Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/30

 The Bible  narrative  is  no  longer  to  be  viewed  as  a story,  but  as  a revelation  from  God,  disclosing  God’s  will  and  God’s  attributes. Every Bible story  contains  dogmatic  and  moral  truths. One might  almost  say that the  events  happened  for  the  sake  of  the  truths. To draw  out these truths,  and  bring  them  vividly  before  the  children,  is  the  most important part  of  instruction  in  Bible  History. And this  is  the  function of the  commentary. Thus the  commentary  brings  out  the  typical  character of  persons  and  things; it  unearths  the  truths  buried  in  our  Lord’s parables.; it  unfolds  the  spiritual  meaning  underlying  His  miracles. But, most of  all,  it  shows  what  bearing  Bible  stories  have  on  doctrines  of faith  and  morals,  on  the  cultus  and  institutions  of  the  Church. Thus the teacher  has  to  hand  an  instrument  which,  if  wisely  used,  is  admirably adapted for  deepening  the  religious  knowledge  and  strengthening  the religious convictions  of  the  children,  and  for  arming  their  faith  at  all points. Such is  Dr. Knecht’s account  of  the  function  of  the  commentary. And he  goes  on  to  point  out  the  qualities  that  the  commentary should have  if  it  is  to  be  effective,  i.  It  must  be  according  to  the mind of  the  Church,  whom  Christ  has  appointed  to  guard  and  expound Holy Scripture. The commentary  is  not  intended  for  a platform  on which  the  teacher  can  air  his  own  crude  opinions. 2. It  must  be  catechetical. Both in  matter  and  manner  it  must  conform  to  the  rules  of Catechetics,  i.  e.  it  must  be  adapted  to  the  class  to  which  it  is  given. All platitudes,  vague  generalities,  and  scattered  reflections  wide  of  the mark are  to  be  carefully  shunned,  as  they  leave  only  a nauseating  effect. 3. The  teacher  must  keep  steadily  in  view  the  close  connexion  that should subsist  between  Bible  History  and  religious  instruction. On this point sufficient  has  already  been  said.

Application. On  this  last  factor  little  need  be  said. It consists  in holding  up  the  mirror  to  nature;  in  making  the  children  realize  that the events  recorded,  though  happening  ten  thousand  miles  away  and some thousands  of  years  back,  have  an  interest  and  a concern  for  them, and are  part  and  parcel  of  their  own  lives. The temptations  and struggles, the  falls  and  conversions,  the  unkept  promises  here  depicted, are a reflection  of  our  own  conduct,  and  are  written  for  our  warning and encouragement  and  self-knowledge. Moreover, in  the  application, the truths  elicited  in  the  commentary  are  brought  home  to  the  individual child,  and  are  held  up  to  him  as  a rule  of  life  and  conduct.

Such, in  short,  is  the  programme  that  Dr.  Knecht  has  mapped out for  himself  in  his  Practical  Commentary.  A programme  most  inviting and comprehensive! To many,  doubtless,  it  will  appear  too  vast  to  be