OF THE WORLD'S HISTORY. BY MR. AND MRS. H. GRATTAN GUINNESS, AUTHORS OF The Approaching End of the Age," "Light for Last Days," "Romanism,” etc. London: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXXVIII. PREFACE. HE days in which we live have seen the growth THE of a godless materialism. Providence, by many, is denied. History, we are boldly taught, is but a blind evolution. The ages drift without an aim. In the "sure word of prophecy" we have a Divinely provided safeguard against this false philosophy. Prophecy is history written in advance. It unfolds with unerring wisdom not merely the facts of the future, but their underlying plan. It demonstrates Providence. It reveals the glorious truth that the history of the world is none other than the history of man's redemption. The revolving ages fulfil the programme. The present volume exhibits the testimony of Scripture prophecy as a whole. Selecting its chief elements, and arranging them in their natural order, it compares them with the events of the last six thousand years. In former works we have sought to set forth the general principles of prophetic interpretation, and also the fulfilment in the last twenty-five centuries of things predicted by prophets and apostles. The scope of this volume is wider and its intention different. It embraces, though but in outline, the story of the world. And it treats exclusively of fulfilled prophecy. Its object is evidential. The Scriptures contain the Divine Programme of the world's history. Programme and history correspond. We hope to follow this volume, when our practical missionary work permits, by one on the Last Prophecy in Scripture, viewing it from the double standpoint of history and typology. It is our earnest desire that the present work may prove helpful to many. When the Rock of history is struck by the Rod of prophecy, there flow forth living waters. Such are ever needed, and refreshing. Evermore shines on the instructed mind the sacred truth-God is in Christ, reconciling the world; and Christ is in history, its Alpha and Omega, its beginning, its centre, and its end. HARLEY HOUSE, Bow, March, 1888. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Scripture commits itself from its opening pages to a prophetic programme of the history of the world.-Use of this programme as a test of inspiration.—Its general character and object.-Its seven principal Brevity of the revelation.-Its simplicity, universality, moral character, and majesty. The promise of redemption.-Germ of the Messianic ideal. The coming, sufferings and triumphs of the woman's Seed.— Gesta Christi.-Contrast between Christian and non-Christian lands; and also between Romish and Protestant countries.-Transforming power of Christianity.-Second part of the prediction.-Penal con- sequences of sin.-Death, toil, subjection, suffering.-Blended good- The flood and the new world.—Need of prophetic light.-Covenant of mercy.- Natural arrangements securing the permanency of the - Noah's ethnological prophecy.-Three main races.- Mention of Canaan.-The Japhetic family.—Indo-Aryan races and tongues.-Hamitic nations and languages.—Important ethnological table in Gen. x.-Identification by Josephus of the people it enu- merates with the nations existing in his own day. -The Semitic family. The three main branches.-Table of Aryan races and tongues. The Turanian group.-Review of the facts.-Loss of The patriarch Abraham a fountain head.—State of the world in his time. |