INTRODUCTION. xix

worship at the altar of “ the unknown God,” or seek information about the un-
known future by consulting the dumb oracle of uninspired reason? Why
should not man, thus groping in the region and shadow of death, limit his
aims and labors to what shall minister merely to present gratification, accept-
ing as his creed the frigid philosophy of the atheistic stoic,—“ Let us eat and
drink ; for to-morrow we shall die.”

As darkness brooded over the chaotic abyss at one stage of the creative pro-
cess, till “ the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,” commanding
the light to shine, kindling life and beauty, so the world of intelligent man
were but a moral chaos, enveloped in thick darkness, unless the Spirit’s pres-
ence should cause light to shine through the revelations of the Bible. The
darkness would prevail till God said, “ Let there be light.” -

Pluck the sun from the heavens, and what would be the effect? The stars
might remain, but how poor a substitute would they be for the lost sun?
Under their cold, twinkling radiance, what could live and flourish? The
world might stand as now, but clad in perpetual darkness, save as relieved by
star-light, deprived of the heat of the orb of day, how soon would its fields of
verdure, and forms of beauty, and growths of fruit and vegetation fade, and
wither, and freeze, and perish. A result analagous to this would follow, were
the Bible, the sun in the moral heavens, with all the light of which it has
been, and is still the fountain, destroyed. Who can conceive the desolation
that would follow? The dial of human progress would, like that of Ahaz,
reverse its shadow, and the world would soon be thrown back into the rayless
gloom of heathenism, barbarism, and universal corruption. The ruins of
those beautiful creations, to which the Bible more than any other agency has
contributed, might remain, but the glory of the moral world with its growing
civilizations, its humane achievements, its noble institutions of learning and
religion, would soon disappear forever.

The authority of the Bible, as an inspired book, which differs from all other
books, finds support in the great and leading purpose which it reveals, viz. :
THE REDEMPTION OF MAN. It was no part of the design of God to make-his
word of truth a manual of science, or the source of such knowledge as can be
acquired by observation and study. A higher end was embraced in his plan—
the establishment of a kingdom in the world—the subjects of which should be
redeemed from the ruins of the fall, and be “purified unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works.” The materials incorporated into this great
spiritual organization, were not to be selected from any one people, or
from any one age. All kindreds and peoples, and all times, were included
in the comprehensive plan of Divine wisdom and benevolence revealed in the
Bible.

The progressive development of God’s redeeming plan on to its consum-
mation, furnishes a sublime historic exhibition of the wisdom and power
which underlie it. In this respect it differs radically from all the plans of
human improvement and elevation ever devised by reformers, philosophers,