SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE By J. N. Darby

222CHRISTIAN TRUTHAugustbarked on this fatal course, who can tell what the end will be?0 beloved reader, I plead with you; never, never allowyourself to tell a lie for your own advantage. Think for onemoment what a horrible denial such a sin is of all that Jesusever was or did.Lying to Cover a SinPassing over several, we come to David, who was guiltyboth of lying (1 Sam. 21 :2) and deceit (2 Sam. 11) of themost fearful character, by which he sought to cover up anawful sin, thereby making it twice as bad. Oh, how often someprevious sin is the cause of a long course of deceit and lying.Beloved friends, let us, above all things, seek to be straightwith God, with our fellow men, with ourselves; and shouldwe fall into a sin, never, never seek to cover it up by another, still worse than the first. A course of deceit positivelyblights the soul, destroying all simplicity, all joy, all communion. The result of these sins in David's case was a courseof sufferings almost unparalleled in their severity, from thehands of his own children. Let not us, therefore, think toescape the all-searching eye of God.Lying from HabitWe find in 1 Kings 13:18 a prophet of God lying in amost wanton manner, without any apparent reason. We findsuch characters now, even among God's people—some whoapparently have no regard for the truth, and find it easierto tell a lie than to avoid it. The only remedy when the disease has so developed is to go straight to God, and cry toHim for strength and daily watchfulness to overcome it.One such case I remember. I noticed that a person was almostalways silent, and one day asked the cause. He said thathe had been so addicted to lying that he was determinednow not to speak at all if he could not speak the direct truth;and, therefore, he seldom opened his lips, and always considered well before he spoke. Deep-rooted sins require somesuch radical measures.Two Solemn Cases of LyingIn the New Testament the two solemn cases, one of lying1970SOME THOUGHTS ON EDUCATIONthe moral standards of a heathen country would never suitone of that people called untoHim "that is holy." Whatthen could be done?We believe that the answeris fully given in the divinerecord of Moses and of hisparents. We see the faith ofJochebed in Exodus and haveit commended in that greatchapter of faith — the 11thof Hebrews. She was not disposed to accept things as theyappeared, but went forwardin faith. She carefully hidher son as long as she could,and then had her faith richlyrewarded by receiving him tobring up for a time in thesurroundings of a God-fearing home. What could she dowith these precious yearswhile she brought him up?Would she make use of themto instruct Moses in the truthof God and give him a perspective that no college ofEgypt could ever erase? Itwas not that she soughtEgypt's wisdom for him, butif he must have it she mustdiligently use the interveningtime to bring him up in thediscipline and instruction ofthe Lord; and she must alsocount on God to open hisheart and make the good seedbear fruit. At last the time199came and "when the child wasgrown, she brought him toPharaoh's daughter, and hebecame her son" (Ex. 2:10;J.N.D. Trans.).The next word, in point oftime, about Moses is found inActs 7: "And Moses waslearned in all the wisdom ofthe Egyptians, and wasmighty in words and indeeds." But all the influencesof the schools and palaces ofEgypt could not efface thetruth that had taken root truth about God, about Israel, and about Egypt. Soaware of the real facts washe that he deliberately "forsook Egypt" and all that pertained to it. He counted hisassociation with the despisedpeople of God of more worththan the passing glory ofEgypt. Read the beautiful account of his faith in action,in Hebrews 11. We feel thatmuch credit must go to hismother who evidently had fortified him against all the seductions of an Egypt that wasopposed to God and all thatwas of Him. He was notmoved by the dazzling spectacle of Pharaoh's court, butcast in his lot with the oppressed slaves; he was notswayed by the false heathentheories of creation, but un-

200CHRISTIAN TRUTHder divine inspiration wrotethe facts of creation (Gen. 1)that have withstood a thousand varying notions to thecontrary.We might well take a lesson from the building of agreat dam or some great wall.Before it is built, the engineers carefully calculate theamount of pressure the structure will have to withstand;then the foundations are madesufficiently strong to carry theweight, and the whole is carefully reinforced and buttressed to meet all the demands that will be placedupon it. In like manner weshould measure the threefoldinfluence and pressure of infidelity, worldly philosophy,and immorality that will comeagainst our young people, andthen see that we carefullyprepare them to meet it. Weshould not attempt to do it inour own strength, but, confessing our weakness to God,seek His help and guidance. Itwill be a constant duty tothem, and before the Lord, allthe time they are in ourhomes and under our influence — not just the work ofa day or a year. And theyneed to see that these preciousAugustthings are the principles thatactuate us, and that we "arepersuaded of them" and thatwe confess that we are"strangers and pilgrims onthe earth" (Heb. 11:13). Mayour dear young people thenbe fortified and prepared forthe threefold evil which theywill surely meet.1) May they be firmly rooted in the truth of the Wordof God and its divine inspiration throughout, that theymay stand in the wisdom ofGod and not of men.2) May they ever remember that we who are savedhave been delivered from thispresent evil world, and arewaiting for our blessed Lordto come and take us to ourinheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, and that allthe glory of this world willcome to nought, while he thatdoes the will of God shallabide forever.3) May they be deeply impressed with this solemn truth— God is "holy, holy, holy,"and that He has said, "Be yeholy, for I am holy," so as to"abhor that which is evil" andturn away from the leasttouch of that which defiles.P.W.1970PLAIN PAPERS FOR YOUNG BELIEVERS221example for us to copy, he emphatically points out that nodeceit was found in His mouth. Those who are deceitful aretherefore evidently most unlike Christ. As we write for thosewho are professedly children of God, in looking at a fewexamples of this fearful sin in Scripture, we will only takethose where a child of God, or at least, a professor, is concerned.Lying Through FearWe find in Genesis 18:15 Sarah telling a direct lie throughfear. How often is this the case, resulting from having doneor said something we are ashamed of. It may be a rightthing, and we are thus ashamed of Christ; or, it may be awrong thing, and we are ashamed of being found out. In eithercase a lie slips from our lips ere we are aware. The radicalcure for this is not to do what we are ashamed of ; or, ifthe thing is right, not to be ashamed of what we do. If,however, we have slipped into a sin, let us not add to it byanother, but just as the lie is about to leave our lips, let thethought, GOD HEARS ME, instantaneously arrest it. A lieof this sort to screen oneself is, perhaps, the most contemptible kind, despised alike by Christians and men of the world.Having thus looked at it, let us resolutely avoid it, even in thesmallest things, and never lend our tongues to such meandeceit.Lying for Our Own AdvantageThe next instance is in Genesis 27:19, when Jacob tellsa direct lie for his own advantage—another despicable varietyof this hydra-headed sin. Mark too, Jacob was a child ofGod, and the result is that through the next thirty years ofhis life he suffered from the consequences of his sin, by whichtoo he gained nothing, for God would have given him all indue time. Have any of my readers fallen victim to this sin?Making haste to be rich, or improve their position, or insome way run in advance of God, have they ever, throughselfish motives, told a lie? If so, I am sure they have suffered since; and there can be no real restoration until thatlie is confessed not only to God but to man. Too often, alas,one lie leads to another, as in Jacob's case; and once em-

220CHRISTIAN TRUTHAugustWe have thus seen that the effects of this sin are uniformlybad, seeing that it leads to disobedience to God, rejection ofHis Word, lying, deceit, and murder. None are exempt fromthis sin; those who have little would have much; those whohave much would have more. It is wonderful, therefore, topossessThe Sure Remedy for This Sin,and that is in simply having the enjoyed possession of somuch, that not only can we not wish for more, but cannoteven hold what we have. Such a portion is the Christian's,and, were our hearts more true to Christ, we should be butlittle troubled with low covetous desires; for in Him we havemore than we could wish, more than our hearts can contain.Hence, if we are really filled with all the fullness of God,what room is there for a covetous thought, however selfishwe may be, if, as must be the case, occupation with Christnot only fills us, but transforms us. Covetousness is not absentso much because we are full, as because we have ceased todesire for ourselves, what we desire being for Christ's glory,His interests having supplanted our own. Christ then is thecure for covetousness, by virtue both of His satisfying andHis transforming power. We are sure that the lives of manyChristians are miserable mainly from the effects of this onesin; for, unlike other sins which may make those who commit them happy for a time, this sin makes its victimswretched, so that there is no more unhappy object than athoroughly covetous man; while, on the other hand, there isno happier object than a Christian who is satisfied withChrist.6. DECEIT AND LYINGThis is one of the special sins connected with the tongue,that unruly member which no man can tame. Over and overagain it is emphatically forbidden and condemned by the Godof truth (Col. 3 :9; 1 Pet. 3:10; Prov. 24:28; Prov. 12:22,etc.).No Deceit in ChristWhen Peter speaks of the life of the Lord Jesus as an1970NEPENTHES201NEPENTHESFar away in the tropics that Satan ensnares youngthere grow some remarkable believers. Enticing them withplants, called Nepenthes. They that which is sweet to theare veritable death-traps to natural taste, but not accordflies and small insects, from ing to God, he gradually enwhich they largely derive closes them in his grasp atheir growth.little at a time, but each leadTheir method of catching ing farther away from thethese insects is one of the heart that loves them.wonders of nature, and afThe ways of Satan are alfords a striking example of ways seductive; he knows ourhow Satan allures and traps natural hearts, and will offerunwary Christians.all kinds of things as sweetAt the end of a long stalk is as honey to our taste, to leadheld out a jug-shaped flower, us on a wrong path. Thehaving a narrow neck, but spikes are unnoticed as we gowidening out below. In the his way, but they will assurneck are spikes, all pointing edly be felt on the way back,downward; and these, along should we be restored in selfwith the outer rim, are coat- judgment to the Lord.ed with honey.It is worth remarking thatThe insects are attracted by only hungry insects arethe honey, and, in their eager- caught in these death-traps,ness to drink it in, they grad- and we may rest assured thatually enter the neck of the as long as our hearts are filledflower, going lower and lower with Christ and His love,till all at once the honey Satan is powerless; and noceases and they find them- matter how seductively he ofselves prisoners. Escape is fers his "Nepenthes," wewell-nigh impossible, as the shall, through grace, be ableinside of the flower is slip- to turn away, conscious thatpery and affords no foothold, we have that which is sweeterwhile the spikes pointing than honey, even the love ofdownward form an effectual Christ which passeth knowlguard preventing a return to edge.the entrance."Resist the devil, and heIt is in exactly this way will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7).

202CHRISTIAN TRUTHAugustTractsDO YOU USE THEM?Tracts can go everywhere. Tracts know no fear. Tractsnever tire. Tracts can be multiplied without end by the press.Tracts can travel at little expense. They run up and downlike the angels of God, blessing all, giving to all and askingno gift in return. They can talk to one as well as to a multitude, and to a multitude as well as to one. They require nopublic room in which to tell their story. They can tell it inthe kitchen or the parlor, the factory or the office, on thebroad highway or in the footpath through the fields. Theytake no note of scoffs or jeers or taunts. No one can betraythem into hasty or random expressions. Though they willnot always answer questions, they will tell their story twice,or thrice, or four times over if you wish. And they can bemade to speak on every subject, and on every subject theymay be made to speak wisely and well. They can, in short,be made vehicles of all truth, the teachers of all classes, thebenefactors of all lands.SCRIPTURE QUOTATION"WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, THATWE THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THESCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE." Rom. 15:4.You may check your answers with those given on page 215.1. What is sweeter than honey?2. What is better than much fine gold ?3. Supply the missing words in the following : "I esteemall thy precepts . . . to be right."4. How can a young man cleanse his way?5. What did Agur say might happen to one who adds toGod's words ?1970PLAIN PAPERS FOR YOUNG BELIEVERS219ness of Samuel's sons, Joel and Abiah, that led the people todemand a king (1 Sam. 8:1-5). This king, Saul, was dispossessed of his crown and kingdom through direct disobedience to God, into which he was led by covetousness (1 Sam.15:9-19). Passing down the stream of time we come to Ahabwho, through covetousness of Naboth's vineyard, was led tocommit judicial MURDER, led on by Jezebel. Gehazi's covetousness led him into a course of LYING and DECEIT, andbrought upon himself the fearful plague of leprosy (2 Kings5:20-24).That covetousness was one of the besetting sins of Israel,we may see from Jeremiah 6:13. "From the least of themeven unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness." But let us remember that this covetousness in Israelwas not nearly so bad in character as it is among us; for,after all, what they coveted was merely an undue share of thatwhich God had given to them all, for their blessings wereearthly, and none could blame them for highly esteemingmoney and property. The Christian's possessions are spiritual,but it is a very rare thing for Christians to be striving to getan undue share of these, as the Jews did of their temporalblessings. On the contrary, the object of the covetousness ofChristians too often is the world and the things that are init—things on which they should not set their heart or affections at all, still less envy those who possess more than they.What a tale, therefore, it tells of spiritual deadness, when achild of God, an heir of glory, is seen to covet the poor richesof earth!Babylon, a type of this world in its prosperity, was fullof covetousness.Turning now to the New Testament, we find in the fearfulhistory of Judas, that it was covetousness of money that ledhim to BETRAY his Master, a character of sin of which anyof us may also be guilty, though of course not in the sameway. The Pharisees are branded as covetous, and this ledthem to reject and despise the faithful, searching words,"Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Covetousness is alsothe sin of Balaam (2 Pet. 2:15) ; those whose hearts are fullof covetous practices are said to follow the way of Balaam.

218CHRISTIAN TRUTHAugustwould earnestly warn them against this sin, which may becalled theft by the heart. But, you say, it is very hard notto covet when I am poor and struggling, and see others sowell off. This is true, but, though hard, you must get thevictory; and by setting your affections on things above, youwill find you are as rich and, it may be, far richer than they,so that the positions are reversed; and the rich man, discontented with his riches, covets the calm and happy mindof the humble Christian. God has made us so rich that it canbe only through ignoranceof our wealth or through earthlytastes that we covet at all; this we see in Psalm 73, the wholeof which is written to prove this very point.Examples of CovetousnessBefore, however, saying more about it, it may be wellfor us to listen, as we have done before, to what the Wordof God has to tell us by way of example concerning this sin,carefully observing to what sins it especially leads. The firstsin, the parent of all other sins, was partly due to covetousness. Eve saw the fruit was good for food; she knew it wasnot for her, but she coveted, and she took, and fell. Covetousness is frequently the result of looking at things we ought not.If we let our eyes drop from Christ to the world, we shallsoon find our poor hearts running after it; and covetousness,and a whole host of other sins, will follow. In Joshua 7 :21we find a fearful instance of covetousness in Achan. "WhenI saw . . then I coveted, . . . and took." How like Eve, andhow terrible in its results, causing not only his own death,and that of thirty-six others, but the defeat of Israel beforetheir enemies; for God could not lead them to victory witha covetous man in their midst! Observe in both these cases,covetousness leads to direct DISOBEDIENCE to God. Haveany of my believers any hidden sin, like Achan's, destroyingtheir happiness, eating away their spiritual life, and perhapsinjuring and distressing others? Oh, let us judge ourselves,that we be not judged by the Lord.Covetousness Leads to Many SinsPassing on, we may notice it was the greed and covetous-1970THOUGHTS ON PSALM 22203THOUGHTS ON PSALM 22This beautiful psalm at sion of human guilt in theonce opens up to us a scene crucifying of the Lord Jesuswhich, to every Christian, Christ. From man's standmust be especially precious, point we see it to be but thenamely, "the cross." It is the unfolding of the human heartcross in connection with the — the terrible disclosure ofawful question of sin-bearing, the contents of that heart—and the consequent forsaking desperate wickedness! It isof Christ, on the part of God. viewing the cross thus, we seeThere are several ways in the true state of ourselveswhich we can look at the cross naturally. It tells me what Iand the blessed One that hung am as a part of that old creathere — ways which tell out tion that failed to appreciatethe fullness of that scene the holy Son of God whenwhich can never be forgotten down here in perfect gracein time or eternity. At the and love. It expressed itstime of its transaction, thoughts of God's Christ bythough the face of Heaven putting Him on the cross aswas turned from that Holy a malefactor. Oh! how awfulSufferer, yet, the thought of is this disclosure of man Heaven was concentrated this expression of the statethere. Would that we knew of his heart! It is here we seehow to tread while gazing at that not only is the fruit ofsuch a scene; and as we medi- the tree corrupt, but the treetate upon this portion of the itself. Man is that tree — aPsalms, may we do it in that corrupt tree that cannot bringspirit which becomes those forth good fruit!who are absolutely dependentWhen the representativesupon it for salvation.of the human family raisedI have said that there are up the Son of God upon thevarious ways in which we can cross, saying, "We will notlook at the cross, and the have this man to reign overblessed Lord in connection us," the trial of man wastherewith. At the lea

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE By J. N. Darby Vol. 1—Genesis to 2 Chronicles Vol. 2—Ezra to Malachi Vol. 3—Matthew to John Vol. 4—Acts to Philippians Vol. 5—Colossians to Revelation Per Volume 2.50 Set of 5 volumes 11.95 While they last! COLLECTED WRITINGS OF J. N. DARBY Per volume 1.95 Set of 34 volumes 59.00