The revelation necessary to afford man this knowledge is contained in the Old Testament. That special inspiration and revelations were granted individuals for specific purposes during the period covered by the books of the Old Testament will not be denied. They, however, not being essential to the purpose of that Book, were not preserved. The periods covered by the books of the Old Testament were preparatory periods, and the demonstration given in that Book was preparatory to a second demonstration, which was to bring to humanity the full purpose of God, and so place within the reach of man the knowledge essential to the end in view. The first demonstration could not reach its fulness—could not answer the purpose in view till the second should be given. Hence inspiration and revelation was to reach its perfection and accomplish its full purpose in Christ Jesus. It is therefore, that, of inspiration and revelation, Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. It is universally admitted that Christ was the first, but people have arisen at different times denying that he is the last. There is hence, a square issue before us; for if it be so that inspiration and revelation did not reach its perfection in and end with Christ, the teaching of the Bible cannot be true. If we accept the statement of Christ that a knowledge of the Father and the Son was all that was necessary in order to the desired end, we accept, necessarily, the conclusion that with the perfection of that knowledge, the work of inspiration and revelation ceased. If Christ did not reveal the Father; and if the New Testament does not properly present Christ as the Savoir of Man, we will have to surrender the claims of the Bible. Surely no one thinking aright would contend that inspiration and revelation beyond the purpose of God were ever vouchsafed to any man. Neither God's glory nor man's eternal interest is involved in anything beyond the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus.
