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us they did not know exactly the meaning o f their words. But by and by they met; and now ithey are seen to have worked together and dove-tailed into each other, thus showing the presence an.d power o f a master mind, which is none other than that o f the Holy Spirit o f God. And, then, fourthly: Truth in its pro gressiveness. Now .let us be very clear here. The progress o f truth from Genesis to Revelation is undoubted. Not every part o f Scripture is equally valuable or equally important for us today. If-1 were called upon to spend my' life on a desert island, and I were compelled to select out o f several books, I would much prefer the Epistle to the' Romans to Ecclesiastes. I do not think for a moment that Ecclesias tes- is, so important for us today as Romans;- but I believe every book has its place in the content of Divine revelation, though not There is such a thing as the inspiration all are o f equal value or equal importance, o f direct communication. “ I have received from the Lord.’’ There is such a thing as the inspiration o f selection. The Holy Spirit guided St. John to select- out o f the materials o f our Lord’s life, just that which is given us'in the Fourth Gospel. You have in St. Luke’s preface and St.-John ROiSl this proof o f selection. Then we also find the inspiration o f accurate record. In the Bible we find the words o f the devil. They are not true, -although they are found in the Bible. W e find the words o f Job’s friends. They are'not true, but they are in the Bible. W e find the words o f God’s enemies in the Bible. They are not true. The sentiment is wrong, but the record of them is true. The sentiment is full of imperfection, but the record is full o f per fection. That is the meaning o f the inspi ration o f accurate record. W e have to be very careful, therefore, so that if a man next Sunday preaches from a particular text, he must first inquire who said it. An old Welsh preacher once gave out hi^ text this way: “ Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his l i f e a n d then said, That is a lie! O f course it was. It is the word o f Satan; Although in God’s
book, it is not true pf itself, but the record o f it is true. Let me say again, there may be imperfection, in the sentiment, but no imperfection'in the account o f it. And so we have to distinguish very carefully in our use o f Scripture. I know o f a man who thought it appro priate to give a lady a ring on which was- embossed the word Mizpah. She was going a long voyage, and it seemed suitable to say: “ The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another.” But when' afterwards that man read the story o f the person who said these words, he saw that it meant this: “I cannot trust you out o f my Sight, and so the Lord Him self must watch you.” I f that man were giving another ring today, I feel sure he. would not give one with Mizpah on it. That word and the corresponding words- were given to one another by two sus picious men; and. although the Christian Endeavorers speak -of the Mizpah bene diction, they have to do it without regard ing the context. W e must be very Careful in our use o f Scripture, lest when we quote we misquote. All this shows us the need o f realising the progressiveness of revelation. All things were written for us, but everything was not written to us. “Whatsoever things were written were written for our learn ing.” There is a wide distinction between primary interpretation and spiritual applica tion, and we must first find out to whom the Scripture was^written, before we begin to apply it to ourselves.' Scripture is per fect at every part. I believe God’s revela tion to Abraham was perfect for Abraham, but not necessarily so for Isaiah. I believe God’s revelation to Samuel was perfect for him, but not necessarily so to the prophets afterwards. There was a continual devel opment and growth in revelation, until we get the meridian in Christ, and since that day there has always been a meridian; there has been no sunset. V. Difficulties of the Bible. I can only suggest some general outlines for further consideration.
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