Mark Twain, Bible Scholar (1864)
Sundays with Mark Twain #68
1864
1864.1.41) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: ...or can’t see when God Almighty smiles upon them, and don’t care anyhow. Now if Ormsby votes against the Constitution, let us clothe our selves in sackcloth and put ashes on our heads; for in that hour religious liberty will be at an end here - her next step will be to vote against her eternal salvation.
Scripture: O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make three mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. -- Jeremiah 6:26
Work; Date: Legislative Proceedings; January 12, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640112t.html
1864.2.42) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: It was an excellent work in some respects, but it had one or two unfortunate defects which debarred it from assuming to be an immaculate conception.
Scripture: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. – Matthew 1:20
Work; Date: Doings in Nevada; February 7, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/mercury/DoingsInNevada.html
1864.3.43) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: In the Legislature, last year, I was wielding the weapon which, under just such circumstances, is mightier than the sword,…
Scripture: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
Work; Date: Doings in Nevada; February 7, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/mercury/DoingsInNevada.html
1864.4.44) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: It is my unsolicited opinion that he knows very little about anything. And anybody who will read his paper calmly and dispassionately for a week will endorse that opinion. And more especially his knowing nothing about Carson, is not surprising; he seldom mentions that town in his paper. If the Second advent were to occur here, you would hear of it first in some other newspaper.
Scripture: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. – Hebrews 9:28
Scripture: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. – Revelation 19:11-16
Work; Date: The Carson Undertaker - Continued; February 13, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640213bt.html
1864.5.45,46) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Jeff Davis’s particular friend and admirer, Mr. Russell, will be obliged to work out his salvation at the Fort -- he must show works meet for repentance.
Scripture: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. – Philippians 2:12
Scripture: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. – Acts 26:20
Work; Date: Arrest of an Abusive Secessionist in Washoe; April 1, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640401t.html
1864.6.47) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: MISSIONARIES WANTED. - Yesterday morning Gashwiler and Charley Funk, citizens of Virginia City and of the Territory of Nevada, and officers of the great Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company, came rushing into our office in a state of excitement bordering on lunacy, and pointed out to us the following advertisement in the Evening Bulletin, with a fierce demand upon us to read it and render unto them our opinion concerning it:
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. - St. John, vii, 27.
“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. - St. John, iv, 14.
“The lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. - Rev. vii, 17.”
We ask, now, in all candor, if there is a man in all Virginia who is competent by reason of his extraordinary natural or acquired stupidity, to guess what these gentlemen found in the above extracts to fill their souls with rage? As we hope for mercy past and present, they thought it was an attempt to ring in an opposition water company on the people! We call that infernal ignorance - and if we could think of a stronger term Gashwiler and Charley Funk should have the benefit of it. When men get so far gone that they do not know the Sermon on the Mount from a bid for a water franchise, it is time for them to begin to reform and stop taking desperate chances on the hereafter.
Scripture: The verses are given in the excerpt above (from John 4:14, John 7:27, and Revelation 7:17), with a subsequent reference by Twain to the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in Matthew chapters 5 through 7, and Luke 6:17-49.
Work; Date: LOCAL COLUMN; April 17-24, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640424t.html
1864.7.48) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: You take a stranger into the Bank Exchange and show him the magnificent picture of Sampson and Delilah, and what is the first object he notices? - Sampson’s fine face and flaming eye? or the noble beauty of his form? or the lovely, half-nude Delilah? or the muscular Philistine behind Sampson, who is furtively admiring her charms? or the perfectly counterfeited folds of the rich drapery below her knees? or the symmetry and truth to nature of Sampson’s left foot? No, sir, the first thing that catches his eye is the scissors on the floor at Delilah’s feet, and the first thing he says, ‘Them scissors is too modern - there warn’t no scissors like that in them days, by a d--d sight!’
Scripture: And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. … And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.– Judges 16:6,15-19
Work; Date: “Mark Twain” in the Metropolis; June 17-23, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640623t.html
1864.8.49) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: We presume that Eve plucked the apple she nibbled, and coaxed Adam to nibble, from the ground, the fruit having first fallen. She could scarcely have climbed the tree, or reached the fruit from the ground, and ladders had not then been made.
Scripture: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:6
Work; Date: FALL IN FRUIT; June 28, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640628cdefg.html
1864.9.50) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: ...go thou and do likewise.
Scripture: And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. – Luke 10:37
Work; Date: The ‘Coming Man’ Has Arrived; July 16, 1864
Source: Mark Twain, Unsanctified Newspaper Reporter
1864.10.51) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: On Thursday evening, officers John Conway and King had their attention attracted by the crying of a child at the Catholic Orphan Asylum door; where, upon examination, they discovered an infant, apparently but a few days old, wrapped up in a shawl. It was delivered to the care of the benevolent Sisters at the Institution. It appeared to be a good enough baby - nothing the matter with it - and it has been unaccountable to all who have heard of the circumstance, what the owner wanted to throw it away for.
Scripture: And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him a ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. … And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. – Exodus 2:3,10
Work; Date: MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES AGAIN; July 16, 1864
Source: from The San Francisco Daily Morning Call; reprinted in the book Gold Mines & Guttersnipes: Tales of California
Note: Added here because of the title of the article
1864.11.52) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Rolling into prosperity on the wheels of assessments may do for a while, but there’s a time when dividends should relieve the drain on the individual’s private resources, and he looks forward expectantly, but “hope deferred maketh the heart sick,” etc.
Scripture: Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. – Proverbs 13:12
Work; Date: REAL DEL MONTE; July 19, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640719b.html
1864.12.53) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: A telegraph station has just been established upon the traditional site of the Garden of Eden.
Scripture: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. – Genesis 2:15
Work; Date: The ‘Tournament’ in A.D. 1870; August 4, 1864
Source: from The San Francisco Call; reprinted in Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 4: 1870–1871
1864.13.54) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Anna Dillon, a frail daughter of Erin, recently arrived in this Rahab’s paradise, per steamship America.
Scripture: And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. – Joshua 2:1
Scripture: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. – Hebrews 11:31
Work; Date: A NEW STAR; August 10, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640810efghij.html
1864.14.55) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: What brighter promise has he now than in any by-gone time that he is not to go on hopelessly paying assessments and wondering what becomes of them, until Gabriel sounds his trumpet?
Scripture: And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. – Daniel 8:16,17
Note: No Bible scripture speaks of Gabriel blowing a trumpet; an angel named Gabriel is spoken of, yes; the blowing of a trumpet or trumpets are referred to in various places in the Bible, yes. But there are no Bible verses that specifically name Gabriel as being one blowing a trumpet.
Work; Date: WHAT GOES WITH THE MONEY; August 19, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640819b.html
1864.15.56) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: A gloom pervaded the Police Court, as the sable visages of Mary Wilkinson and Maria Brooks, with their cloud of witnesses, entered within its consecrated walls.
Scripture: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, – Hebrews 12:1
Work; Date: A Dark Transaction; August 24, 1864
Source: San Francisco Daily Morning Call; reprinted in the book Gold Mines & Guttersnipes: Tales of California
1864.16.57) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: We consider that this only confirms what we have always said - namely, that the heart of man is desperately wicked.
Scripture: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jeremiah 17:9
Work; Date: Ingratitude; August 24, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640824c.html
1864.17.58) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: King Solomon says, “It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.” Behold what a glorious fellow Dr. Foster must be; he declared that although no three men in the profession can handle him, yet if a person were to spit in his face he would not resent it. That’s a high order of Christian meekness and forbearance - a sublime instance.
Scripture: The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. – Proverbs 19:11
Work; Date: STRONG AS SAMPSON AND MEEK AS MOSES; August 31, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640831c.html
1864.18.59) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: STRONG AS SAMPSON AND MEEK AS MOSES [title of article]
Scripture: Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. – Judges 14:5,6
Scripture: And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. – Judges 15:14,15
Scripture: And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. – Judges 16:3
Scripture: And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which hd slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. – Judges 16:30
Work; Date: STRONG AS SAMPSON AND MEEK AS MOSES; August 31, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640831c.html
1864.19.60) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: STRONG AS SAMPSON AND MEEK AS MOSES [title of article]
Scripture: (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) – Numbers 12:3
Work; Date: STRONG AS SAMPSON AND MEEK AS MOSES; August 31, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640831c.html
1864.20.61) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: This sleepy old concern, replete to torpidity with fees, gave signs of life yesterday. It is not dead, but sleepeth.
Scripture: And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. – Matthew 9:23,24
Work; Date: THE PUEBLO CASE; August 31, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640831defghi.html
1864.21.62) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Taking all things in consideration, if the Californian dies now, it must be by the same process that resurrected Lazarus, which we are proud to be able to state was a miracle.
Scripture: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. – John 11:44
Work; Date: THE CALIFORNIAN; September 4, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640904.html
1864.22.63) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Pay your poll-tax and deposit your ballot. It has occurred to us just at this moment, that if any of the barefooted Disciples, travelling according to their custom “without purse or scrip,” should return to Earth, and happen into the Fair, they couldn’t vote, could they? Consequently, it is risky, charging for votes, isn’t it? Manifestly.
Scripture: And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. -- Luke 22:35
Work; Date: CHRISTIAN FAIR; September 7, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640907.html
1864.23.64) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: It would have worried the good King Herod to see the army of school children that swarmed into the Fair yesterday, if he could have been there to suffer the discomfort of knowing he could not slaughter them under our eccentric system of government without getting himself into trouble.
Scripture: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. – Matthew 2:16
Work; Date: MORE CHILDREN; September 30, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18640930.html
1864.24.65) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Day before yesterday, the Shephe(a)rd went out, and the Lamb entered the fold; or to be more explicit, Judge Shepheard attended the Grand Chapter of Masons, and Judge Lamb presided in the Police Court in his place.
Scripture: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,and one shepherd. – John 10:16
Work; Date: JUDICIAL CHANGE; October 8, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18641008bcd.html
1864.25.66) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Love … had ruled all men as with a rod of iron,…
Scripture: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. – Revelation 2:27
Work; Date: Whereas (Later renamed Aurelia’s Unfortunate Young Man); October 22, 1864
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3189/3189-h/3189-h.htm#aurelia
1864.26.67) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Daniel in the Lion’s Den [portion of article title]
Scripture: Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. … My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. – Daniel 6:16,22
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den — and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
1864.27.68) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I consider that brokers come into the world with souls - I am satisfied they do; and if they wear them out in the course of a long career of stock-jobbing, have they not a right to come in at the eleventh hour and get themselves half-soled, like old boots, and be saved at last? Certainly - the father of the tribe did that, and do we say anything against Barabbas for it to-day? No!
Scripture: But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. – Mark 15:11
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den—and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
1864.28.69-72) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I only say that Lazarus was raised from the dead, the five thousand were fed with twelve loaves of bread, the water was turned into wine, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea dry-shod, and a broker can be saved.
Scripture: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. … And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. – John 11:14, 44
Scripture: And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. – Matthew 14:20,21
Scripture: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, – John 2:9
Scripture: And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. – Exodus 14:22
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den—and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
1864.29.73) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: ...the place becoming lively and animated, and the members sharpening their pencils, disposing their printed stock-lists before them, and getting ready for a sowing of unrighteousness and a harvest of sin.
Scripture: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. – Galatians 6:8
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den—and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
1864.30.74) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Then the President called “Ophir!” and after some bidding and counter-bidding, “Gould and Curry!” and a Babel arose - an infernal din and clatter of all kinds and tones of voices, inextricably jumbled together like original chaos.
Scripture: Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. – Genesis 11:9
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den—and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
1864.31.75,76) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I could not help imagining I could see old St. Peter admitting that band of Bulls and Bears into Paradise - see him standing by the half-open gate with his ponderous key pressed thoughtfully against his nose, and his head canted critically to one side, as he looks after them tramping down the gold-paved avenue, and mutters to himself: “Well, you’re a nice lot, any way! Humph! I think you’ll find it sort of lonesome in heaven, for if my judgment is sound, you’ll not find a good many of your stripe in there!”
Scripture: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. – Revelation 21:21
Scripture: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 16:18,19
Note: Some believe that Peter will be guarding the “pearly gates” spoken of in Revelation 21 due to his having been given the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Work; Date: Daniel in the Lion’s Den—and Out Again All Right; November 5, 1864
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18641105.html
You can get the entire book (MARK TWAIN, BIBLE SCHOLAR: 919 Bible Quotations, References, and Allusions from Mark Twain’s Writings) here.
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