Introduction
This volume treats upon the themes of Bible history, themes not in
themselves new, yet here so presented as to give them a new signifi-
cance, revealing springs of action, showing the important bearing of
certain movements, and bringing into stronger light some features that
are but briefly mentioned in the Bible. Thus the scenes have a vivid-
ness and importance that tend to make new and lasting impressions.
Such a light is shed upon the Scripture record as to reveal more fully
the character and purposes of God; to make manifest the wiles of Satan
and the means by which his power will be finally overthrown; to bring
to view the weakness of the human heart, and show how the grace of
God has enabled men to conquer in the battle with evil. All this is in
harmony with what God has shown to be His purpose in unfolding to
men the truths of His word. The agency by which these revelations
have been given is seen—when tested by the Scriptures—to be one of
the methods God still employs to impart instruction to the children of
men
.
While it is not now as it was in the beginning, when man in his
holiness and innocence had personal instruction from his Maker, still
man is not left without a divine teacher which God has provided in His
representative, the Holy Spirit. So we hear the apostle Paul declaring
that a certain divine “illumination” is the privilege of the followers of
Christ; and that they are “enlightened” by being made “partakers of
the Holy Ghost.”
Hebrews 10:32
;
6:4
. John also says, “Ye have an
unction from the Holy One.”
1 John 2:20
. And Christ promised the
disciples, as He was about to leave them, that He would send them the
Holy Spirit as a comforter and guide to lead them into all truth.
John
14:16, 26
.
[20]
To show how this promise was to be fulfilled to the church, the
apostle Paul, in two of his epistles, presents formal declaration that cer-
tain gifts of the Spirit have been placed in the Church for its edification
and instruction to the end of time.
1 Corinthians 12
;
Ephesians 4:8-13
;
Matthew 28:20
Nor is this all: a number of clear and explicit prophe-
v