in books and leaves the Bible incomparably
beyond all other books.

How may we know that the Bible is the word of God? Not simply
scientifically, although the Bible is a scientific book; but not in
this way any more than we could find life in the body by cutting it up
with a knife. The Bible is like a sensitive plant; approach it in the
wrong way and it will close its leaves and withhold its fragrance.
Come to it reverently and there is no blessing that it cannot bestow.

1. Accept it by faith and act according to its principles. If God
exists, as we know he does, then talk with him; if Christ is here
presented to us with all his uplifting teachings, then walk with him;
if the promises of God are written here, as we know they are, then
present them to him expecting him to keep his word.

General Booth of the Salvation Army once said in a great meeting where
I was present that we were poor, weak Christians to-day because we were
not living up to our privileges as Christians. He described a young
man who had lost his position and had gone from one degree of poverty
to another until at last he was on the verge of starvation. With his
wife and little ones about him he sits in deepest gloom. There is a
rap at the door and the postman brings a letter which is a message from
a former employer who tells him that he has just learned of his
distress, that he will help him, and that in the meantime he incloses
his check for a sum of money which he hopes may make him comfortable.
A check is simply a promise to pay. The young man, says General Booth,
looks at it a moment and then begins to rush about the room in great
excitement. "Poor man," said his wife, "I knew it would come to this.
His mind is giving way." Then he presents the check to her and says,
"I know what I shall do with it. I will frame it and hang it on the
wall." Then again he exclaims, "I shall take it to my friend and have
him set it to music and sing it each day," and he might do both of
these and starve to death. What he should have done was to present it
for payment and live off of its proceeds. "We have been framing God's
promises long enough," said General Booth, "and singing them quite long
enough; let us now present them for payment, and we shall know that God
is true."

2. Live its truth. Whatever God presents as a principle translate into
your life and then believe that God will transform your living. It
will support you in trial and it