Quiet talks on the Bible story

Front matter

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QUIET TALKS ON THE BIBLE STORY OR The Story of Free Choice, God’s Greatest Love-Gift to Man,

Never Taken Back, and Never Will Be

Preface

Turis is a double story. There is the story of how the Bible started and grew. And there is the other story, the bigger story, which the Bible itself tells.

Mostly, it is simply a telling again, in simple every-day English, of the story the Bible itself tells. There is no discussing nor proving of anything, no argument. It is simply a recital, afresh, in simple brief connected shape, of the story the Bible itself is, and tells.

Our King James Bible is a most remarkable bit of translation work. It is most striking how the few great outstanding truths which are central in our Christian faith are put simply and clearly and with gracious repetition.

When one thinks back into the long ages of discussion and doubt and dim light, the different languages involved, the precarious preservation of manuscripts, the individuality of scholarly research and translation, it is most striking and notable. Plainly, the Holy Spirit’s gracious direct oversight is the one explanation.

Yet, it is not at all surprising that there is so much room for a putting into fresh present-day English of what is actually being said here. And it gives a homely tang, and a sharp com-

8 Preface pelling touch and tug to the truth, to get it in this shape.

This will be noted in the frequent paraphrases which I love to dig out for my own better understanding. They require endless tedious digging, | to get the accurate meaning of the words under the English; and to put it into such simple language that there seems no study at all.

The two Revisions, English and American, have the advantage of old manuscripts not available when our common English Bible was translated. ‘Their use of paragraphing is a practical help in getting a connected story and meaning in the old pages.

Though the rare simple dignified diction of our priceless King James version is missed sometimes. And one does love the old familiar words, with their fragrant memories.

The word “ Jew” is used throughout, instead of the earlier words, “ Hebrew ” and “ Israelite,” simply because it is the word in common use.

New York.

WHAT I BELIEVE

Sometimes, some persons, with probably the best intention, quite sincerely, take sentences out of their connection, and so fail to understand the connected teaching; and so they are apt to think that there is wrong teaching, or deficient teaching.

So I am putting down here this simple plain statement of just what I believe, and have always believed, and tried to teach the best I could by tongue and pen, regarding the essential truths of the old Gospel of Christ.

I Believe in the Word of God, as inspired directly and fully by the Holy Spirit through the men who wrote. This applies to the entire book, from cover to cover.

I Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; that He was very God of very God, born of the virgin Mary by the direct creative act of the Holy Spint.

I Believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins ‘on the Cross as our substitute Saviour, and only through His precious blood shed is there salvation for any one of all the race.

I Believe that sin is an act of rebellion against God’s perfect love-will, and that it is so damnable that there is no escaping the consequences of it except through the blood of Christ.

I Believe that every man must make personal choice of Christ as his Saviour for present character and future destiny; and only so is there salvation for him from unending death in the future world.

I Believe in the Pentecostal fulness of the Holy Spirit, and that through this blessed experience one may live a life of purity and holiness, in the purpose of his heart, and increasingly in actual practice.

I Believe that Our Lord Jesus is coming back again in person to bring in the Kingdom reign, and His coming is a thing to be expected in our day.

S. D. Gorpon.

THE HUMAN IMPRINT

Aut that’s wrong in the world goes straight back to man’s use of his freedom to choose as he chooses, and grows out of it. Though it’s rarely traceable, and never fully. ;

Every heart-ache and heart-break, every bit of suffering, every lone sick-room, every sodded grave, every broken life and home, every pain of body and heart, every blasted hope, is the result, direct or indirect or both, of somebody’s use of his power to choose as he chooses.

It is all heart-breaking to God, ever afresh heart-breaking. Yet God will not take back His greatest gift to man, the right of full free power to choose as he chooses to, nor interfere with its use. He woos, but leaves us free to choose.

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Contents

THe Ware AND SHUTTLE-THREADS WITH

WuicH THESE Stories ARE WovEN . wy be I. Tue Story or How rue Brstz STarTED AND GREW. 1. WHY A BOOK; THE NEED; THE OCCA- SION . ‘ ; i : : 2 oU 2. THE UNIVERSITY OF ARABIA, WHERE THE BOOK WAS FIRST WHIPPED INTO SHAPE . . : : i ‘ . oo 3. THE PRESIDENT-TEACHER OF THE UNI- VERSITY, WHO DID THE FIRST WRITING 38 II. THe Story tHe Biste TELLS; THE Story oF FREE CHOICE, Gop’s PATIENCE, AND THE FINAL VICTORY. 1. THE EARLY STORY AND THE RACIAL BREAKDOWN.

The Story: Genesis 1:1 to 2:9 . 48 The Companion Story in the Rocks 70 2. THE MESSENGER TO THE PRODIGAL RACE—THE JEW NATION AND ITS BREAKDOWN.