February 14, 1897
D59
The Science of
Salvation. - No. 2. A. T. Jones (Sunday Evening, Feb. 14, 1897.)
ANOTHER word or two
of explanation before we begin the study to-night: No doubt a great many may
have been querying somewhat whether all that was said the other evening would
bear the test. It will. I was not talking at random. It is true I did not follow
everything out in detail, but if you will think of what I was saying when you
get it in print, you will see that it is true. When I said that the snow-drop
was balanced to the earth, and the earth balanced to the snow-drop, then if a
meteor several tons in weight falls upon the earth, is not the gravity greater
than before? and would not that destroy the balancing of the flower to the
earth?-No; because it is not the earth only that is balanced to that flower,
but the universe. Do you remember that, in studying the law of gravity, the
scientific statement is, Every particle of matter in the universe is attracted
by every other particle, so that not only the earth, but the universe, is
balanced to the needs of the flowers; so the falling of the meteorite would not
increase the gravitation of the universe.
Just a few words of
explanation in beginning: If I had been talking, in the former lesson, upon the
subject of "Science in the Bible," or "Science and the
Bible," I would have discussed more fully what gravity is, and what it is
not, according to the scientific idea of the word. But I was not talking about
that; all I intended to do the other night was to state the fact of the
discovery of the law of gravitation, and the theory of it as a law. There are
changes of view since Newton's time, in regard to the theory of that law; but
that doesn't affect the law.
In strict truth,
gravitation is not a law at all, but simply the power of God. There are really
no "laws of nature." The laws of nature are only the habits of God.
All that the law of gravitation is, is a habit of God; the manifestation of the
power of God. But as I was not discussing what it really is, I used the terms
in the
commonly accepted
sense, and only to state it as that by which the balance of the universe is
maintained.
I will read this
evening another definition of science. This, too, is taken from one of the
leading recognized scientists of the world: "Science is the most exact
knowledge which we possess of any subject." The word "science"
literally means knowledge. The definition we had the other night is correct. It
is the product of thinking. Also it is well enough to define it as the most
exact knowledge we have on the subject.
Now recurring to the
two points we had in the previous lesson. Where was to be found the most exact
knowledge as to the difference in brightness of the stars, for seventeen
hundred years before science discovered it?-In the Bible. Then where was the
true science of that subject to be found?-In the Bible.-Where was the most
exact knowledge of the balancing of the universe to be found for twentyfive
hundred years before it was discovered?-In the Bible. Then what was the most
scientific book in the world, on the subject of that science?-The Bible. Bear
in mind still, that I am not talking upon science and the Bible. I am talking
upon the science of salvation. And though other sciences may be referred to, it
is only in inseparable connection with this chief science. It is that you and I
shall know by all the evidences that we can bring together in these two hours
of study, that salvation is science, that it is the highest science in the
universe, that it is the most worthy of our study, and that we are acting
scientifically when we are giving our chief and whole-souled study to it.
Now, the Bible is
not a treatise upon any science except the science of salvation. It is a set
treatise upon that subject. The Bible refers to other sciences; but there are
no treatises in the Bible on any other science. Other sciences are referred to,
as the ones that we have noticed in Corinthians and in Isaiah; why are they
referred to in these places-to state a scientific point?-No; but to be used to
illustrate better to our understanding the science of salvation. Why is that
astronomical truth brought into 1 Cor.15:41? What is the purpose of saying,
"One star differeth from another star in glory?" It goes right on to
say, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in dishonor, it
is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power." Just
as one star differs from another in glory, so also is the resurrection. Thus
you see that the purpose of calling in that scientific point, is to illustrate
a point in the science of salvation, to help us the better to see a truth in
the science of salvation.
Why did Isaiah draw
into his discourse that statement of the fact of gravitation? Let us look a
little further into the chapter, and we shall see. I will read that verse and
then another at the end of the thought that he is following. "Who hath
measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?" "To whom then will ye
liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy one. Lift up your eyes on high,
and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by
number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he
is strong in power; not one faileth." Isa.40:25, 26
Not one escapes his
notice, and they are all balanced to the needs of every little flower that
grows in the field. But why does he call our attention to that, and bring it
into his discourse in this place?-Not to state the scientific fact; but to call
the attention of all people to the science of salvation. What does he make of
it? We are to consider all this, and to consider what it is that has done all
this? And then I read farther, "Why speakest thou O Jacob, and speakest O
Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my
God?" Isa.40:27
When God has so much
care over the flower that grows at our feet, it is not hid nor forgotten; how
then can you say that you are hidden from the Lord, and that your judgment is
passed away, and he has no care for you any more? Thus you see that in every instance,
the scientific truth is brought in altogether to illustrate to you and me the
science of salvation.
Another thought:
When these writers caught this, it was by revelation. Of course they did not
get these things from any scientific study that this world had. The Lord was
revealing his chief science, the science of salvation; and he called upon the
other sciences to illustrate that. Then which of all the sciences is most
important to the Lord?-Salvation, assuredly. When the Lord used the other
sciences only to illustrate this, it is perfectly plain that he considers this
science more important than the others.
Yet this is not all.
One man named in the Bible was thoroughly versed in universal science-all the
natural sciences of this world. I want you to see that there was a man
thoroughly versed in the sciences that are now made so much of in the world.
And I want you to see what he says in view of it all. Here is the scripture:-
And God gave Solomon
wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the
sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all
the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser
than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the
sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three
thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of
trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that
springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of
creeping things, and of fishes. 1 Kings 4:29
He spoke of trees
from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that springeth out of the
wall. What is that called in science?-Botany. He understood botany better than
any one else in the world.
He spoke also of
beasts. What would be the scientific word if it were put there to-day?-Zoology.
Solomon understood zo-ology better than any man who lives in the world to-day.
He taught it; for it says he spoke of all these things. He taught these sciences.
"And of
fowl." What is that science?-Ornithology. Then Solomon taught in the
sciences of botany, zo-ology, ornithology.
What next?-"And
of creeping things." What science is that?-Entomology
"And of
fishes." What science is that?-Ichthyology.
People who read this
passage of Scripture, do not usually think of Solomon as a universal scientist.
But if it had been said that Solomon spoke of botany, zoology, ornithology,
entomology, and ichthyology, they would be ready to say,
What a wonderful man
Solomon was. But it would not then be a particle more wonderful than it is; for
it does say all that.
I read this that you
might see that Solomon knew something of science, not only something of
science, but more of all these sciences than any other man has ever known of
any one of them.
Yet though he so
thoroughly understood all these sciences, and having taught in them all, here
is what he says: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter;"
the sum of all that hath been said, is: "Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man: for God shall bring every work
into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be
evil."
In his estimation,
what took precedence of all other sciences put together?The salvation of God.
The angels
understand all the sciences, yet they consider salvation more worthy of their
study than all of the other sciences put together. The prophets also considered
it more worthy; and employed the others as a means to better understand
salvation. And here is a man that understood the other sciences, and he says
that the science of salvation transcends them all. Now I want you to see that
God himself on his own part, separated from all these, considers it just so.
See here: We just
read that Solomon taught all these sciences. How much of those teachings have
we written out for our study?-Not one. God did not bring to us any record or
report of Solomon's teaching in botany. He did not bring to us, or put on
record, a single lesson that Solomon ever taught in zo-ology, or any other one
of these sciences. But he did, over and over, bring us lessons from Solomon, as
well as all the rest, on the science of salvation. Then, counting the angels as
giving only an angel's opinion; counting the prophets as giving only a
prophet's opinion, and Solomon as giving only a universal scientist's opinion;
what is God's opinion?-It is that salvation is worth more to you and me, and is
more worthy of our study, than all these other sciences, this knowledge of
which he himself gave.
This science that
Solomon understood and taught was not such science as that of Huxley, Darwin,
and the other scientists of this age. With the natural mind man can delve into
natural sciences, and make many discoveries. And though they are not always correct,
yet they can discover some points that are true. But that was not Solomon's
way. God gave to Solomon wisdom, so that he saw into all this by the light of
God. He spoke of all this by the wisdom of God. Thus the science which Solomon
taught was God's science. The botany that he taught was genuine, divine botany.
The zo-ology that he taught was divine zo-ology. It was God's views, God's
truth, God's science in all these things. It was not science falsely so-called.
Well there, that
being God's science, and it being divine in itself, why didn't the Lord give it
all to us. Why didn't he give to the world Solomon's treatise on botany, and on
all these other subjects?-There is a reason for it; and it is that that is not
what the world needs first of all.
A man might have all
that, he might understand all that, as did Solomon. Yet what good would it do
him, if he did not have the science of salvation first of all? Solomon had it
all; yet when he turned his heart from God, from the science of salvation, and
from the study of that with all his heart, what good did his knowledge of the
other sciences do him? How much was it able to hold him back from sin? How much
power was there in it to keep him back from his natural self, and from the
deviltry and corruption that was in him.
You know that when
he turned his heart from God's science, from the science of salvation, though
he had all the others, he was just as bad, just as wicked, swallowed up as
thoroughly in idolatry and every profane thing, as though he did not know the A
B C of anything.
Thus we can see why
it is that the Lord did not preserve to man all there is of science. Suppose
they had it all, as Solomon did, and could teach it as Solomon taught it. With
the heart not surrendered to God, with the soul not saved, what good would science
do them? It could not restrain them from any kind of wickedness and corruption
that is in the human heart.
These sciences are
not what the world needs to-day, first of all. The heart needs to be purified,
the soul needs to be saved, the whole character rebuilt, the mind transformed
into the very image and glory of God, so that the life shall reflect his righteousness,
to make manifest the knowledge of God alone to all the world. Though we have
all that all the sciences can give, it will profit nothing without salvation;
for it will be but a little while till we shall have none of it at all. This is
worth thinking about for ourselves to-day, in all our studies, readings, and
researches.
There is another
thing: God wants you and me, all men, to think right on every subject that he
has anything to do with. There are men to-day thinking on all these scientific
subjects, but they do not think right. They get so far along that they find no
place for God at all. And the man without God, without the guidance of the
thought, the mind of God, is not able to think right on these other subjects.
But the mind is not right until it is renewed in the image of Him who created
it. The mind is to be transformed, renewed. We are to have another mind
altogether. Every thought is to be brought into obedience, in subjection, to
Christ.
That is the work of
salvation. It is to restore the image of God in the soul; to bring the mind
where it will be but the reflection, the outshining, of the righteousness, the
thought, of the living God. When that is done, and the work of God is finished in
this world, in making known the knowledge of God to all the other people, then
the Lord will open the universe and eternity to us. Then all these other
subjects will be open for our study, and the Lord can say to us, Go where you
will, I can trust you. The wide universe is open to you. There is nothing kept
back from you. It is all your own. It belongs to you. Go where you please, stay
where you please, do what you please; I can trust you. Think on whatever
subject you please, delve into it as deeply as you please, you will do it
rightly.
Now, I am not saying
that men are utterly to ignore all other sciences till we reach the other
world. I am simply saying that the science of salvation is to lead in the study
of all of them. Has not the Lord set us an example as to what attention we should
pay to these things, and what use we are to make of them? What is the purpose
of reading and studying these other textbooks?-That these may help us better to
understand and to teach the things of the science of salvation, than if we do
not have that knowledge. That is the use made of them in the Bible. He sends us
to preach that gospel with which these others had to do, and by example he has
shown us how to use it. By this the Lord shows us that the science of salvation
must take the lead of all the other sciences known in the universe.
It must take the
lead of all others in this world, and when we get into that other world it will
D63 still take the lead. When eternity is open before us, and when we go
anywhere we please, and think upon any subject we please, shall we turn our
backs upon salvation then, and say, I have graduated in that?-No. We know it is
written that "the cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the
redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity." Then, when we have
finished our course here, when we have graduated, and the time comes for a
grand commencement, and we enter upon an eternity of study, we shall then be
more able to understand this greatest of all sciences than when we were in this
world.
TO BE CONTINUED
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