry of man,of nature,and of angels,yea,even of "God,manifest in the flesh," of "God blessed forever."
2.If we consider its authenticity2,nother pages have survivedthe lapse of time that can be compared with it. If we examine its authority,for it speaks as never man spake,we discover that it came from heaven in vision and prophecy under the sanction3 of Him whis Creator of all things,and the Giver of every good and perfect gift.
3.If we reflect on its truths,they are lovely and spotless,sublime and holy as God himself,unchangeable as his nature,durable as his righteous dominion,and versatile4 as the moral condition of mankind. If we regard the value of its treasures,we must estimate1Classic,a work of acknowledged excellence and authority.
2Authenticity,of established authority for truth and correctness. 3 Sanction,authority,support.
4Versatile,readily applied tvarious subjects.them,not like the relics of classic antiquity,by the perishable glory and beauty,virtue and happiness,of this world,but by the enduring perfection and supreme felicity of an eternal kingdom.
4.If we inquire whare the men that have recorded its truths,vindicated1 its rights,and illustrated the excellence of its scheme,from the depth of ages and from the living world,from the populous continent and the isles of the sea,comes forth the answer: "The patriarch and the prophet,the evangelist2 and the martyr."
5.If we look abroad through the world of men,the victims of folly or vice,the prey of cruelty,of injustice,and inquire what are its benefits,even in this temporal state,the great and the humble,the rich and the poor,the powerful and the weak,the learned and the ignorant reply,as with one voice,that humility and resignation,purity,order,and peace,faith,hope,and charity are its blessings upon earth.
6.And if,raising our eyes from time teternity;from the world of mortals tthe world of just men made perfect;from the visible creation,marvelous,beautiful,and glorious as it is,tthe invisible creation of angels and seraphs3;from the footstool of God tthe throne of God himself,we ask,what are the blessings that flow from this single volume,let the question be answered by the pen of the evangelist,the harp of the prophet,and the records of the book of life.
7.Such is the best of classics the world has ever admired;such,the noblest that man has ever adopted as a guide.
1Vindicated,defended,justified.
2Evangelist,a writer of the history of Jesus Christ. 3Seraph,an angel of the highest order.
