THE Bible is the expressed will of God. It is a light unto the feet of man to guide him in the right way. (Psalm 119:105) It is light from Jehovah. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." (Psalm 97:11) The man who walks in the light of God's Word and delights in his law is a blessed one of the Lord. — Psalm 1:1, 2.

The first five books of the Bible were written by Moses. These are known as the Pentateuch. How would Moses know what to write? And how may we know that he wrote the truth? To answer these questions it is necessary to review some of the facts that are known to man. Man is endowed with reasoning faculties, and such he is expected to use. The Bible is so arranged, and was produced under such conditions, that when understood it fully establishes man's confidence therein as the Word of God.

Noah was a man devoted to God. He was brought over from the world that was destroyed by the flood, and in obedience to God's command he began to replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1) Noah was the most important man on the earth of his time. He brought with him to this side the flood a knowledge of things that no other man on earth possessed. From the creation of Adam to the end of the great deluge was a period of only 1656 years. In the period from Adam to the flood men lived for nearly a thousand years.

Enoch was a good man, wholly devoted to Jehovah, and would naturally gather all the information possible

concerning the purposes of God in relation to man. Adam lived more than 300 years after the birth of Enoch. Adam died at the age of 930 years. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam, and he lived 365 years. During his lifetime he would obtain all knowledge possible concerning the history of man and transmit those facts to his son Methuselah, because it is the natural course for a father to transmit important knowledge to his offspring. Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969 years.

Noah was only the third generation from Enoch, Only a few years after Enoch was miraculously taken away Noah was born. Noah must have had personal contact with Methuselah, his grandfather; and from him, and his father Lamech, he would receive all possible information concerning man that God had given to his forefathers. Noah was 600 years old when the flood came; and in that period of time he would have gathered all the information obtainable from other men who lived contemporaneously and prior to him, and would of course transmit the same to his children and grandchildren.

Noah and his son Shem came out of the ark together. Noah lived 350 years after the flood and Shem lived 502 years after the flood. Two years after Noah's death Abraham was born. For 150 years thereafter Shem and Abraham were on the earth together, in the same part of the earth, and must have known each other. Undoubtedly Abraham would learn from Shem the details concerning the flood and the relationship of the human family to Jehovah.

Abraham is known as "the father of the faithful". Knowledge is essential to faith. Abraham could not have had faith without knowledge; therefore he must have received knowledge of God, of his creation of man, and

of man's relation to him; and this knowledge he would receive from his forefathers.

Isaac was the beloved son of Abraham, and most naturally Abraham would fully instruct his beloved son in all things of which Abraham was learned. Isaac was devoted to God, and God greatly blessed him. (Genesis 26:4) Being descendants of Shem, brought up and residing in the same part of the earth, naturally these men would transmit knowledge from one generation to another. The favored son of Isaac was Jacob. (Genesis 28:5-14) Jacob had twelve sons, and he bestowed his greatest affection upon his son Joseph.

Joseph was sold into Egypt, and after being there for some time became the most important man in Egypt. Then Jacob and his other sons went to spend the remainder of their days in the land of Egypt. Joseph rendered great service to the people of Egypt, and honored the name of Jehovah God. Joseph would receive instruction directly from his father Jacob, and did receive special instruction from him. (Genesis 49: 1-28) This information transmitted to Joseph, and from him to his offspring, would not be easily forgotten.

Less than fifty years after the death of Joseph Moses was born. His life being miraculously preserved at the time of his birth, reared in the royal family of the nation, Moses became a man of importance and of learning; and it is written of him that he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. (Acts 7:20-22) When he reached manhood's estate he took his stand on the side of Jehovah God and God's chosen people. He preferred to suffer for the sake of righteousness rather than to enjoy the pleasures and riches that Egypt and her royalty could provide for him. (Hebrews 11: 24-27) Egypt was the Devil's great world empire. It held all the allurements to Moses, but these Moses

spurned with contempt; and having faith in God he became a faithful witness to the name of Jehovah.

It is only reasonable to conclude that Moses was thoroughly familiar with the traditions of his fathers. There must have been handed down to him from generation to generation the history of man. He would know about what had transpired amongst men from Adam to his time. It is not unusual for an American boy of the present time to learn from his parents important facts of American history. Nor is it unusual for an English boy to learn from his parents the history of the British Empire. With stronger reasoning would a man of Moses' type learn from his ancestors the facts relating to the human race up to his time. He was therefore eminently qualified to write the history of man, which by the grace of God he would do faithfully.

The physical facts well known at this day bear eloquent testimony to the truth that long centuries ago the great Master Workman Jehovah laid deep the coal beds and oil fields, and made the mountains and the valleys, the rivers and the oceans, and brought into existence plant and animal life, and made the earth a habitable place. Even the most ignorant can see that man is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that he is the most intelligent of all the creatures of earth.

Man has a natural trait or tendency of keeping a record of events for his benefit and that of succeeding generations. This is proof that God intended it thus to be. God planted this faculty in man. Since the evidence shows that man is the highest element of God's earthly creation, and since man has a tendency to keep a record of events, it is only reasonable that Jehovah would provide a means for man to keep a record of the most important things concerning himself. If

Jehovah had to do with the keeping of such a record, then be it known that that record is correct and contains the truth.

The Bible is a history of God's creation of things earthly, and gives such information concerning his heavenly creation as the same relates to man and his home. It is God's revelation of himself to his intelligent earthly creatures. It is his expressed will, and therefore is the statement of his law for the government of his intelligent earthly creatures. Most of the Bible is a record of things which have transpired and which foreshadow greater things to transpire. That part of the Bible we call prophecy is the foretelling and recording of events that must transpire, before they come to pass. Prophecy is therefore the history of man written in advance. For this reason prophecy cannot be understood by man until it is in the course of fulfilment or has been fulfilled.

The Bible discloses Jehovah as the great Eternal One, the Maker of heaven and earth, the very embodiment of wisdom, justice, love and power, and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He is the complete expression of unselfishness. Therefore it is written of him in the Word: "God is love." The Bible tells why man was created, why he turned to wickedness and was sentenced to death, and makes known God's gracious provision for the redemption, recovery and restoration of mankind to life and to his perfect home.

The Bible contains a statement of philosophic rules. It completely and fully contrasts good and evil. It shows why evil results in death and why good leads to life everlasting in happiness. It is God's law concerning man, and therefore contains the perfect and complete code of rules of action by which man can be governed and walk in the way of righteousness. This code of rules also names the penalty for the violation

of the law of righteousness. The Bible was written for the benefit of man and to the glory of God.

In view of the foregoing facts, and in response to the question hereinbefore propounded, there are two good and sufficient reasons why Moses knew what to write, and why he wrote the truth:

(1);The experiences of men, as they transpired, were handed down from generation to generation, and Moses made record thereof. There would be no reason for this record being anything but the truth.

(2) Moses was devoted to God. He was chosen by Jehovah to make the record, and in preparing it God's unerring wisdom guided Moses. In truth and in fact Moses acted merely as an amanuensis of Jehovah. He was the very kind of man whom we should expect God to select for such a work. He spurned the Devil and his organization with all of its allurements, and amidst adversity espoused the cause of righteousness. Not only was he alert in mind and learned in all the ways of men, but his chief qualification was his complete devotion to Jehovah. Many of the great truths stated by him show that they could not have emanated from the mind of a man, but that they were the result of the invisible power of Jehovah operating upon the mind of man.

What is said concerning Moses can be said of all the writers of the Bible. God chose those men for the work because of their faith in and faithfulness to him. As his unlimited power operated to create the things of the earth, so that power operated to direct and influence the mind of Moses and other holy men to make record of God's will concerning man. David was one of these faithful men devoted to the Lord, and concerning that part of the Bible which he wrote he said: "The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." — 2 Samuel 23: 2.

These faithful men of old are called prophets, and they wrote prophecy. The Apostle Peter, who was chosen by Jesus as one of his disciples, under inspiration wrote: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy spirit." — 2 Peter 1: 21.

It is exceedingly interesting to observe how God arranged for important facts to be transmitted from generation to generation, from Adam to Moses, then to have Moses to write, and thereafter other men to write, that his expressed will might be put into proper form for the benefit of man.

Manuscripts

That part of the Bible which we call the Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language. That which we term the New Testament was written originally in the Greek language. Copies of the original writings of both were afterwards made, and these were called manuscripts.

The chosen people of God were made the custodian of the sacred writings of Moses and the other prophets. The people of Israel used the greatest possible care in safeguarding these writings and of informing their people concerning the contents thereof. Of the twelve tribes of Israel the tribe of Levi was set aside to attend to things pertaining to the education of the people in matters relating to God and his Word. From this tribe the priests of God were chosen. These priests were representatives of Jehovah, and were to minister unto the Lord in the name of the Lord for the benefit of the people. The priest was selected to minister unto God in the priest's office. — Exodus 28:1-4.

God laid the obligation upon the priests to read before the people his law which he had caused Moses to

write. They were required to inform the people concerning God's Word spoken through the prophets. In the instruction given to the first high priest the Lord God said: "And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." (Leviticus 10:10, 11) "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." — Malachi 2: 7.

The people were instructed to seek knowledge at the hands of these priests. "And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment." (Deuteronomy 17: 9) One of the purposes of Jehovah is here manifest, to wit, to keep the people informed concerning his Word, to the end that at all times there might be some people on the earth who would have faith in the Bible as his true and sacred Word.

Centuries after the giving of the law the Apostle Paul, a Jew and an inspired witness of God, wrote that "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith", and that 'the law was a shadow of good things to come'. (Galatians 3: 24; Hebrews 10:1) The purpose of a schoolmaster or pedagogue is to instruct and impart knowledge. Here then is the expressed purpose of the law of God, to impart to the people a knowledge concerning himself and his relationship to man.

This confirms the thought that God arranged for the handing down from generation to generation of the truths that he desired men to know, and that this transpired from Adam to Moses in particular. From the time of Moses and thereafter God has caused his

Word to be written down by true and faithful men, whom he directed; and this Word constitutes our Bible.

All the original writings have been lost and do not exist. This, however, does not at all interfere with the authenticity of the Bible. The original manuscripts were kept in the temple or house of the Lord, and at stated times they were brought forth and read to the people. (2 Chronicles 34:14-16) When the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity, and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem about the year 454 B. C., the Word given by Jehovah to Moses was brought forth and read to the people.

"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

"And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their

faces to the ground. . . . So they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law." — Neh. 8:1-6, 8, 9.

The indisputable and historical evidence aside from the Bible is to the effect that from the time of Ezra forward there was a rewriting or copying of the original manuscripts, and that such rewriting or copying by faithful and devout men continued until about the year 900 A. D. Many of the manuscripts were destroyed by fanatical Christians (so-called) during the persecution of the Jews in the middle ages, particularly in the time of the Crusaders. Others were destroyed by Jews themselves, evidently for the purpose of preventing them from falling into the hands of their enemies. The evidence therefore shows an unbroken chain of transpiring truth from Eden down to this period of 900 A. D., and that this was done under the direction of Jehovah.

There are now in existence three ancient manuscripts. These are copies of the original tongue or language. These manuscripts are, to wit, The Alexandrine, the Sinaitic and the Vatican. These manuscripts show the Bible as it existed shortly after the time of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

The Alexandrine manuscript was presented by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, to Charles the First, king of Britain, in the year 1628, and is preserved in the British Museum to this day. It bears on one page the inscription that it was written by the hand of Thekla the Martyr.

The Sinaitic Manuscript was discovered by Tischendorf, the German scholar, in a convent situated at the foot of Mount Sinai. This manuscript is kept in the library at Leningrad, formerly St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Vatican Manuscript is the most ancient manuscript in existence. It is kept in the Vatican Library at Rome. These manuscripts in recent years have been accessible to scholars. None of these ancient manuscripts is entirely complete, but is nearly so.

Versions

The Scriptural text, copied in the same language in which it was originally written, is called a manuscript. A translation of the original language into another language is called a version. The ancient versions of the Scriptures consist of the translations of the Scriptural text from the original language into another language, in the early period of the Christian era. Many of these translations were written by men not more than one generation removed from the time of the apostles.

Among these versions is the Syriac, representing very nearly the language employed by the people with whom the Lord Jesus communicated and amongst whom he moved. The Syriac is a very reliable version. Near the close of the fourth century Eusebius Hieronymus, otherwise known as St. Jerome, who for many years lived at Bethlehem, revised the old Latin Version of the Bible. This version is called the Vulgate. It is a translation into the Latin, and compared with the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. This is one of the most valuable versions of the Bible. It is often referred to in other versions or translations.

The Bible was first given to the people in the English language by the efforts of John Wycliffe, about the year 1367. This version was copied literally from the

Latin. Although translated that early, it was not printed for nearly 400 years thereafter. Both Jerome and Wycliffe suffered much persecution because of their faithfulness in translating the Scriptures. Their persecution came chiefly from the clergy. Satan has always opposed those who have been witnesses to the name of Jehovah God. So violently did Satan stir up opposition to the Wycliffe Version of the Bible that many of these leaders were burned to death with copies around their necks.

The next version of the Bible of importance was that brought forth by William Tyndale, something more than 100 years after Wycliffe's day. Tyndale published many editions of the New Testament. He translated the major portion of the Old Testament. In the making of his version Tyndale used such original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts as were then available to him. Tyndale's Version of the Bible is really the Bible that all the English-speaking people of earth use now. It has been revised several times.

Satan the enemy used the clergy of England to persecute Tyndale because of his faithfulness in translating the Bible. This is one of the proofs that Tyndale was a faithful servant of the Lord. After translating a portion of the Scriptures he was forced into exile in Germany, where he finished the translation and there published many copies of the New Testament. He was determined to get this translation into the hands of the English people. He smuggled it into England by sending his printed copies in barrels, in bales of cloth, in sacks of flour, and in many other secret ways.

The Bishops of the Church of England and others of the clergy used every means within their power to stop the publication of Tyndale's Version of the Bible. Thousands of copies were seized by them and publicly

burned at the old cross of St. Paul's. Tyndale was kept in exile and refused many attempts to induce him to return to England, knowing that if he went back to England the Bishops and other clergymen would cause his death. He was betrayed by a clergyman in Germany and was forcibly seized and imprisoned in a dungeon, and thereafter suffered much from cold and want of food; and he was taken from prison and burned at the stake. This was done at the instance of the clergy.

But Satan and his agencies could not prevent the people from having the Bible, because God's time had come for them to have it. Shortly after Tyndale's death there appeared what is known as "Matthew's Bible". It was really Tyndale's Bible published under a different name. Then followed the publication of what is known as the "Great Bible", which was published in 1539; and later what is known as the "Geneva Bible", published in 1560. All of these were but revised editions of Tyndale's translation.

In the year 1611 A. D. what is commonly known as the Authorized Version was produced. It is otherwise known as the King James Version, because King James of England was the prime mover in having it prepared. The revisers who did the work were divided into six companies, and a portion of the work was assigned to each company; and every aid or help that was accessible was used by these revisers in their work. These men carefully studied the Hebrew and the Greek and the translations into the Spanish, Italian, French and German, and compared them one with the other.

Doubtless there has never been a more masterful and perfect English publication than the Authorized Version of the Bible. It is more generally used than any other Bible or version of the Bible in existence. Its translation is not perfect, however, as it contains a number of mistakes,

as was later shown by comparison with the ancient manuscripts. Those who prepared our Authorized Version of the Bible did not have access to the three ancient manuscripts above mentioned.

In the year 1870 A. D. a company of distinguished English scholars assembled and began the work of a revision of the Authorized Version of the Bible, and within a short time thereafter an American committee of distinguished scholars joined in a like work. When the Authorized Version was made, the ancient manuscripts, to wit, the Vatican, Alexandrine and Sinaitic, were not accessible. The commission of revisers who prepared the Revised Version from 1870 forward had access to these manuscripts, however. The ancient manuscripts were studied, together with the various versions; and the greatest possible care and means were employed to bring forth a Bible expressing, as nearly as possible, the thought expressed by the original manuscripts.

In 1881 the first edition of the English Revision was published, and in 1885 the American Revision was published. Tyndale's Translation was largely used by both of these committees, and blazed the way for the labors of the revisers. These Revised Versions are doubtless the best of all translations, because they express the thought in plain English. In addition thereto, there has been a decided change of meaning in many of the English words during the past 300 years. It was the effort of those who prepared the English and American Revised Versions to express the proper thought in plain English.

For instance, the old English word "hell" meant a dark place, such as a hole in the earth, in which one covers his vegetables for preservation. In modern times the clergy have defined hell as meaning a place of conscious torment, which of course was not the thought in the original text. Another instance: The English word

"damnation" originally meant to judge; and sometimes to judge adversely or to condemn. The modern ecclesiastics have made the word damnation mean the consigning of one to a place of eternal torment.

The translators of the Revised Version have left the word hades untranslated, it being the word which the clergy use for hell fire and torment. The word damnation they have translated judgment because the word damnation in the original English, and judgment in the modern English, mean the same; and this proves that the clergy have placed an entirely wrong meaning upon the word. (Acts 2:37; John 5:29, R V.) In both instances, those who prepared the Authorized Version and Revised Versions used the proper word as the word was used at the time written. It has been the clergy, however, who have seized Upon the occasion to misrepresent God's Word by improperly using it. In view of all the opposition to the Scriptures, it is remarkable how pure the text has been preserved after divers and numerous copyings from the original.

The Emphatic Diaglott is one of the purest translations of the New Testament. It is translated from the original Greek. The Vatican Manuscript was chiefly: used in its preparation, reference being had also to the Sinaitic and other manuscripts. It expresses the thought in modern language and greatly aids the Greek and English student in studying the New Testament.

Without doubt the invisible power of Jehovah God guided the minds and hands of faithful men of old in preparing the original manuscript of the Bible. It is God's Word, and he had it prepared exactly right. Because it is the Word of God, Satan the evil one has used every means within his power to destroy the Bible and to destroy those who faithfully translated it. God has permitted him to go just so far in his wicked attempts, and then has stopped the enemy. At different

periods in the history of mankind honest men, wholly devoted to the Lord, have made copies of the Bible. Shall any one deny that the Lord God guided these men in their work? We may be sure that since they were faithfully and honestly trying to represent Jehovah, he would safeguard his Word from serious error.

Satan, through his agencies, killed many of the men who faithfully performed their work, but not until after their work was done. Thousands of copies of the Bible were destroyed by these same evil agencies, but Satan with all his efforts could not stop the progress of God's unfolding plan and the revelation of himself to the people through his Word. Being unable to stop the publication of the Bible the Devil has sought through his representatives to corrupt the meaning thereof, and to put into the minds of the people an improper understanding of its text. He has used every power at his means to turn the minds of the people away from Jehovah and from his pure Word of Truth. For centuries many of these wonderful truths were obscured and taken away from the people by the Devil and his agencies. In God's due time these pure doctrines have been restored to the honest seeker after truth.

The creature who is magnified in the Scriptures above all others is the beloved Son of God. The Jews have, for 4000 years, centered their hopes upon the Messiah, and have looked for his appearing. For nearly 2000 years Christians have centered their hopes upon The Christ and have looked for his second coming. The beloved Son of God, the Logos, Jesus, is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, The Christ. The time for his second appearing has come, and now he is here. With his coming there has come to the honest seeker of truth greater light upon God's Word, even as the Lord promised that it should be. (Proverbs 4:18; 1 Corinthians 10:11) The second presence of Christ

dates from about 1874. From that time forward many of the truths long obscured by the enemy began to be restored to the honest Christian.

As William Tyndale was used to bring the Bible to the attention of the people, so the Lord used Charles T. Russell to bring to the attention of the people an understanding of the Bible, particularly of those truths that had been taken away by the machinations of the Devil and his agencies. Because it was the Lord's due time to restore these truths he used Charles T. Russell to write and publish books known as Studies in the Scriptures by which the great fundamental truths of the divine plan are clarified. Satan has done his best to destroy these books because they explain the Scriptures. Even as Tyndale's Version of the Bible was destroyed by the clergy, so the clergy in various parts of the earth have gathered together thousands of volumes of Studies in the Scriptures and burned them publicly. But such wickedness has only served to advertise the truth of the divine plan.

It is God's time when the truth shall be known, and nothing Satan can do or will be able to do can prevent the truth from being known. The time has come for the standard of Jehovah to be lifted up that the people may know which way to go. Around this divine standard the righteous and truly honest-hearted will rally. The tide of truth is rising higher and higher, and will continue to rise until it fills the whole earth as the waters fill the deep. All this shall be to the glory of Jehovah God. The time has come for Jehovah to make known his name in the earth, and he will make this known through his Word and through the manifestation of his power. And be it noted that the truth does not belong to any man. It is God's truth. God has used men or human instruments at different times for his own purpose and to his own glory, but the truth

has always been and always will be Jehovah's. The Bible is his Word of Truth, given to guide those who seek righteousness.

Among the holy men of old who wrote prophecy was Daniel, a man much beloved by Jehovah. God moved his mind and hand to write of the marvelous things that should come to pass. Daniel did not understand what he wrote, and so stated. God gave him some evidence by which those living at the time of the fulfilment of his prophecy might understand. He locates the fulfilment as being the time of the second coming of the Lord, "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." Then to Daniel he said: "But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." — Daniel 12:4.

The peoples of earth on every hand see the fulfilment of this prophecy. This is the age of much running "to and fro" and a great increase of knowledge. It is the time for the Scriptures to be understood.

After Daniel had written down the history of the world powers, and what should happen long after his day, he said: "And I heard, but I understood not; then said I, 0 my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" (Daniel 13:8) In answer to his request Jehovah replied: "Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Daniel 12: 9, 10) Without doubt the time has come when the Bible is to be understood; and those who trust in God and in his Word, and in the great sacrifice of his beloved Son, shall be purified, made clean and white, that their faithfulness to God might be established.

The "wicked" are those who have once had some knowledge of God and who have used this knowledge for their own selfish ends. They shall not understand. This explains why the modern clergymen do not understand. The "wise", within the meaning of Daniel's prophecy, are those who have some knowledge of God and his Word and who apply that knowledge according to God's holy will. These are they who humbly and joyfully obey the truth as they see it. These great and deep truths, long kept a secret from man, are now due to be understood; and to those who honestly seek to understand the Lord says: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant [plan]." — Psalm 25:14

Briefly summed up then: God created man as the highest element of earth's creation. He created the earth for man's home. He intended man to have a record of the vital parts of his own experiences; he so arranged that the knowledge of man's relation to God should be transmitted from one generation to another, from Adam to Moses. With Moses he began to make record of the Holy Scriptures. God guided Moses, and the other faithful men who wrote thereafter, in preparing the texts of the Bible. He has preserved the Bible against every attempt of Satan and his agencies to destroy it. God has permitted many copies of the Scriptures to be made, and these to be made by honest, sincere men. We may therefore confidently rely upon the Word of God as absolutely true. David, one of the prophets, wrote: "For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth." — Psalm 33:4.

The devout student may come with confidence to the Scriptures, knowing that these set forth the will of God concerning man and are given to man for his instruction in righteousness. Upon the Scriptures he

can confidently rely. The Scriptures constitute the basis of his faith in God, and a knowledge thereof enables him to understand something of the great love of God toward the human family. As God sheds further light upon his Word, and this shines into the minds of devout men who have consecrated themselves to do God's will, the true heart sentiments of such find expression in the words of the Psalmist:

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, 0 Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth." — Psalm 138: 2-4.

The honest and earnest searcher after truth is not left to conjecture. He does not have to rest his conclusions upon the opinions of men; and, having the Bible and knowing that it is the Word of God, that it is right and absolutely true, by it he can prove every doctrine that is offered. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8: 20) As progress is made in the study of the divine plan let each point be proven by the Scriptures. If that which is advanced is not in harmony with the Scriptures it should be rejected. If supported by the Scriptures it should be accepted.

How gracious our Lord is to man, his creature! Even though man is imperfect and sinful, God says to him: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) Using his reasoning faculties with which the Lord has endowed him, and harmonizing scripture with scripture, man is enabled to

build a foundation and structure of faith that cannot be shaken by the sophistries of men nor by the influence of the evil one. As man's knowledge of God and his plan grows, his love for and devotion to God, the great "Giver of every good and perfect gift", expands. Thus continuing to walk in the light, his pathway will grow brighter and brighter until it leads unto the perfect day. — Proverbs 4:18.