To all this I answer undoubtedly. And as in the last analysis of things there is one God-nature into which Intelligences who are sons of God arise, and in which they live; for there is one Justice and one Mercy and one Love and one Plan of Salvation which saves all worlds--one Gospel and that is from eternity. I say nothing of the forms through which that one Gospel may receive its manifestations in other worlds. I only know the forms through which it is expressed in this world, and that only because of the revelations that God has given in the various dispensations granted to this world, and that is enough. But I am sure that in the last analysis of things the essential principles of the Gospel that are ordained to save our world is the Gospel that will redeem all worlds; for the principle of our Gospel stripped of local coloring are in their nature permanent and universal and hence, not only of great antiquity, but eternal, it is the "Ever Lasting Gospel." PART IV. The Meridian Dispensation. (Note 1) LESSON XXI. (Scripture Reading Exercise.) THE FORERUNNER AND THE CHRIST. ANALYSIS. I. The Ministry of the Baptist. 1. John's Special Message. 2. The Baptism of Jesus. 3. His Testimony of the Divinity of Jesus. II. The Ministry of Jesus. 1. The Call of the Twelve. 2. Messiah's Precepts. 3. The Manner of His Teaching. REFERENCES. St. John i:6-36; also iii:23-36[A] Matt. iii. Mark i. Luke iii:1-23. Notes 4, 5. Luke iv:1-23. Mark i:14, 15. Matt, iv:12-25. John i:35-61. Matt, v-vii. St. John vi-viii. Note 6. [Footnote A: St. John's Gospel gives the most complete account of John the Baptists' ministry, and hence is given precedency here. The same method is followed on other topics; that is, the evangelist or authority giving the fullest or most important information is given precedence.] NOTES. _1. Meridian Dispensation:_ Meaning really the middle dispensation: the one that comes some where near midway between the first and the last. The first opened with Adam, the last closes with the triumph of the Christ. It would be more agreeable to the writer to call the Dispensation here to be treated the "Christian Dispensation," because Christ is not only the central figure of it, but in it also he lives his earth career, manifests God in the flesh, and opens the way of the resurrection. But since it is imperative that we recognize the real presence of the Christ in every dispensation, from the very first to the very last, it might lead to confusion to call this Meridian Dispensation the Christian Dispensation, and hence the less satisfactory name is used.