The Tupelo journal., 1907-01-04
GOD THE
CREATOR
School Lesson for Ian. 6, 100
Special, Prepared for This Paper.


GOLDEN TExT.-'In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth"
GENEsfS.-The title of the book means
origin, creation, beginnings. 1t belongs
to what Ia known as the Penteteuch. or
five books supposed to nave been writ
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - John
l:1.5; Psalm 1915; Acts. 14:17; Romans.
TIE CREATION.-The story of crea-
ton is told in the simplest and briefest
and most orderly way, as II to write it
indelibly on the mind and memory of
man; as, indeed, 1t has. 1t gives the inn
preston of an inscription on a monu-
ment. as some one has suggested. like
the Ten Commandments on the Tables
OF Stone. Its poetic form aids the mem
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 well says Modern Painters,S Vol.
", "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
1.-The reign or 1.-THE era" the king
DOM" "the group" of fishes, of rep
tiles, etc; and adds this note: These
expressions s Il *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
record, and the word day should be
interpreted as freely, as are reign"
and Kingdom" without any king, in
the common language of a great geo.
logist.
"The opening sentence Of the Bible
is, perhaps, the most weighty sem
tence ever uttered. 1t is a declara-
ton on nearly all the great problems
now exercising scientists and philoso-
phers-God, creation, the whole, eter-
nifty. cause, time, space, infinity, force.
design, intelligence, will, destiny
Austin Bierbower.
The unity of God. There is one
God, and only one. In the earlier
theological treatises, up to a very late
date, one of the first things was to
prove by all known arguments the
unity, of God. In our day science has
settled the question. The unity of
creation proclaims the unity of God.
So far as geology has revealed the
past, so far as the telescope and
spectrum analysis, which have marv-
elously widened our knowledge of late
years, can tell us-all parts of the
universe are constructed on n plan
and of the same materials.
The everlasting God is a personal
God, with all the characteristics
which make our souls personal, and
how many more we know not. He
has will, and wisdom, and affections.
and power. He is infinite, eternal,
and Interchangeable in his being, wis
dom, power, holiness, justice, good
ness, and truth"
This Creator God is our Creator
and our Father. If we sum up in
one ideal all that has been written
or imagined, or found in all history,
80 @ho boct tbot bolopoc IN earthly
fatherhood, we a get some idea of
what the fatherhood of God can to
us.
The fact that we have a God and
Father brings with it certain duties
obedience, love, worship, prayer. Com
pare the first four commandments.
1t also brings great privileges. Com
munion with such a God, the constant
presence of such an ideal, has a
mighty character-forming power.
There is comfort, hope, strength, life,
all good, in the consciousness that
the infinite God is our Father, guide.
and friend.
Practical Points.
Gods works are a revelation of him
self, as well as his word. Neither
of them can we fully understand
without the other. We need to make
a study of both.
We learn from Gods works of crea-
ton something of his wisdom, power.
goodness, and love. The more we
study them the more we learn to love,
to wonder. and adore. This wise and
good God is our father; we look upon