The National tribune., 1893-12-28

indicated above.l
Subject: The Creation of Man. Gen., 1 1851.
We set ont to-day on q new year. Very fifty
we begin now the study OF the Bible at the be-
ginning of the Sacred Volume
Thoreau. in early Spring in Massachu-
setts." says: each New Year is a surprise
to u.s."
One cannot close nor begin q year without
more or less serious thought Saint Jerome ID.
346, A. d. wrote the following: There is no
returning on til" road of life. The frail bridge
of time on which we tread sinks back into
eternity at every step we take. The past is
gone from US forever. 1t is gathered in and
garnered. 1t belongs to us more. No sim
gle word can be uuspoken; no single step re.
traced therefore it becomes us. as true
knights, to prick on bravely, nor idly weep
because we cannot now recall. A new life be-
gins for us with every second. Let us go for
ward joyously to meet it. We must pass on
whether we will or not. and we shall walk bet
ter with eyes before US than with them
cast behind"
We would see our way safely through
another twelvemontb. We need all possible
helps-the Home, the Bible, the Church, good
com pan ionship education.
President g. Stanley Hall wrote: "The very
idea of the Bible is consensus. 1t assumes the
same needs. instincts, possibilities, talents, and
predispositions in all for receiving the deliver
ances of the highest of ali muses., the Holy
Spirit"
Genesis
The book of Genesis is the first of the FIVE
books ascribed to the authorship of Moses. and
frequently called he Pentateuch. The Bible
may be considered library of SO volumes, of
which Genesis Is Vol. /. The loss Of the
knowledge impaired by this book of Genesis
would have been a serious calamity historic
ally as we'll as religiously. 1t gives account
of Creation Garden of Eden, Origin OF Sin,
the Flood. etc. From IL we get particulars as
to great historic characters; as, g. g.. Adam.
NOAH Abraham, Isaac. Jacob. We learn the
origin Of the Hebrew Nation. 1t is matter of
amazement that, covering subjects so very i'm
portant, it is so brief. An ordinary writer
would have been disposed to put into $4,000
words the account of creation narrated SO sim
ply and beautifully mainly in the first chapter
of Genesis.
Luther lectured for several years on the first
book of the Bible.
Dr. Keil outlines the book thus: "The Gre
alton of the World. commencing chapter l: L;
I. Ii History (Toledoth) Of Heavens and earth. 2:
4; ii. History of Adam. ST.; III. History
of Noah. 60; Nv. History Of the sons
of Noah, 10: L; v. History of Shem, IL:
10; vi. History of Terah. u:3; VII.
History OF Ishmael. 25 II; VIII. II story Of
History of Jacob 81: l."
GEN.. 1851.
1. Books of Reference.
l. Man in Genesis aud Geology. Joseph P.
Thompson. LID.
q Chaldean Account of Genesis. A. FL.
Sayce.
g. Mosaic Account of Creation. c. B. War
ring.
4. Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture. RI.
Hon. w. E. Gladstone.
s. Introduction to Genesis. Professor Tyler
Lewis.
g. Modern Science in Bible Lands. J. w.
Dawson.
T. Pre-Glacal Man. Lorenzo Burge.
g. Old Testament Biographies. Isaac Will
liams.
2. Words and Phrases.
We notice the most important.
/. Y. 90 Let u.s." Here is concerted ac-
ton, suggesting the doctrine of the Trinity.
We have not reached point beyond the call
for faith. We need some admissions. accepted
in science and religion. No theol-
ogian has been presumptuous enough to at
tempt an explanation of the Trinity. Mystery
in itself is not an objection. Man must have
some margin for faith in God. 1t must be adj
mitted that If the doctrine of the Trinity is
true. and God should annonce it as an item of
belief. it would not do Tor the world to refuse
sons are quite so robust in opposing strange
doctrine as to deny infallibility to God. They
who hold the doctrine of the Trinity readily
explain "us" in V. Is by saying that mans
creation became q matter for execution by all
three persons Of the Trinity.
g Then, we notice the fact man was made
ain the image of God" What is meant2 1:26.
81. Bishop Tillotson wrote: Man
is made after the image of God in
respect of the qualities of his mind. as holt
ness and righteousness; or of his faculties,
as understanding aud will. or, which the text
seems most to favor, i'm respect of his dominion
aud sovereignty over the creatures" DIR.
South hints at the spiritual makeup of man.
saving, The decalog of Moses was transcript,
not an original" adding that the original was
written in the heart of Adam. The likeness
is not physical, for after man is as We say
con verted, or, as st. Paul puts it, after he has
regaiued the image of God, he has the same
body as before. Scalager tries to reach the
thought. saying man is "mundi utriusque Menus y;
man is the bond of both worlds. He is spirit
from Heaven; he is flesh from earth-spirit
and fesh-uDion of Heaven and earth.
3. Man dominates over the animal kingdom
and even utilities largely the forces of nature.
80 %. He has subjected to his use even the
strongest and widest brutes. Fishes, fowls,
beasts, cattle, furnish human beings food.
and many other necessities Then,
man mas power over INC tdTbn Ho
causes the water and air and electricity to do
his will; he utilizes coal. metals, etc., he al
lows no bodies of water nor nights of land to
stop his progress. See "subdue il" in V. %.
4. AT first food for human beings consisted
of vegetables and fruits. but after population
had greatly increased fishes fowls, CATTLE ETC.,
we're added. The word meat" in verses 20,
80 means simply food.
5. DAY. v. 81. The work of creation is
ted as having required six DAYS The
exegetic tendency is to understand the word
day In the sense of period.
1. 8. Human beings are free moral agents, and
hence can obey or disObey. They are not ma
chimes nor mechanisms subject to outside ire
sstble forces. The principle of temptation
necessarily follows The fact man is in this |
condition is set forth in verses 16 IL.
z. V. %. Multiply" Nobody can tell how
many human beings have been. 1t is supposed |
there are now over 400, 600 900.
8. V. 49, Herb bearing seed" The pro- |
ductiveness of nature is utterly amazing. We |
have estimates. E. G., if a grain of wheat bear |
80 grains the first year; if these be planted and |
produce proportionately as is possible for the |
next year. and so on for 10 additional years, |
there would be wheat enough to meet the |
wants of generation of human beings. |
In bushel of timothy there are $4,000, 600 |
seeds.
Prof. Huxley said that probably 5000 O0O, 900 |
behring's are taken each year from the North |
Sea alone A queen bee lays 10000 eggs |
O Wa do not know tina nature NJ the nTraa |