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2.20   THE HISTORIC GROWTH OF MAN.

THE GREAT CENTRAL IDEA.   221

hundred years. About one-fourth of the Bible claims to have been written by inspiration, and much of this is clothed in symbols and metaphors.

Whatever -we may think about the process of inspiration, we must interpret the great prophetic symbols according to the fixed analogies of nature. The laws of symbolism are exact; they are based upon analogies, upon fixed laws of relationship in the nature of things. No person can think of using the tiger as a symbol of mercy, or the fox as a type of candor.

It is as easy to distinguish between the figurative and the literal language of the Bible as it is to distinguish these in the common speech of every day life.

In prophetic writings as well as in common language the power of the lower faculties and the back brain are symbolized by the dragon, the wolf, the lion, the serpent and other lower animals, in which these lower faculties are ruling elements. The gentle qualities of the lamb, the dove and the horse, led to the adoption of these as types of the higher parts of man's nature.

In the Bible Jehovah is represented as the spiritual ruler of our solar system; as the head of its spiritual system of government, with subordinate officers associated with him. All this corresponds to what we should conclude from the laws of analogy. That Book does not say that Jehovah is either infinite or omnipresent. Human experience does not show that he superintends the details of our daily life. Nor do we understand in what way he was concerned in the evolution of the earth. The primary laws of

world-growth are not yet clearly understood by scientists. The Hebrew word "Bara, " translated ' ` created," does not mean "to make something out of nothing. " It does signify that two objects, spirit and matter, acted freely upon each other and thus produced a third object; and that these two forces were polar to each other and the movements were directed by intelligence. The number of the word Bara is z-o-;, and this is the true mathematical symbol of creation or formation throughout the universe. In all cases two things combine their action to form a third. Our scholars know very well that each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is a hieroglyph or symbol, and each letter stands for a significant number. The first chapter of Genesis was written wholly as hieroglyphs and can only be intelligently translated on that basis. These symbols are ingeniously arranged so as to read as ordinary words. No real translation of that entire chapter has yet been published.

What shall we say of the great mass of communications from decarnate spirits which seem so abundant in our time and which have appeared all through past ages and among all nations. When we disentangle the verbiage from the facts in these spiritual messages, we find that the modes of angelic life very much resemble our own. They have forms of government and choose their leaders. They have schools of instruction and other institutions. They occupy mansions, have costumes, and eat spiritual food. They take an interest in the affairs of their friends here, and often assist them by advice and encouragement. For they may often perceive acting


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