"
Such a method, you say, seems to you now miraculous. It did not seem
to our forefathers miraculous that God should teach man; it seemed to
them most simple, most rational, most natural, an utterly every-day
axiom. They thought it was because so few of the heathen were taught
by God that they were no wiser than they were. They thought that
since the Son of God had come down and taken our nature upon Him, and
ascended up on high and received gifts for men, that it was now the
right and privilege of every human being who was willing to be taught
of God, as the prophet foretold in those very words; and that baptism
was the very sign and seal of that fact--a sign that for every human
being, whatever his age, sex, rank, intellect, or race, a certain
measure of the teaching of God and of the Spirit of God was ready,
promised, sure as the oath of Him that made heaven and the earth, and
all things therein. That was Solomon's belief. We do not find that
it made him a fanatic and an idler, waiting with folded hands for
inspiration to come to him he knew not how nor whence. His belief
that wisdom was the revelation and gift of God did not prevent him
from seeking her as silver, and searching for her as hid treasures,
from applying his heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning
all things that are done under heaven; and we do not find that it
prevented our forefathers.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147