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46


GOD  S  PLAN  FOR  WORLD  REDEMPTION.
seed  did  not  grow  as  time  advanced,  but  propor-
tionately decreased;  the  cause  and  party  that
flourished  was  the  one  opposed  to  God's.  And
the  same  result  was  beginning  to  take  place  after
the  flood,  as  is  evident  from  other  notices  of  the
early  appearance  of  corruption.  The  tendency  in
this  direction  was  too  strong  to  be  effectually  met
by  such  general  revelations  and  overtures  of
mercy.  The  plan  was  too  vague  and  indetermin-
ate. A  more  specific  line  of  operations  was
needed — from  the  particular  to  the  general;  so
that  a  certain  amount  of  good,  within  a  definite
range,  might  in  the  first  instance  be  secured ;  and
that  from  this,  as  a  fixed  position,  other  advant-
ages might  be  gained  and  more  extensive  results
achieved."    So  there  is  unfolded  a  new  method.
One  Man
Chosen.
The    Semitic
Race.
II.    Patriarchal  Period

One  individual  man  is  to  be  selected  as  a  chan-
nel for  divine  revelation,  as  a  subject  of  special
providential  dealings,  so  that  he  and  his  descen-
dants may  make  possible  God's  unfolding  of  His
Plan  for  world  redemption.  Where  will  the  man
be  found  ?    Who  will  he  be  ?

God's  elections  are  always  in  harmony  with  a
divine  fitness  which  His  wisdom  has  prepared
and  therefore  uses.  We  go  to  distant  Babylonia.
