Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/168

 16$ The Plan of the Ages*

they claim is the result of development. From this stand- point, a restitution to a former estate would be far from desirable, and certainly the reverse of a blessing.

At first sight such reasoning appears plausible, and many seem inclined to accept it as truth without careful examina- tion, saying, with a celebrated Brooklyn preacher, If Adam fell at all his fall was upward, and the more and faster we fall from his original state the better for us and for all con- cerned.

Thus philosophy, even in the pulpit, would make the Word of God of no effect, and if possible convince us that the apostles were fools when they declared that death and every trouble came by the first man's disobedience, and that these could be removed and man restored to di- vine favor and life only by means of a ransom. (Rom. 5 : 10, 12, 17-19, 21 ; 8: 19-22; A&S3: 19-21; Rev. 21:3-5.) But let us not hastily conclude that this philosophy is im- pregnable; for should we be obliged to discard the doctrines of the apostles relative to the origin of sin and death, and of restitution to an original perfection, we should, in hon- esty, be obliged to reject their testimony entirely and on every subject, as uninspired and consequently without spe- cial weight or authority. Let us, then, in the light of facts, briefly examine this growingly popular view and see how deep is its philosophy.

Says an advocate and representative of this theory : "Man was first in a stage of existence in which his animal nature predominated, and the almost purely physical ruled him; then he slowly grew from one state to another until now, when the average man has attained to a condition in which, it might be said, he is coming under the rule of the brain. Hence this age may be regarded and designated as the Brain Age. Brain pushes the great enterprises of Ufee day. Brain takes the reins of government ; and the le- meate of the earth, air and water are being brought tinder

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