"The
Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, "is the grand
instrument by which souls are first converted to God." That
mighty change is generally begun by some text or doctrine of
the Word, brought home to a man’s conscience. In this way the
Bible has worked moral miracles by the thousands. It has made
drunkards become sober—immoral people become pure—thieves become
honest and violent-tempered people become meek. It has wholly
altered the course of men’s lives. It has caused their old things
to pass away, and made all their ways new. It has taught worldly
people to seek first the kingdom of God. It has taught lovers
of pleasure to become lovers of God. It has taught the stream
of men’s affections to run upwards instead of running downwards.
It has made men think of heaven, instead of always thinking
of earth, and live by faith, instead of living by sight. It
has done all this in every part of the world."