Chapter XV - Genesis
The two records
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The Science of the first record proves the falsity of
The Science of the first record proves the falsity of
the second. If one is true, the other is false, for they are
antagonistic. The first record assigns all
might and government to God, and endows
man out of God's perfection and power. The second
record chronicles man as mutable and mortal, – as hav-
ing broken away from Deity and as revolving in an orbit
of his own. Existence, separate from divinity, Science
explains as impossible.
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This second record unmistakably gives the history of
This second record unmistakably gives the history of
error in its externalized forms, called life and intelli-
gence in matter. It records pantheism, opposed to the
supremacy of divine Spirit; but this state of things is
declared to be temporary and this man to be mortal, –
dust returning to dust.
Erroneous representation
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In this erroneous theory, matter takes the place of Spirit.
In this erroneous theory, matter takes the place of Spirit.
Matter is represented as the life-giving principle of the
earth. Spirit is represented as entering mat-
ter in order to create man. God's glowing
denunciations of man when not found in His
image, the likeness of Spirit, convince reason and coincide
with revelation in declaring this material creation false.
Hypothetical reversal
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This latter part of the second chapter of Genesis, which
This latter part of the second chapter of Genesis, which
portrays Spirit as supposedly cooperating with matter in
constructing the universe, is based on some
hypothesis of error, for the Scripture just pre-
ceding declares God's work to be finished. Does Life,
Truth, and Love produce death, error, and hatred? Does
the creator condemn His own creation? Does the un-
erring Principle of divine law change or repent? It can-
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not be so. Yet one might so judge from an unintelligent
not be so. Yet one might so judge from an unintelligent
perusal of the Scriptural account now under comment.
Mist, or false claim
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Because of its false basis, the mist of obscurity evolved
Because of its false basis, the mist of obscurity evolved
by error deepens the false claim, and finally declares that
God knows error and that error can improve
His creation. Although presenting the exact
opposite of Truth, the lie claims to be truth. The crea-
tions of matter arise from a mist or false claim, or from
mystification, and not from the firmament, or under-
standing, which God erects between the true and false.
In error everything comes from beneath, not from above.
All is material myth, instead of the reflection of
Spirit.
Distinct documents
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It may be worth while here to remark that, according
It may be worth while here to remark that, according
to the best scholars, there are clear evidences of two dis-
tinct documents in the early part of the book of
Genesis. One is called the Elohistic, because
the Supreme Being is therein called Elohim. The other
document is called the Jehovistic, because Deity therein is
always called Jehovah, – or Lord God, as our common
version translates it.
Jehovah or Elohim
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Throughout the first chapter of Genesis and in three
Throughout the first chapter of Genesis and in three
verses of the second, – in what we understand to be the
spiritually scientific account of creation, – it is
Elohim (God) who creates. From the fourth
verse of chapter two to chapter five, the creator is called
Jehovah, or the Lord. The different accounts become
more and more closely intertwined to the end of chapter
twelve, after which the distinction is not definitely trace-
able. In the historic parts of the Old Testament, it is
usually Jehovah, peculiarly the divine sovereign of the
Hebrew people, who is referred to.