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for the hour of darkness. Its oracles are
repeated in the assembly of the people, and its counsels whispered in
the ear of the lonely. The wise and the proud tremble at its warnings,
but to the wounded and penitent it has a mother's voice....
"Its great words grow richer, as pearls do when they are worn near the
heart. No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own.
When the landscape darkens and the trembling pilgrim comes to the
valley named the Shadow, he is not afraid to enter; he takes the rod and
staff of Scripture in his hand; he says to friend and comrade, 'Good-by,
we shall meet again,' and comforted by that support, he goes toward the
lonely pass as one who climbs through darkness into light."--The
Century Magazine.
[Illustration: RAISING JARIUS'S DAUGHTER
"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4.]
In the days of His life on earth, Jesus was a welcome guest in humble
homes in Judea and Galilee. "The common people heard Him gladly."
His presence brought peace and comfort to the home. He is no longer
with us in bodily presence; but He is the same Saviour still--"Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb. 13:8. By His
Spirit, through the living word of Holy Scripture, He enters the home
where faith receives Him, and speaks again the gracious salutation,
"Peace be to this house."
Christ the Central Theme
All the Bible bears witness of Christ as the Saviour of the world. He
Himself said of the Scriptures, "They are they which testify of Me."
John 5:39. "To Him give all the prophets witness." Acts 10:43. We see
Him as the coming Messiah in promise and prophecy, in type and
shadow. His is the divine, living personality standing out in every book

that makes up the Sacred Volume. As we read with loving heart, the
Author seems near in every page.
"Reading, methinks I bend Before the cross Where died my King, my
Friend. The whole world's loss For love of Him is gain."
And having beheld Him giving His life as the divine sacrifice, and
rising in triumph over death to be our great High Priest in the heavenly
temple, as we read these Sacred Scriptures yet again, in every book,
from Genesis to Revelation, we see Him as the coming King of kings,
coming to take His children to the eternal home of the saved. The
whole book is a bright window through which we gaze on coming
glory.
"And yet again I stand Where the seer stood, Gazing across the strand,
Beyond the flood: The gates of pearl afar, The streets of gold, The
bright and morning Star Mine eyes behold."
"The Word of God ... liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1:23.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
Matt. 24:35.
[Illustration: ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS
"Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in
all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27.]
[Illustration: THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
"I am God,... declaring ... from ancient times the things that are not yet
done." Isa. 46:9, 10.]

THE WITNESS OF THE CENTURIES
The Sure Word of Prophecy
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well

that ye take heed." 2 Peter 1:19.
The prophetic scriptures afford infallible evidence that the voice of the
living God speaks in Holy Writ. One of the distinguishing marks of
divinity is the power that foretells and records the course of history
long ages before the events come to pass.
God's Challenge
God's challenge to false religious systems in olden time was this:
"Declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come
hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." Isa. 41:22, 23.
And all the gods of the nations were silent; for they are no gods. The
Lord alone, the one who speaks by the Holy Scriptures, is able to tell
the end from the beginning.
"I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand." Isa. 46:9, 10.
By this means God has borne witness of Himself through the ages, that
it might be known that the Most High rules above all the kingdoms of
men, and that men might recognize His purpose to put an end to sin and
bring eternal salvation to His people. "I have spoken it," He declares, "I
will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."
The fulfilment of the word of prophecy in history is a