34 THE OLIVE LEAF. CHAP. 



what an overwhelming idea does this thought give 

 us of the unchangeableness, the all-comprehensive 

 intelligence, and foreknowledge of God ! The wonder- 

 ful manifoldness of Scripture, the infinitely varied 

 experiences of which it is the utterance and to which 

 it addresses itself, are but the unfolding of the kingdom 

 of redeemed humanity from its root in the promise 

 made to our first parents in Eden ; just as the infinite 

 diversity of nature is but the manifestation of the 

 original conception contained in the first strokes of 

 the Great Artist's pencil in the first creative fiat, 

 "Let there be light." And between the revelation 

 of nature and the revelation of the Bible there is 

 a continuity of relationship which proves that the one 

 is the complement and fulfilment of the other, and 

 that they are both the work of one Mind. For He 

 who commanded the light at first to shine out of 

 darkness, and so wrought out all the forces and forms 

 of creation, hath shined into our hearts to give us 

 the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face 

 of Jesus Christ, and so hath wrought out all the forces 

 and forms of the new creation. 



5. Man's body is a tabernacle the greatest of all 

 temples. It is fearfully and wonderfully made, the 

 very highest possible form of organization, the master- 

 piece of creation. It, too, is one in the fullest sense 

 of the word, being indeed the most complete and vital 

 unity in the material universe. It is the finished result 

 of all the strivings and tentative efforts which make 

 up the history of the creature, and contains in its 



