PUBLISHERS' NOTE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. WHILE the Bible is divine in its authorship and inspired in its texture, some passages are more forcible and valuable than others. Every ship in the fleet is laden, but some are freighted with gold. "Gems from the Mines of Truth" is an attempt to shape some of this precious metal into convenient form for use. While it has many predecessors, it has been prepared without reference to them, the Editor having reverently studied the entire Word in the accomplishment of his task. This vast range gives beauty and richness to the themes. The New Testament illustrates the Old, and the Old confirms the New. The uses of this book are far more numerous than the Editor had in mind when the first edition was published-so applicable is God's Word to every relation of life. It has been used by lawyers and other public speakers as a handy book of Bible quotations. It has been a help to Christian Endeavor, Epworth League, Temperance, and other religious workers in leading devotional meetings of every kind. School teachers have found it excellent for use in their morning exercises and special programs. For family prayers it has proved to be well adapted. For the Christian student who wishes to study the Bible topically it is an excellent compendium. The Christian worker, too, who needs the Sword of the Spirit ever ready for use, finds here quick access to the proof-texts, those arrows in God's magazine of arms. That this Handbook may serve to impress upon many hearts the searching truths of God's Word, is the ardent desire of the Editor. GEMS FROM THE MINES OF TRUTH. I. ANGER. A SOFT answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.1 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.2 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.3 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 5 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth 7 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry ? ? For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath : For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.9 (1) Prov. 15: 1. (2) Prov. 16:32. 27:4. (6) Eccl. 7:9. (7) Jon. 4:4. (3) Prov. 19: 19. (4) Eph. 4:26. (5) Prov. (8) Job 5: 2. (9) Jas. 1: 2-4, 19, 20. II. THE POWER OF CHOICE. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.1 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve : but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord." At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.3 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. Multitudes; multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is nigh in the valley of decision." He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.® No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." The Great Renunciation. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 8 (1) Deut. 30: 19. (2) Josh. 24: 15, 21. (3) Jer. 18:7-10. (4) Jer. 21: 8. (5) Joel 3: 14. (6) Mat. 12: 30. (7) Luke 16:13. (8) Matt. 19:21, 22. III. SOME PROPHECIES OF CHRIST. The First Prophecy. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.1 To Abraham. Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Jacob's Prediction. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." The Prophecy of Balaam. How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.* The Promise of Moses. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.5 (1) Gen. 3: 14, 15. (2) Gen. 12: 1-3. (5) Deut. 18: 15. (3) Gen. 49: 10. (4) Num. 24: 5, 17. God's Word to David. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me a house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.1 The Prophecy of Isaiah. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.2 IV. ISAIAH'S PROPHECY OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS FOR US. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (1) I. Chron. 17: 11-14. (2) Isa. 2: 2, 3. |