This book's title assures the reader that its subject, at least,
is one of great importance. It is, however brief, a connected argument
in behalf of the positions, that Nature is, in its every detail, a
witness for God; secondly, that its teaching is symbolic, as largely
the Old Testament also, the first written revelation, is known to be;
thirdly, that it needs, therefore, an interpreter, as it is contrary to
all rules of hermeneutics that parables should define doctrine
fourthly, that Scripture must therefore be the interpreter of Nature
and not the reverse; fifthly, that if Nature be indeed a witness to God
and yet its witness be of this character, the thought that Scripture is
not intended to teach science must be very guardedly applied.
After
this, the way being opened for an unprejudiced appeal to it, it is
sought to show that there is in Nature, as in Scripture, a numerical
system, which, as interpreted by Scripture, speaks with no uncertain
sound of its true meaning, - mapping out its divisions, defining the
relation of one to another and to the whole, while demonstrating that
spiritual law reigns everywhere in the natural world, and that Nature
not only witnesses to God, but definitely to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the truth of Scripture.
As to the
result, it is only so startling as on that very account to produce a
feeling of incredulity in most minds. It is as if one should claim to
have discovered a manuscript of Aristotle, and should produce something
written in good modern English. Having myself felt the full force of
this, I can sympathize with those who feel it. The cases are of course
in no wise parallel, and the remedy will be found in a more thorough
scrutiny of the basis of the argument. Being founded on a simple
comparison of only the most familiar facts in nature with that which
can be fully tested by Scripture, and where every fresh application of
the one to the other is a new verification, the proof submits itself to
the judgment of every ordinary mind.
May He, whose law
nature's law is, be with all that is of Himself - which is all that is
of any value - in what is now sent forth!
F. W. GRANT.
Plainfield, .N .J.
March 19th, 1891.
is one of great importance. It is, however brief, a connected argument
in behalf of the positions, that Nature is, in its every detail, a
witness for God; secondly, that its teaching is symbolic, as largely
the Old Testament also, the first written revelation, is known to be;
thirdly, that it needs, therefore, an interpreter, as it is contrary to
all rules of hermeneutics that parables should define doctrine
fourthly, that Scripture must therefore be the interpreter of Nature
and not the reverse; fifthly, that if Nature be indeed a witness to God
and yet its witness be of this character, the thought that Scripture is
not intended to teach science must be very guardedly applied.
After
this, the way being opened for an unprejudiced appeal to it, it is
sought to show that there is in Nature, as in Scripture, a numerical
system, which, as interpreted by Scripture, speaks with no uncertain
sound of its true meaning, - mapping out its divisions, defining the
relation of one to another and to the whole, while demonstrating that
spiritual law reigns everywhere in the natural world, and that Nature
not only witnesses to God, but definitely to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the truth of Scripture.
As to the
result, it is only so startling as on that very account to produce a
feeling of incredulity in most minds. It is as if one should claim to
have discovered a manuscript of Aristotle, and should produce something
written in good modern English. Having myself felt the full force of
this, I can sympathize with those who feel it. The cases are of course
in no wise parallel, and the remedy will be found in a more thorough
scrutiny of the basis of the argument. Being founded on a simple
comparison of only the most familiar facts in nature with that which
can be fully tested by Scripture, and where every fresh application of
the one to the other is a new verification, the proof submits itself to
the judgment of every ordinary mind.
May He, whose law
nature's law is, be with all that is of Himself - which is all that is
of any value - in what is now sent forth!
F. W. GRANT.
Plainfield, .N .J.
March 19th, 1891.