PART I.

HOMAGE OF EMINENT PERSONS

IN

WORDS MISCELLANEOUS.

I.

By Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER.

Dispense with the Bible?

ANY will say, "I can find God without

MANY the help of the Bible or church or

minister." Very well. Do so if you can. The ferry company would feel no jealousy of a man who should prefer to swim to New York. Let him do so if he is able, and we will talk about it on the other shore; but, probably, trying to swim would be the thing that would bring him quickest to the boat. So God would have no jealousy of a man's going to heaven without the aid of the Bible

11

or church or minister; but let him try to do so, and it will be the surest way to bring him back to them for assistance.

"Be thou my star in reason's night;
Be thou my rock in danger's fright;
Be thou my guide mid passion's way;
My moon by night, my sun by day."

DEAN MILMAN TO HIS BIBLE.

II.

By Hon. JOHN ADAMS, second President of

I

the United States.

1735-1826.

The Bible the best of Books.*

HAVE examined all, as well as my narrow sphere, my straitened means, and my busy life, would allow me; and the result is, that the Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more of my little philosophy than all the libraries I have seen; and such parts of it as I cannot reconcile to my little philosophy, I postpone for future investigation.

• From a Letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated December, 1813.