Side Lights on Scripture: A Picture Thousands of Years Old

THE most interesting records of the religious ideas of man, as they existed shortly after the period of the flood, are found in the valley of the Euphrates. As we shall have occasion to refer to these records from time to time, we cannot do better, to begin with, than to supply our readers with a map of the district.
In the district of Babylonia there are numerous mounds which mark the sites of ancient cities, and in various of these the records now so highly valued have been dis­covered. The “literature” of those days “was very extensive, and the libraries, with which the country was stocked, were full of treatises on all the branches of knowledge pursued by the ancient Chaldeans. One of the most famous of these libraries was that at Agade.” This city was near Seppara or Sepharvaim, the city of the sun god.
The Akkadians are reckoned amongst the most ancient of the peoples who dwelt in Babylonia. “The primitive inhabitants of the country, the builders of its cities, the in­ventors of the cuneiform system of writing . . .” were “the inhabitants of Sumir or Shinar, the plain country, and the Akkadians or ‘Highlanders’ who had descended from the mountains of Elam subsequently to the first settlement of their kinspeople in Shinar.” Their literature was translated by their successors, and comes down to us in clay tablets.
The very seals or cylinders of these ancient people are also in our hands. After being removed by conquerors from their original depository or city, and after lying for thousands of years buried in the ruins of a palace library, they have been dug up to witness to the old beliefs of the world. These seals are engravings made upon such stones as agate, crystal, carnelian, jasper, and hematite. They are small, averaging about an inch and a quarter in length, and about three-quarters of an inch in diameter. These durable stones, with the handiwork of the engraver upon them, have remained hardly injured to our days.
Here is a drawing of one of these seals of the most ancient class, and prior to the time when the engraver had become proficient in his art. It is a hard, greenish-colored stone. It represents the temptation in Paradise. The tree of knowledge occupies the center, and two clusters of fruit hang down on either side of it. To these the hands of the two figures are out­stretched. Behind the female figure a serpent rises up.
The old seal, so rudely cut, represents in the plainest manner the tradition of the Fall, as it was understood by the people of the plain Shinar, where the Tower of Babel stood. The following fragments of the legend, in which the various “wicked acts of the serpent” are described, point to the same belief.
“In sin one with the other the compact joined.
The command was established in the garden of the god.
The Asnau (fruit) they eat . . .
. . . Themselves they exalted―.”

Sunday Morning Texts
1.
“Peace with God.” Rom. 5:1
We who were “guilty before God” have now “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and this peace is based upon an immovable founda­tion―even on God Himself. We have believed His word and hence God has justified us, and, “therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” We no longer dread “The Judge of All,” for He is our Justifier. Thus do we enter into our strong tower and are secure; our sins, our transgressions, the ac­cuser, we no longer fear, for “if God be for us who can be against us?” ―such is our absolute safety.
2.
“The Peace of God.” Phil. 4:7.
There is a most blessed Exchange, a Royal Exchange indeed, for the Christian. Give God your cares, your troubles, your burdens, hand over to Him “everything,” and by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and then the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In the affairs of life we go many times to buy what we want, and we must needs go very frequently to God for this blessed ex­change. But the miracle is wrought in our hearts and minds as we go and leave our cares with Him, for His own peace thereupon holds our hearts and minds as a garrison through Christ Jesus.
3.
“The God of Peace.” Phil. 4:9.
To the Christian who would know experi­mentally the best, the happiest, and the holiest companionship, it may be thus obtained : Fill the heart thoughts with whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely, with what­soever things are of good report, and if there be any virtue, and praise, think on these things. Also be careful to practice the excellences of the Christian life as they may be heard and seen in the life of such a one as the holy apostle Paul, and the result will be that the God of peace shall be with you.
Our Father holds our hand, as it were, when, as obedient children, we walk in a way which pleases Him. We love to walk in the flower-filled fields in spring with the owner of the dear little hands which are clasped full of beautiful things God has made. We will learn a lesson from the child, and store our hearts with the lovely things our Father loves.
4.
“Perfect Peace.” Isa. 26:3.
In peace, peace, or perfect peace! Thus will God keep us when mind and thought are stayed on Him. And why? Because we trust in Him. For He loves to be confided in, and to reward our trust by keeping us in perfect peace.