Life in the Word 149 itself, and which resists and defies all the power of death? Such is the assertion of the passages of Scripture which we have quoted. Surely, then, if these statements be trué, we have here the most astounding phenomenon in all the accessible universe; and it will be well worth while to investigate an object of which so startling an assertion is seriously, if very unobtrusively, made. Before we proceed with our inquiry let us note one of many points of resemblance between the Incarnate Word and the Written Word. When “the Word was made flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us” (John 1:14), there was nothing in His appearance to manifest His Deity, or to show that “in Him was life” (John 1 :4). That fact was demonstrated, not by His blameless and unselfish behavior, nor by His incom parable teachings and discourses, but by His resurrection from the dead. The only power which is greater than that of death is the power of life. He had, and exercised, that power, and holds now the keys of death and of hades. (Rev. 1 :18, R. V.) Similarly, there is nothing in the appearance and behavior (so to speak) of the Bible to show that it has a characteristic, even divine life, which other books have not. It bears the same resemblance to other writings that Jesus, the son of Mary, bore to other men. It is given in human language just as He came in human flesh. Yet there is between it and all other books the same difference as between Him and all other men, namely, the difference between the living and the dying. “The word of God is living.” I t will require, therefore, something more than a hasty glance or a casual inspection to discern this wonderful differ ence ; but the difference is there, and with diligence and atten tion we may discover some clear indications of it. II. NO DEFINITIONS OF LIFE Man’s wisdom and learning are incapable of furnishing a definition of life. The attempts of the wisest and most learned
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