CONTRIBUTORS.-The author would acknowledge the assistance rendered by C. P. Boll-
man, J. S. Washburn, and S. B. Horton, on special topics considered in this book.

CREATION AND FALL OF MAN

H

ND God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Gen. 1:26.

The sixth day of creation week was passing. The earth was finished. The sun shone clear by day, and the moon gave light at night. Hill and valley, lake and stream, gave variety, and added to earth's charm. Everywhere its fields were clothed with the evergreen beauty of grass, tree, and flower.

Earth, air, and water were peopled with living creatures which had sprung into existence at the call of God. But they were without name, without a master, and the earth had no ruler.

Then to the Son Jehovah said, "Let us make man, . . . and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the

cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man.” Gen. 1:26, 27.

"And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Gen. 1:31. The days of creation were ended. In this world man was the last and noblest product of the creative power of God.

And the Lord God caused all the animals of the earth and the birds of the air to pass before Adam, "to see what he would call them." "And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field." "And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." Gen. 2:19, 20.

Thus named and classified were the creatures of earth, sea, and sky. To them was given their master, to earth its ruler, and to man a dominion.

More and more is the tendency increasing to criticise the statements of the Bible, and to put human reason in the place of divine revelation. By the world. this is done in the name of "science," and by the church under the garb of "higher criticism.”

But never, outside of revelation, can finite minds. grasp the purposes of the infinite God. Fallen humanity has no viewpoint from which to reason upon the power, wisdom, and designs of the Creator. Could we reach into the realm of God and understand His nature and purposes, we would then, like Him, be infinite in wisdom, and would need no revelation. The Bible never would have been written.