Late of the world's history is, a character, fundamental and nor political features; it do part of the human race and occurrences of history, gives cations of chronology. so the grand primitive Gene of providence under the gove but merciful God, the cons and human sin, and the exi ultimate destruction of mor. of the fallen race by means member of it-these were 1 portant particulars contained foreview of any one section, 1 whole. It covered all lands geographical sweep to the u in its chronological range fi future time. The experienc Adam has harmonized with of all history-the first adve large extent fulfilled its pro indicate its perfect accomplis Nothing of a similar cha range of literature; it arche human race like the grand v all-embracing, vast, unutterat glorious central sun-the pro came it? Is this the manner CHAPTER II. NOAHIC PROGRAMME. rophecy was not altogether silent in the een the seven successive commencements which we have spoken. From time to ce to isolated predictions—such, for ex10ch about the coming of the Lord with is saints to judge the wicked-a very et one which had in view exhortation han definite prediction. It was no chart did not foretell the course of human moral aspects of its final issues. As ortatory prophecies do not form parts of have to consider, we do not pause to ce of "the seventh from Adam," who e should not see death. ther of the human family the definitely pears. Not only was the approaching n age made known to Noah-not only forehand with the purpose of God to e evil generation which had corrupted s informed also of the exact chronodeluge. It was not to overtake the nd twenty years: thus far would the wait, if men would perchance be This is the first chronologic prophecy in ted in advance the end of the anteI see, as we proceed, that all the other 55 1, d h le e ? le le 'd a h ne st to 1g id n, en re r ly se al lę CHAPTER II. THE NOAHIC PROGRAMME. HE voice of prophecy was not altogether silent in the THE intervals between the seven successive commencements of human history of which we have spoken. From time to time it gave utterance to isolated predictions-such, for example, as that of Enoch about the coming of the Lord with ten thousands of His saints to judge the wicked-a very glorious prophecy, yet one which had in view exhortation and warning rather than definite prediction. It was no chart of future events, it did not foretell the course of human history, but only the moral aspects of its final issues. As such detached and hortatory prophecies do not form parts of the programme we have to consider, we do not pause to dwell on this utterance of "the seventh from Adam," who was translated that he should not see death. With the second father of the human family the definitely predictive element reappears. Not only was the approaching end of the antediluvian age made known to Noah-not only was he acquainted beforehand with the purpose of God to destroy by a flood the evil generation which had corrupted the earth-but he was informed also of the exact chronological distance of the deluge. It was not to overtake the world for a hundred and twenty years: thus far would the longsuffering of God wait, if men would perchance be warned and repent. This is the first chronologic prophecy in the Bible, and it indicated in advance the end of the antediluvian age. We shall see, as we proceed, that all the other |