A century of change in the constitutions and governments of nations since these Lectures were delivered has not outdated their usefulness. For their subject is the history of the one small nation, chosen in the wisdom and purpose of God to bring forth into this world His only Son, its Savior. His first coming has established God's glory, putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and at His second coming righteousness and peace will be universally displayed under His beneficent reign.
A new generation is indebted to the author of these lectures for the unfolding of “the great principles of divine truth that meet us in weighing history” (page 147), principles that give understanding of the gracious purposes of God, rising over man's failure in every age. “Man is as weak and erring as God is mighty and good” (page 144). The profit to our souls is not in spiritualizing what happened to Israel, but in the humble study of their example, with what was written aforetime about them “for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15.4).
May God grant that these Lectures Introductory to the Study of the Earlier Historical Books may be used afresh by the Spirit of God for the present glory of the Son in the edification of His Church.
H.H.