xyl | INTRODUCTION.

what shall be on the morrow. We infer, therefore, that it could only have
been possessed as a special gift from the omniscient God. Hence the Bible,
which contains a record of these prophetic visions, must be a Divine book—
the Word of God.

The argument for this conclusion is fortified by the moral influence of the
Scriptures. From the past, as well as the present history of the world, the
fact cannot be questioned, that Bible knowledge has exerted a marked influence
for good on the governments, laws, civilizations, institutions, and social condi-
tion of states and communities, and on the character of individuals. -

History shows, that where there has been no Divine revelation. and conse-
quently no clear knowledge of the only true God, governments have been
established and laws enacted with a view, not to the good of subjects, but to
the enthronement in seats of power of selfish, ambitious, unscrupulous rulers.
The reign of oppression has been absolute and grinding wherever the Bible
has been unknown. The old civilizations of the world, such as existed in
Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, though under them arts
and architecture flourished, and classic literature attained a high degree of refine-
ment, yet, so far as the masses of the people were concerned, ignorance, supersti-
tion, corruption, oppression, and misery, characterized the state of society.
The iron heel of despotic rule everywhere crushed out the life of struggling
manhood. Men, stripped of their rights, were treated as of small account,
except as instruments to be used to subserve the purposes and pleasures of a
few irresponsible and remorseless potentates.

In the absence of the elevating influences of the Word of God, the general
course and drift of the people is in the direction of a debasing idolatry. There
the social condition is marked by vices, corruptions, and cruelties of the
grossest forms. No civilization that has lacked the moulding influence of
Divine revelation, has ever possessed power to reform the habits of idolatry, to
enlighten the ignorant masses, or to elevate a people to the sphere of knowl-
edge and virtue. “ Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

An entirely different phase of society is assumed where government, law,
institutions, and religion, are brought into contact with the formative,—the
regenerating influences of the Holy Scriptures. No where else, however sunny
the skies, or luxuriant the earth, or healthful the clime, does the moral
landscape refresh the sight with growths of living virtue, and scenes of attrac-
tive beauty. No where else does government recognize the inalienable
rights of the people, or protect them. No where else is the light of popular
education diffused. No where else are there found the noble institutions of
philanthropy and benevolence. No where else is the fundamental relation of
marriage rightly understood and sacredly guarded. No where else do temples
and altars rise for the worship of the true and living God. Such results never
flow from the sources of this world’s boasted wisdom.

The late Dr. Wayland, as the result of wide observation and profound reflec-
tion, has expressed his views as follows: “That the truths of the Bible have the