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The Fundamentals But if this body of mine loses an eye,- a limb, or the smallest joint of the finger, it is forever maimed; its com pleteness is gone. Not one of the books of the Bible could be lost without maiming the body of truth here contained. Every book fills a place. None can be omitted. For example, the Book of Esther has long been criticised as not necessary to the completeness of the Canon, and par ticularly, because “it does not even once contain the name of God.” But that book is the most complete exhibition of the providence of God. It teaches a Divine Hand behind human affairs ; unbiased freedom of resolution and action as con sistent with God’s overruling sovereignty ; and all things working together to produce grand results. The book that thus exhibits God’s providence does not contain the name of God ; perhaps because this book is meant to teach us of the Hidden Hand that, unseen, moves and controls all things. “Ruth” seems to be only a love-story to some; but how rich this book is in foreshadowings of Gospel truth, especially illustrating the double nature of the God-man, our Redeemer. Boaz is a type of Christ—Lord of the Harvest, Dispenser of Bread, Giver of Rest, He is Goël—the Redeemer. Boaz, the near kinsman, buying back the lost inheritance and marry ing Ruth, suggests Jesus, the God-man, our near Kinsman, yet of a higher family, the Redeemer of our lost estate, and Bridegroom of the redeemed Church. The Epistle to Philemon seems at first only a letter to a friend about a runaway slave. But this letter is full of illus trations of grace. The sinner has run away from God, and robbed Him besides. The law allows him no right of asylum ; but grace concedes him the privilege of appeal. Christ, God’s Partner, intercedes. He sends him back to the Father, no more à slave but a son. (2). The second law o f organic unity is that all parts are necessary to complement each other.
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