The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-28
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.


terly Review.
The concession is almost universal among
competent authorities that the Book of Genesis
was not written in its present form by Moses,
or. indeed, by any one person. The documentary
hypothesis wins its way. L afirms that frag-
ments Of still more ancient literature were
woven into the text as we have it and that the
process may not have been completed until as
late a date as the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
A child viii readily discover the "doublets" of
Genesis. viz, the two accounts OF Creation and
the Flood. and the two names Of Deity. Con-
fusion results unless some reason is given. The
natural explanation, which would be accepted
without objection in the case of other literature
is that of the Interviewing of ancient docu-
ments. This is 10 late and crude theory. 1t
seems to have been first suggested by the de-
vout scholarly French priest Simon, 220 years
ago. Since then it has been worked out with IL
finite pains TO the minutest detail by scholars OF
every nationality and creed. . . Again it is
affirmed that Genesis is not a transcript of actu-
al history, but that the origin Of man," Para
disc and the Flood reached Israel in tradi-
tional form from other nations, and became the
folklore of Canaan. In thus preserving these an
cient traditions, the editor of Genesis ere
ated a genuine archaeology . . But
while Genesis may thus have appropriated GER
tain elements of an elder literature, it presents
several remarkable lines Of cleavage from the
Bibles of the Tigris and the Nile. 1t differenti-
ates itself; it stands solitary. " " The first
sharp line Of cleavage is the absence Of the
slightest tinge Of racial bigotry. While national
narrowness" is almost a characteristic Of other
sacred books. Genesis deals with the universal
man-and is SO true to this ideal that it de-
serves the noble title George Adam Smith gives
1t when he calls>it the Epic Of Humanity"
. " . A second line of cleavage is its splendid
optimism. The trend Of other sacred literatures
is toward pessimism. They dote on the decline
of the race. the crop from gold to iron, and
hopes of return to the Golden Age are scant.
But Genesis shows an uplift. In spite of occa-
sional lapses, 1t pictures the plane Of humanity
in the ultimate analysis to be an ascending one,
an evolution Of morality and spirituality.
. The third line OF cleavage is most re-
markable Of all 1t finds expression N a single
word-Monotheism. Whatever elements Genesis
may appropriate from tradition and literature,
it sloughs off pantheism and polytheism. The
unity and spirituality Of God burst out Of its
pages like a sunrise, before which all darkness
takes its flight. That is the divinity and inspira-
ton Of Genesisi Before 1t critical questions of
authorship and relative antiquity seem compare
lively insignificant. Whatever theories and hy-
potheses may maintain or fail. Genesis cannot
lose its place as the "Epic OF Humanity"
II rEACHER'S LANTERN.
Lesson I-God the Creator OF all things: The
Mosaic account OF creation is a miracle in
words. Not to this present hlghly-cultured age,
but back three thousand years to the beginnings
OF literature, must we look for the most salts
factory statement of the origin of things. There,
through the mists Of human speculations,
through rising and falling systems Of philoso-
ply, Genesis shines like a star, ever ascendant.
L: is not attached to any system Of geology, as
tronomy or biology; so, as numbers of these in
succession have suLk, it has never been sub
merged. The book may clash with an hypothesis,
it never does with a fact. The narrative is elias
ito enough to take in all the modern discoveries
Of physical science, but presents a rim of steel
to the vagaries Of sciolists.
Lesson H-Beginning of sin and redemption:
Modernize this lesson. Translate it into the
language OF to-day. Every boy and girl and
older person can be- shown to be standing under
a tree of test. Destiny is deciding now by ones
attitude toward God. The chances of a happy
outcome are better and worse than. those of
Adam. Worse. because fan hereditary predis-
position to a WRONG choice. Better. because of
the provisions Of mercy. Where sin abounds.
grace much more sbounds. Even now Gods
voice is ringing. Son, daughter. give me thine
heartl" One does not need to run the whole
gamut Of sin to be lost. Merely declining to
obey God is enough to exclude one from His
presence.
Lesson uI-Noah saved. in the ark: Rivet
hdgety scholars this paragraph certainly will; il
is so scenic. 1t fairly teaches itself. The natural
method is TO describe the condition of the race
before the food; the superlative wickedness
which made that wholesale destruction an act
Of mercy as well as OF justice; how the ire
trievable misery of the human family. which
had doomed itself. &as cut short, and a chance
given to begin anew under happier auspices.
Lesson Iv-God calls Abraham: The genesis OF
anything always las a peculiar fascination. We
never tire Of origins. This lesson brings us to
the fountain-head Of the most important racial
stream that has ever coursed its way through
history; a stream to whose bosom the oracles
of God We're committed for twenty centuries: a
stream that bore to earth the infant Messiah. as
his type once lloated on the Nile. A bird's-eye
view Of the winding of this stream, and the pos
sibIe important function it may perform in the
future of the kingdom of God, will prove an at
tractive Introduction to the lesson.
Lesson V-Abraham and Lot: In this incident
Abraham's character shines resplendent. Two
thousand years before Christ he showed the
Christian spirit when he said TO Lot, LET
there be no strife between me and thee and be-
tween my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we
be brethren" Nor are these mere words. Abra-
ham backs them up. He valves his right. The
land vas his. 1t was all his. Yet in noble mag
nanimity he said to Lot: rs not the whole land
before thee? Separate thyself, 1 pray thee. from
me. IL thou wilt take the left hand, then 1 VIII
go to the right; or If thou depart to the right
hand. then 1 will go to the left Lots selfish
ness crops out. He took advantage of Abraham's
generosity. He cast his eye on the well-watered
plain of Jordan, end chose it. He journeyed east.
1t was not long before he exchanged pastoral
life for urban. He attempted the impossible.
double seryice-GOd and r~iches-met the invet-
crate and historic outcome.
Lesson promise to Abraham: There
is a significant change Of nam ordered in the
case Of each party concerned N the covenant.
The Deity himself condescends to follow the
custom Of man, end at this ~juncture gave him
self a new and significant name; namely, IL
Shaddai-the All-suficient God. Abrams name
is changed from Exalted Father to Father of
Nations. Abraham. Sarai. my princess, to
Sarah, princess universal. This change of name
was a device Of the eldest times. when means
Of tercOmmunicati and record were scarce.
to arrest attention and fix in memory important
events and change of circumstance. BY this
means it was advertised to Abrams motley
clan. and the surrounding tribes as well. that
this aged sheik should miraculously beget a son
by his own and venerable wife, from whom. In
turn. should spring noisy masses and tumultu-
Gus nations. The pledge Of this incredible cir
cumstance was the name of the Deity. He was
Sufficient for this thing. I am the Almighty
Cod" on that golden hook Abraham could hang
his faith. And he did.