66 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 Goel—th e 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 a slave but a son. (2). The second law of organic unity is that all parts are necessary to complement each other.
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