80 ASTRONOMYANDTHEBIBLEsee,arealsobut"theoutskirts"ofGod'sworks,and
as thesearebuta"faintwhisper" ofthewordthat
spokethemintoexistence(Ps.33:6,9),thenthedis-
tancetothatcentermustbeimmense, whereverthat
centerbe.
Butwhydidmenthinkthattheearthwasthecenter
oftheuniverse? Whatledthemtothis conclusion?
The apparent motion of the heavenly bodies was
probablyonegreatreason whytheybelievedas they
did. Butthereisacertainfitness,afterall,inaself-
centeredman'sbelievinginanearth-centereduniverse.
Itistheheathenrenderingof,"Allthingsareyours."
But the self-subduedman is preparedto viewall
this fardifferently. Tosuchaman,it seemshighly
appropriatethatthisearthshouldbebutaspeck,the
extremity ofaline, in immensity,andthat itisnot
nearlysoimportantinthemachineryoftheuniverse
astheuntamedintellectmightbelieveittobe.
By these two views are we shown that material
things are to be seen through the spiritual, being
spirituallydiscerned. Wealso seethattheunregen-
erate man labors at a tremendous disadvantage in
seeking to understand God's works. And thus we
realize somethingofthe blessedimport of theterm
"Christianeducation." Lastofall,wearemoreand
moreconfirmedinourbeliefthattheWordisanall-
sufficient guide to man; and, furthermore, that the
WordofGodandtheworksofGodareindissolubly
connected,—the works testifying of the Word, for
theyareits manifestations;and theWordtestifying
oftheworks,forthroughittheyhaveexistence.