Chapter XV - Genesis
Growth is from Mind
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superior to the soil. Knowledge of this lifts man above
superior to the soil. Knowledge of this lifts man above
the sod, above earth and its environments, to conscious
spiritual harmony and eternal being.
Spiritual narrative
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Here the inspired record closes its narrative of being
Here the inspired record closes its narrative of being
that is without beginning or end. All that is made is
the work of God, and all is good. We leave
this brief, glorious history of spiritual creation
(as stated in the first chapter of Genesis) in the hands of
God, not of man, in the keeping of Spirit, not matter, –
joyfully acknowledging now and forever God's supremacy,
omnipotence, and omnipresence.
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The harmony and immortality of man are intact. We
The harmony and immortality of man are intact. We
should look away from the opposite supposition that man
is created materially, and turn our gaze to the spiritual
record of creation, to that which should be engraved on
the understanding and heart "with the point of a diamond"
and the pen of an angel.
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The reader will naturally ask if there is nothing more
The reader will naturally ask if there is nothing more
about creation in the book of Genesis. Indeed there is,
but the continued account is mortal and material.
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Genesis ii. 6. But there went up a mist from the earth,
Genesis ii. 6. But there went up a mist from the earth,
and watered the whole face of the ground.
The story of error
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The Science and truth of the divine creation have been
The Science and truth of the divine creation have been
presented in the verses already considered, and now the
opposite error, a material view of creation, is
to be set forth. The second chapter of Gene-
sis contains a statement of this material view of God and
the universe, a statement which is the exact opposite of
scientific truth as before recorded. The history of error
or matter, if veritable, would set aside the omnipotence
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of Spirit; but it is the false history in contradistinction
of Spirit; but it is the false history in contradistinction
to the true.
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-