Creation, time and eternity; a book devoted to the unfolding of the great fundamental truths as found in science, nature and revelation ...

Front matter

J. S. SECRIST.

A BOOK DEVOTED to the UNFOLDING of the GREAT FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS AS FOUND IN SCIENCE, NATURE AND REVELATION. "THE GREATEST THEME THAT EVER ENGAGED THE MIND OF MORTAL MAN"

A Comparative Work on Genesis and Geology. Darwinism on the Evolution of Man with Science, Nature and Revelation on the Creation of Man. The Unfolding of a World. The Seven Great Cycles of Time in Creation, Time and Eternity. The Great Unfolding of the Human Family and the Wonderful Types and Shadows of the Bible Used for This Purpose. The Ideal Man. The Great Laws Governing World Building. Revelation Revealed.

Introduction

It fell to the lot of the writer to read in manuscript the following pages and it is needless to say they were read with interest. And now the author requests that a few words be written as an introduction. As a rule the busy man, beset with the strenuous life of our day, skips the introduction and plunges at once into what the author has written, and wisely, too, for often the foreword blunts the appetite for further reading instead of giving mental zest for the feast in store for the careful reader. If brevity be a virtue then that much will be in favor of this effort.

The author has gone over a large and most important field of research in his work. Science, nature and revelation ; " Creation, Time, Eternity," themes fraught with tremendous interest to every son and daughter of Adam. We come, we abide a moment, we go. Whence came we? what had we better do during our short stay ? and where are we going ? These are the most important questions that can occupy the mind. Our brother has given much time, thought and research to these subjects and the reader will find himself interested at the outset. That all will not be ready to accept his conclusions goes without saying, but those who criticise will be compelled to admit the painstaking effort shown in the work.

The chapters on Typology, as well as the entire book, should have a careful reading and study. In this age of rationalism the types of the Holy Scriptures are being lost sight of and the author does well to give the subject a prominent place in his book. The New Testament shows how important and prominent the subject was in the time of Christ. He refers to

8 INTRODUCTION

the brazen serpent as a type of his crucifixion and to Jonah as a type of his burial. Paul says the first Adam is a type of the second and that the paschal lamb is a type of Christ who is our Passover. Reference to types is made in almost every book of the New Testament. It was one of the prominent features of the teachings of the apostles and of the Primitive Church. There is danger in using types as evidence of doctrine but they do have their legitimate place in the interpretation of the Scriptures. The fathers of our own church recognized the importance of typology and cultivated it, setting their faces against the rationalism of their times. To the rationalist typical interpretation is but a mere dream and materialism has used its powers to bring it into disrepute, but with the revival of religion typology has borne some of its finest fruits. The indifferent reader, tainted with carnality, will never discover the beauty and significance of the types that foreshadow the things to come. These are spiritually discerned.

The great Apocalyptic Vision, the closing words of the prophecy of the New Testament, which will be the better understood in the light of its own fulfillment, receives due consideration by the author. It is a great subject and is full of interest to the earnest Bible student.

It would require a much more studied and critical reading of the book, than was given it, to write of all its features, but the writer was impressed with the fact that a valuable addition has been made to our literature and he hopes that the book will find its way in many homes and that it will do good, thus bringing the full realization of the highest and fondest hopes of its author. D. L. Miller.

Preface

No other subject of such marvelous, surpassing interest to the human family, or of such height or depth or length and breadth, has ever engaged the mind of mortal man, as that of " Creation, Time and Eternity." It is rightly so. There is no lifting power in groveling below self, but to look into, through and on to the infinite beyond, is wisdom, power, strength.

When we look at the stars and see their distance from us, their numbers as the sands upon the sea-shore, their excellent glory, we stand in awe and bewilderment. Yet when we behold r. law that governs them all with the utmost mathematical precision, ever}' rational being asks for the truth, the cause of this mighty effect.

When we behold our world, one among this mighty host, regulated and governed by the same laws, we are at once called to give it our closest investigation. As we proceed to investigate, three lines open before us: Science, Nature and Revelation. We eagerly ask ourselves the questions, Where did it come from, and how? And what will be its final destiny? Will science be able to give us a satisfactory answer? Science deals with material things demonstrated to the material senses. Will Nature be able to unfold the truth? She is truth itself. But she unfolds through life, and is only the effect of a cause, and before this first great cause both science and nature stand dumb and answer not. Neither the past, present nor future can be satisfactorily answered on their basis. They themselves must be accounted for, with the very fact that they have a being. We turn to him who said, " If ye know the Truth, the Truth shall make you free." It is the object of this book to turn on the searchlight of Science, Nature and Revelation, upon " Creation, Time and Eternity," and to set before its readers the great outline plan as given by the Bible itself.

1. — To set forth the truth in a plain, unbiased manner, fresh from the Book, and the Book only in comparison with science and nature.

10 PREFACE

2. — As a helpful means, to see the matchless unfolding of the perfect laws governing the evolution of a world.

3. — To more fully open the great outline plan of God in his Book, the Bible, and let it stand or fall in comparison, upon its own merits.

4. — To see it as a whole in its concrete form from beginning to its end, instead of in its dissected, distorted and mutiliated condition.

5. — To give to each of its readers "The Key of Knowledge," that they may unlock its deep mysteries and enter in and possess its richest, rarest and most precious truths.

6. — That the barriers of Superstition, Ignorance, Prejudice, Creedism, Skepticism, Agnosticism, Infidelity and Atheism with all other isms and cisms, may be dissolved before the searchlight of the perfect truth.

7. — That all who will read with honest care, may have every shadow of doubt removed as to whence they have come, what they are now, and what their eternal destiny will be.

And they that are wise shall shine As the brightness of the firmament; And they that turn many to righteousness As the stars for ever and ever.

In its pages are unfolded in a plain, simple manner the great types and their antitypes of the whole Bible in a way that the common reader may easily understand them, and know the great outline plan of God contained therein.

The Cycles of time, from the beginning of creation to the consummation of time, are illustrated and carefully explained so all may easily understand them. The chapters on Genesis and Geology, and on the Darwinian theory of the evolution of man will be found unanswerable and conclusive on those much misused subjects. The theory of the first race being a race of giants is fully sustained by undisputable facts. The flood and its cause, the age of prehistoric man up to modern times, cause of decline, etc., are noted with care.

An outline of the book of Revelation, and the opening of the

PREFACE 11

seven seals, with a full explanation of their meaning is given. The first resurrection, the casting out of heaven of Satan, the return of the Jews to Palestine, the second coming of Christ, and his judgment of the nations at that time, with the signs and time of his second coming are carefully noted and made easy of comprehension from the book itself. The destruction of the Beast and False Prophet, who they are and when and how and why destroyed; the chaining of Satan for one thousand years, with the reign of Christ and his Saints for that period and the conditions prevailing at that time are made clear.

The Devil's last stand against God's people and his final doom; the final and last judgment of this earth, and its results, on down to the second death, and the final restoration, the year of Jubilee, are all given in a clear, plain way, with their types and antitypes and scriptural proofs.

This book has been written for those who love the truth, and will seek to know it; it does not fill its pages with the opinions of the best human authors, but is original in its scope and fullness of the Book of books.

The author believes the greatest crime of our age is the low ideal and conception of the " Foreordained plan of God " as it is so often given by its would-be apostles. This volume will tell its own story, more wonderful, marvelous and grand, of God and Man, and the unfolding of a world, than all the wisdom of man, or wildest conjectures of the theorist, or imaginations of the poet or artist ever could paint with pen or brush. Read it with the Bible as a guide by its side. Let preconceptions and prejudice make haste slowly, and reserve opinions for later dates while you read this book and its side companion, the Bible. For more than ten years has the author been pressed in spirit, and continuously urged to write this work. Hundreds of lectures have been given along its lines of Bible interpretation, with the result of the profoundest approbation of God's people, and the complete silencing of the critics of the Book. May it go forth on its mission of peace and truth in the "Name of our Lord and his Christ."

The Author.

Chapter 1. Science, Nature And Revelation

The Search for Truth — The Eternal Nature of Truth — Truth, the One Thing Needful — Nature Always True — Revelation, Purpose and Nature Of — Claims of the Bible — The Great Outline Plan of God as shown In — " Creation, Time and Eternity " — The Architect of a World — The Ideal 23

Chapter 2. Genesis And Geology

The Bible Critics on Genesis and Geology — Rejecting the Bible: Its Effect — Intellectualism Against Faith: Its Result — Time in Creation and Geology — The Divine Key SEVEN 31

Chapter 3. Genesis And Geology Compared

The Science of Geology — The First Creative Day, Gen. 1 : 1-5 — Second Creative Day, Gen. 1: 6-8 — Third Period in Creation, Gen. 1 : 9-13 — The Vegetable Kingdom — Fourth Period in Creation, Gen. 1: 14-19 — Fifth Period in Creation, Gen. 1: 20- 23 — Sixth Period in Creation, Gen. 1: 24-31 — Creation of MAN 37

Chapter 4. The Origin Of Man

The Darwinian Theory of the Origin of Man — Effect of This Teaching — Quotations from Various Writers on the Evolution Theory — Fossils, Conjectures and Suppositions the Basis of the Darwinian Theory 47

]3

CHAPTER 5. THE ORIGIN OF MAN (Continued)

But Two Theories of Man's Origin — Darwin and the Bible — The " Ideal MAN "—Man as He Was at Creation— The Law of " The Survival of the Fittest " — Physical Perfection in the Early Types — Paleontological Specimens of Recent Finds. ..53

CHAPTER 6. THE ORIGIN OF MAN (Continued)

The Human Period in Geology and Creation — Giant Skeletons of Prehistoric Animals — An Elephant Twenty-three Feet High — ■ Will This Law Hold Good for Man? — Human Giants — Bible Accounts— Historical Accounts — Recent Finds of Giant Human Skeletons from Seven to Fifteen Feet High — Finds of a Prehistoric Race of Giants in California— Prehistoric Giants in Maryland — Prehistoric Giants in Texas 59

CHAPTER 7. THE ORIGIN OF MAN (Continued)

Prehistoric Man a Giant Race — The Mound Builders — Giants in Mexico — One from Cape Colony, Africa — A Ten Foot Giant Found in Northern Russia — The Great Fixed Law — A Higher Order Must Succeed the Lower — The " Christ," This New Creature — The Self-confessed Failure of the Darwinian Theory — Rapid Changes Sweeping Over the Earth — The Cause of the Races Dying Out 67

Chapter 8. The Age Of Man

The Bible Critics on the Age of Man— The Bible Method of Reckoning Time Always Correct — The Climatic Conditions Before the Flood — Conditions of Man Before the Flood — The Flood— God's Plans Will Not Miscarry— After the Flood- Rapid Change in Earthly Conditions — Contemporaneous Chart of the Ages of the Patriarchs, from Adam to Abraham — Noah Lives to See Eighteen Generations — Transmission of Knowledge 77

Chapter 9. The Seven Covenants

The First Covenant, Made With Adam, Gen. 1: 27-30; 2: 15-17 — The Second Covenant, Made With Noah, Gen. 9 — The Third Covenant, Made With Abraham, Gen. 15; 17: 9-21; 22: 1-19 — Fourth Covenant, the "Law and the Prophets," Luke 16: 16 — The Type Church— Fifth, "The New Testament "—The Substance of the Type Church, Heb. 11: 1-3 — The Sixth Covenant, the Second Advent of Christ — Seventh Covenant, "The New Heaven and the New Earth." 89

Chapter 10. The Seven Kingdoms Of The World

First, " The Ether Kingdom " — The Beginnings — Second, the " Mineral Kingdom — The Record of the Prehistoric Ages — Diagram of the " Seven Kingdoms " — Third, " The Vegetable Kingdom" — Fourth, "The Animal Kingdom." 9b>

CHAPTER 11. THE SEVEN KINGDOMS (Continued)

Fifth, "The Human Kingdom "—Many Different Nations— Their Origin — The Hamitic Races — The Shemitic Races — The Japhetic Races — Noah's Prophetic Blessing Upon His Sons — Their Fulfillment — The High Order of the Human Kingdom — Transition of the Human Kingdom — Sixth, the " Kingdom of Heaven " — Its Nature — Seventh, " The Triumphant Kingdom of Our Lord and His Christ" — Destiny 107

CHAPTER 12. TYPOLOGY — A discourse on types

Types Defined — Why Employed — The Garden of Eden — Cain and Abel — Noah and the Ark — The Dove and the Raven — The Three Sons of Noah : Ham, Shein and Japheth 117

CHAPTER 13. TYPOLOGY (Continued)

THE TYPE OF THREE— Diagram of the Type of Three- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — Abraham a Type of God — Isaac a Type of Jesus — Esau and Jacob — Their Types and Antitypes — The Repenting Prodigal — Restoration — The Work of the Holy Spirit — Israel the Prince of God — Jacob the Founder of the Type Church — The Twelve Sons — Types Of 123

Chapter 14. The Church In Bondage

Diagram No. Six — Joseph, Moses and Christ — The Development of the Church — Fulfilled Types — The Type of Forty — Noah and the Type of Forty — Type and Antitype of Forty in the Second Dispensation — The Forty Days' Fasts — On the Mount of Transfiguration — The Forty Years' Wandering in the Wilderness of Sin 133

Chapter 15. From Egypt To The Promised Land

TYPES AND ANTITYPES.

Egypt a Type of the World — Pharaoh a Type of Satan — The Destruction of Egypt a Type of the Destruction of the Jews — Diagram No. Seven — The Passover Lamb — The High Sabbath — The Wave Sheaf — Pentecost — Diagram No. Eight, Showing the Types and Antitypes from the Beginning of the Year to Pentecost 141

Chapter 16

THE FORTY YEARS' WANDERING IN THE WILDER- NESS OF SIN — TYPES OF.

Crossing the Red Sea — The Song of Moses and the Lamb — The Wilderness of Sin — Manna — Mount Sinai — The Tabernacle — The Temple — The Seven Steps from the Altar to the Holy City - 151

Chapter 17

THE FORTY YEARS' WANDERING IN THE WILDER- NESS OF SIN (Continued).

Sending Out of the Twelve Spies — Types Of — Moses a Type of Jesus — Who Entered the Promised Land — Type and Antitype — Caleb and Joshua — Joshua and Christ Jesus 161

Chapter 18

THE FORTY YEARS' WANDERING IN THE WILDER- NESS OF SIN (Continued).

Crossing the Jordan — Time of Crossing the Jordan — Diagram No. Nine — Order of Events on Entering the Promised Land — Diagram No. Ten, of the Special Days and Their Events — Types and Antitypes — Conquest of Canaan — Comparative Points of Types and Antitypes 169

Chapter 19

PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN TO THE CLOSE OF THE AGE OF TYPES.

Age of the Judges — Type of Forty Again — The Kingdom of Saul, David and Solomon — Forty Years Each — David's Forty Years — Solomon — The Temple — Its Typical Meaning — The Law and the Prophets 177

Chapter 20

CYCLES OF TIME IN CREATION, TIME AND ETERNITY THE PERFECT NUMBER SEVEN.

A Day in Prophecy — Seven the Unit of Time — The Beginning of Time With Israel — Type of the Unleavened Bread — Diagram No. Twelve, of the Unit of Time — Diagram No. Thirteen — The Seven Weeks— Pentecost the First Day 189

CHAPTER 21. CYCLE OF TIME (Continued)

The Seven Months — The Day of Atonement — The Feast of Trumpets — Diagram No. Fourteen — Cycle of the Seven Months —

Type and Antitype of the Feast of Trumpets — The Fullness of This Type — Feast of Ingathering — A Common Feast for All With Joy and Gladness — The " Lovefeast " of the Early Christian Church — Its Antitype 197

Chapter 22. The Seventh Or Sabbath Year

A Prophetical Day — The Day, Week, Month and Year in Prophecy — Diagram No. Fifteen — The Type of the Sabbath Year: Its Antitype 207

Chapter 23. The Seven Times Seven Years: The Fiftieth Year A Jubilee

Types and Their Antitypes of the Year of Jubilee — Diagram No. Sixteen, of the Year of Jubilee, and Its Cycles of Time — Fulfilling of This Type — The Doctrine of " The Final Restitution " — The Final Doom of the Wicked — Diagram No. Seventeen — The Seven Complete Types, the Finished Works of God — Diagram No. Eighteen — The Seven Creative Days — Conclusion 215

Chapter 24. Revelation

Introduction — Meaning of the Title — The Bible Its Own Commentary — Its Note of Warning and Triumph — Satan Defeated — Jesus' Last Message — John Commissioned by Jesus to Write Revelation— The Seven Churches — The Seven Messages — For What Purpose Given 227

CHAPTER 25. REVELATION (Continued)

John's Vision in Heaven — True Interpretation — Bible True to Its Purpose — Jesus Christ the Central Figure in Revelation — The Two Witnesses — The Book Sealed With Seven Seals Delivjred to Jesus — The Four Beasts — The Fifth a Lamb — Opening of the Seven Seals — Jesus' Glory and Honor — The Testimony of the Two Witnesses — Meaning of the Four Beasts 233

CHAPTER 26. REVELATION (Continued)

Diagram No. Nineteen — The Seven Ages of Man — Showing the Seven Seals, and Their Time and Place and Meaning — Opening of the First Seal — The Marvelous Unfolding of God's Plan in Revelation — Opening of the Second Seal — Its Interpretation 239

CHAPTER 27. REVELATION (Continued)

Opening of the Third Seal — Its Interpretation — Opening of the Fourth Seal — Its Interpretation — The Awfulness of Its Fulfillment 245

CHAPTER 28. REVELATION (Continued)

Opening of the Fifth Seal — The Christian Martyrs — The White Robes Again — The Dark Ages of Persecution — The. Beast and False Prophet — The Fifth Seal the Beginning of the First Resurrection — The Church in the Wilderness — To the Casting Out of Satan 251

CHAPTER 29. REVELATION (Continued)

Opening of the Sixth Seal — The Last Decade of the Rule of Satan — The Second Coming of Christ — Signs of His Coming — Learn the Parable of the Fig-tree — The Return of the Jews to Palestine — The Declaration of Prophecy Full on This — Jesus' Promise to the Twelve Apostles — Ezekiel, Jesus and Paul on the Return of the Jews to Palestine 257

CHAPTER 30. REVELATION (Continued)

Opening of the Sixth Seal (Continued) — Manner of Jesus' Second Coming — The Reapers — Harvest Time — Work of the Angels — The 144,000— The Bride the Lamb's Wife— Many Parables,

Types and Prophecies Fulfilled in This Seal — The Antitypes of the Feast of Tabernacles — Realization of the Glorious Fulfillment of Jesus' Promises in This Seal 265

CHAPTER 31. REVELATION (Continued)

Opening of the Seventh Seal — The Highly Spiritual Nature of Its Work — The Divine and Human Side — Millennium or Thousand Years' Reign of Christ and His Saints — The Conquest of Christ — Type Meets Antitype — The Great Rebellion — Destruction of the Old Beast, and False Prophet — Diagram No. Twenty — Map of Palestine in the Time of the Millennium, According to Ezek. 47: 48 — Satan Chained for the Thousand Years — Ezekiel's Account of. Christ's Judgment Against the Rebellious Nations 271

CHAPTER 32. REVELATION (Continued)

The Gathering of the Nations at Jerusalem for the Great Battle — Christ's Judgment on Them — His Authority Established — Palestine and Jerusalem During the Thousand Years — The Condition of God's People During This Time — The Wickedness Still Great in the Earth — Close of the Seventh Seal — End of Time — Satan Loosed Again for a Little Season — His Last Stand — The Last Test — The End of Satan, and His Host of Deceived Followers 279

CPIAPTER 33.

REVELATION (Continued).

The Close of the Seventh Seal — The Final Judgment — Basis Upon Which the Final Judgment Will Be Given — The Rule of Three the Basis of Final Judgment — Judgment of the Jews, Christians, Reprobates and Heathens — The Saints Not Judged, but Will Be Judges— The Second DEATH— The Doctrine of Annihilation — Who Share This Fate — Type of the Final Judgment — Sin Against the "Holy Spirit" — The Destruction of the Last Enemy — Time of the Final Rewards of the Faithful. ..287

CHAPTER 34. REVELATION (Continued)

Dawn of Eternity — The New Heaven and the New Earth — The Year of Jubilee — The Evolution of a World — The Final Restitution — The False Doctrine of Restitution — The Holy City the New Jerusalem — Creation Finished: Time Ended, Eternity Begun 293

Chapter 35. The Threefold Life Of Man And Its Powers

Diagram No. Twenty-One — Body, Soul and Spirit — Mind the Medium of Control — The Holy Spirit in Control — Jesus Has Lived Our Life, With the Spirit Life Added to Give Us a Perfect Example — The Three Temptations — First Temptation, the Lust of the Flesh — Second Temptation, Presumptuousness — Satan's Trap — The Third Temptation, Covetousness — Persecution, Satan's Last Weapon to Destroy Us — Victory Through the Holy Spirit. 299

CHAPTER 1. Science, Nature and Revelation

The Search for Truth — The Eternal Nature of Truth — Truth, the One Thing Needful — Nature Always True — Revelation, Purpose and Nature Of — Claims of the Bible — The Great Outline Plan of God as Shown In — " Creation, Time and Eternity " — The Architect of a World— The Ideal.

" What is Truth ? " This question has come ringing down through all ages and is before us still. Those who have explored her realms the farthest have found themselves standing on the brink of a mighty ocean whose length and breadth have never been explored, and whose hidden depths have never yielded up their deeper hidden truths. Before this mighty ocean of " Creation, Time and Eternity " we all stand with troubled brow and perplexity of mind, eagerly scanning the distant horizon for the bark of truth that will bring us tidings from afar: but alas, while we pause and wonder, we see sun after sun sinking in its mighty billows, and our perplexities increase rather than diminish.

The greatest minds of all ages have asked this same question, then laid themselves the task of helping to answer it : some along one line, some along other opposing lines. Is the story of creation a truth, or must we look to other sources to obtain the " pearl of great price " ? Will science be able to satisfactorily explain the past and unlock its secrets? Will she be able to give us a satisfactory answer for the present, and satisfy the longing heart for something more enduring, and a hope beyond of a better life? Will she be able to look into the future and unlock its secrets and unfold it to us ?

Science after all is only knowledge, and the knowledge of today, though a fragmentary truth, may be only a vapor tomorrow. " For now we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away." — Paul. Science is knowledge, Art is the wisdom and skill of using it. Science that is false is not science, but all real knowledge stripped of error is Science, is truth : and truth is an ever present, an indestructible, an everlasting principle : therefore, " If we know the truth, the truth will make us free " ; while anything to the contrary will leave us in darkness, doubt and fear, a poor anchor indeed to depend upon, with the certain knowledge that we shall come this way but once.

We conclude then that " truth " is what is needed ; those great abiding principles which contain the germ o-f all that has been, is, or is to come. The germ truth, that this world was a globe, came near costing Columbus his life for advocating it, nevertheless it made man free from the most -colossal error of that age, gave us a new world, and vindicated itself. So likewise comes the Man of Galilee to the world and says, " I am the light of the world : he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." For advocating this doctrine he was put to death; and it is the purpose of this little volume to put this great question before its readers, from the standpoint of Science, Nature and Revelation : fully assured that all truth will and must harmonize, or must forever be relegated to the rear as unworthy the name of truth.

Nature is always a primary truth, which every scientist knows : and to work in perfect harmony with her, and keep her laws intact, means the attainment to the highest degree of success in her realms. The virtue of true science is her unfolding, and fuller development, while Revelation implies the reverse ; it purposes to unfold the hidden things of " Creation, Time and Eternity," and reveal them to man in order to give him, not only a temporary truth, but an eternal truth, an everlasting hope based upon eternal principles.

If the Bible is the revealed truth of God to man, its scope and plan must be in harmony with the Being who gave it, his plans must be in it, past, present and future ; his purposes revealed, — not only the details, but in outline as a whole. If it is revelation, then that means it is revealed, not hid, or made obscure and meaningless : yet such seems to be the popular opinion obtaining among many of its advocates. On the other hand its enemies have assailed it from every angle, assuming it to be the work of men, and have attempted to criticise it from such a standpoint. Taking the argument from this standpoint it would be the creature criticising the Creator; and if the creature is able, really able to criticise the Creator, then indeed he ceases to be such and from henceforth would have to take a subordinate position.

It is the purpose of this work to look at the Bible from the standpoint of science, nature and revelation, to give the doubter all the benefits his doubts entitle him to, the unbeliever all the benefits his unbelief give him after reading it ; to eradicate as far as it may be the skepticism of the skeptical ; to give the great outline plan of the Bible as a whole, and to let it stand or fall upon the " SEVEN PILLARS " which her wisdom has hewn out as the substructure upon which she has builded her house. Prov. 9:1.

CLAIMS OF THE BIBLE.

The Bible claims for its author an Omnipotent God, infinite in knowledge and omnipresent, the Creator of the universe, and " upholding all things by the word of his power." Heb. 1 : 3. The only authority it quotes is, " Thus saith the Lord." It makes no apologies for its demands upon man as a servant, or as a colaborer, or as a medium through which to carry on its work, but always speaks " as one having authority." Matt. 7: 28. It claims to hold a conditional destinv over every human being, of life and death. Its claims are as limitless as " Creation, Time and Eternity." Within its pages it claims to unfold and reveal these: does it do so? Is such a thing possible? Can we grasp such a concept — the Creator revealing his plan to us as a whole? We at once perceive that this is the mightiest problem that has ever engaged the mind of mortal man. But may we not at least give the Book a fair chance to vindicate its claims from its own internal evidence? The author of this work sets himself the task to do this, and kindly asks the reader to reserve all criticism until he has read this book through, — every page of it, with a careful study of its original diagrams, and the original text with which it seeks to illuminate the Bible.