The reference to "inventions" in Prov. 8: 12 does not call for special comment, but

the reader should notice the one occurrence of the word in the N.T.--in Rom. 1: Of all

the terrible lists of sins that are found in the N.T. none, perhaps, is quite so black as that

which occurs at the end of Rom. 1:, and it is in this context that we find the only N.T.

reference to "inventions": "Inventors of evil things" (Rom. 1: 30).

Coming back now to our main subject at the beginning of this article, namely, man's

legitimate sphere of dominion in contrast with his attempted dominion over the forces of

nature, it is evident that the same principle was at work in the initial temptation of our

first parents.

The Evil One suggested that God was holding back further blessings and powers for

selfish ends. It was certainly true that God had given Adam a limited domain, but it was

equally untrue to suggest that any good thing had been withheld. The word "good", like

most terms, is relative. What would be "good" for a man might be "evil" for a child; and

what would be "good" for an angel might be "evil" for Adam. Had Adam been found

faithful in few things, he would have been made ruler over many things. Satan, however,

tempted him to seek control over powers that, while man was still immature, would

inevitably be evil in their results.

The Bible does not use the language of Science, but it makes many references to the

mighty forces of "Nature". In some passages these forces are said to be under control of

a special angel, and it would seem that man himself, though at first "a little lower than the

angels", was destined in God's good time to be higher than the angels, and to have an

extended dominion. This dominion was at first related primarily to the animal world, but

it would doubtless have been extended to include the world of Chemistry and Physics,

with perfect power and full knowledge--whereas to-day man is becoming more and more

conscious that he is dabbling with forces which at any moment may turn back and

destroy him. Much that is called "progress" may really be the intrusion, before the time,

into things that were intended as man's domain at a subsequent period.

We have already exceeded our space and must conclude our study for the time being.

While we are living in the world, we must of necessity come in contact with its

"inventions" on every hand, but, if we realize something of their character, we shall see

them in their true light as part of the outworking of the pseudos--"the lie", the imitation,

the spurious--and shall not allow them to come between us and the Lord, Who alone can

supply the one and only cure for all life's ills.