18 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



instruction concerning the kingdom of God, and 

 then ascended into heaven. 



This is the briefest outline of a life which was 

 filled with mighty deeds, and blessed works, and 

 during which many gracious words were spoken. 



Every detail of that life is important, every word 

 spoken is of value, for all have a bearing upon the 

 redemption of our lost race, the revelation of the 

 will and character of God, and our final destiny. 



All the subsequent history of the Church is but 

 the record of the working out of Christ's mission to 

 the lost, and the revelation of God's character and 

 will to men. 



It is beyond the power of the human imagination 

 to conceive how very different the world would be 

 to-day, if that life had not been lived here on earth, 

 and if the light which has been poured out by the 

 Christ had been withheld. It is true there was some 

 light before the incarnation. The revelation made 

 to the race in its infancy, the traditions handed 

 down and preserved among the Gentile nations, 

 the illumination vouchsafed the Jewish nation 

 through its prophets and teachers, were as the gray 

 tints before the day. But from the incarnation we 

 date the rising of the Sun upon the world. Then 

 the radiance began to excel all that had ever before 

 been poured out, and they who stood where the 

 beams could fall upon them, saw the fogs and 

 mists of error vanish and the shadows flee away. 



