The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-01-04
food THE
|, CRBATOK
! Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 8. 1907
! Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

|
GENEsis.-The title of the book means
origin, creation, beginnings. II belongs
to what is known as the Penteteuch, or
nve books supposed to have been writ
'e sC n S REFERENCES. = John
Ills; Psalm 1915; Acts. H:l7; Romans
THE cREATIoN.-The story OF crea-
ton is told in the simplest and briefest
and most orderly way, as II TO write u
indelibly on the mind and memory or
man; as, indeed, II has. IL gives the I'M
preston OF an inscription on monu-
ment as some one has suggested, IKE
the Ten Commandments on the Tables
OF Stone. Its poetic form AIDS the men, men,
ory The more science reveals OF Gods
works the more poetic do we find the
acts and facts of God
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
All are agreed that the Scriptures
were not given to teach science, and
do not teach science. They do not
use scientific language, they do not
teach science, but state facts In every |
literary form, in the common Ian
guage of daily life. Hence, the vary
ing theories of science do not affect
its truth. A good example is the diff
ference between the plain statement
that the "sun SETS" and the scientific
statement about the sun standing still
and the earth revolving. Most OF the
objections made to the accuracy OF
the Genesis account arise from the
disregard of this principle, either in
regard to geology or language. Rus
kin we'll says Modern Painters. Vol
w, "Firmament"), With respect to
this whole chapter, we must remem-
Der always that It is intended for
the instruction of all mankind, not
for the learned reader only; and that,
therefore, the most simple and natur-
al Interpretation is likeliest in general
to be the true one"
Professor Rice, in his latest re-
vision of Dana's school geology, re-
peatedly gives the general order OF
development. Plants. rhizopods (the
earliest animal life), mollusks, fishes,
reptiles, birds, mammals. man. A
biologist told me that while plant life
and animal life began at nearly the
same time. yet as plant life was the
sum of fewer qualities than animal
life. plant life was lower in the scale
than animal life, and before animal
life in the sense that animal life di-
rectly or indirectly depended on plant
life. Professor Rice calls these periods
"the reign" or "the era" the king
dom" "the group" of fishes, OF rep
tiles. etc: and adds this note: These
expressions *are not to be under
stood as implying that the several
groups of animals mentioned were
confined to the era named in connec'
ton with them, but only that they
were the most characteristic species
of the era" That note should be
understood as belonging to the de
scription of each day" in the Genesis
3 record, and the word day" should be
Interpreted as freely, as are reign
q and Kingdom" without any king, II
d the common language of a great geo
y L0gist.
Z "The opening sentence Of the Bible
Is. perhaps, the most weighty sen
II tence ever uttered. II is declara
l. ton on nearly all the great problems
+ now exercising scientists and philoso
phers-God, creation, the whole, eter
e nifty, cause, time space, infinity, force
o design, intelligence, will, destiny =
II Austin Bierbower
ii The unity of God. There is on
s. God. and only one. In the Garlic
n theological treatises, up to very lat
date, one of the first things was Z
lie prove by all known arguments tn
1T unity of God. In our day science ha
m settled the question The unity c
IS creation proclaims the unity of Coo
st So far as geology has revealed tn
mast. so far as the telescope an
ly spectrum analysis, which have mar
n elously widened our knowledge of lat
wears. can tell us-all parts of tn
w universe are constructed on one pla
An and OF the same materials.
e. The everlasting God is a person;
ed God, with all the characteristic
IS which make our souls personal, an
nd how many more we know not Il
IS, has will, and wisdom, and affection
DIS and power. He is infinite, eterns
'ly and Interchangeable in his being, wi
dom. power, holiness. justice, goo
ness, and truth"
e. This Creator God is our Creat'
and our Father. II we sum up
or one l0cdl Ill bndb nus bSCA $1,000
or imagined, or found In all histor
of the best that belongs to earth
ia. fatherhood, we can get some idea
cal what the fatherhood of God means
IN us.
The fact that we have a God al
Father brings with 1t certain duties
obedience, love, worship, prayer. Co
pare the first four commandments.
II also brings great privileges. Co
munion with such a God, the consta
presence of such an ideal, has
mighty character-forming pow'
There is comfort, hope, strength, II
all good, in the consciousness tn
the infinite God is our Father, gui'
and friend.
Practical Points.
Gods works are revelation OF hi
self. as we'll as his word. Meth
Oh of them can we fully understa
an without the other. We need to ma
a study of both.