Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/45

 A Divine Reveiation>

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��ways than our ways. And if we would comprehend the plan and thoughts of the infinite God, we must bend all our energies to that important work. The richest treasures of truth do not always lie on the surface.

This book throughout constantly points and refers to one prominent character, Jesus of Nazareth, who, it claims, was the Son of God. From beginning to end his name, and office, and work, are made prominent. That a man called Jesus of Nazareth lived, and was somewhat noted, about the time indicated by the writers of the Bible, is a fa<Sl of history outside the Bible, and it is variously and fully cor- roborated. That this Jesus was crucified because he had ren- dered himself offensive to the Jews and their priesthood is a further fadl established by history outside the evidence furnished by the New Testament writers. The writers of die New Testament (except Paul and Luke) were the per- sonal acquaintances and disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, whose dodrines their writings set forth.

The existence of any book implies motive on the part of the writer. We therefore inquire, What motives could have inspired these men to espouse the cause of this person ? He was condemned to death and crucified as a malefa<Slor by the Jews, the most religious among them assenting to and demanding his death, as one unfit to live. And in espous- ing his cause, and promulgating his do&rines, these men braved contempt, deprivation and bitter persecution, risked life itself, and in some cases even suffered martyrdom. Ad- mitting that while he lived Jesus was a remarkable person, in both his life and his teaching, what motive could there have been for any to espouse his cause after he was dead ? especially when his death was so ignominious? And if we suppose that these writers invented their narratives, and that Jesus was their imaginary or ideal hero, how absurd it would be to suppose that sane men, after claiming that he

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