THE FIRE

Behold, the night was Belshazzar's, and Belshazzar's was the night. The vessels of the LORD's house were lifted in profane hands, and the wine of Babylon overflowed cups consecrated to glory. Then came the fingers, and the wall received what the king could not bear to read.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Verily I say unto thee: the same hand that weighed Belshazzar yet weigheth the nations. The same balance that hung over Babylon hangeth over every soul. The same verdict - TEKEL, thou art weighed and found wanting - awaiteth every life that hath refused the holy addictions.

Lo, the scale is not silver, neither is it gold. The scale is the throne. The weights are not earthly, neither are they negotiable. The weights are eternity itself.

The Comforter Who Was Sent

Before we open this Book, hear the Lord Jesus Christ: "I will send you another Comforter who will guide you into all truth" (John 14:16; 16:13). Verily, the Spirit of truth is the Author of balance, the Auditor of accounts, the Accountant of the soul. He is the One who readeth every wall, who interpreteth every TEKEL, who unveileth every weight.

Wherefore this volume is not the work of man's ink, but the witness of the Comforter's breath. He guideth us into all truth concerning the threefold balance - the truth of Nature, the truth of Scripture, the truth of Future. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.

The Three Things Thou Must Never Forget

Verily, there are three things thou must never forget if thou desire a balanced and accomplished life. The Apostle Paul declared by the Spirit: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Behold the threefold man - Spirit, Soul, Body - and behold the three earthly guardians God hath ordained for the threefold man:

First, thy Spiritual Teacher - the shepherd of thy spirit, the watchman of thy soul's eternal account. Honour him.

Second, thy Medical Doctor - the steward of thy body, the keeper of thy mortal temple. Honour him.

Third, thy Attorney - the defender of thy lawful estate, the advocate of thy earthly interests. Honour him.

And behold the threefold heavenly architecture answering to the threefold man:

First, Nature - the visible witness of God, the curriculum of the body, the cathedral of creation.

Second, Scripture - the audible witness of God, the curriculum of the soul, the canon of revelation.

Third, Future - the eternal witness of God, the curriculum of the spirit, the consummation of glory.

Thus the balance is fully revealed: three earthly guardians for the threefold man; three heavenly addictions for the threefold witness; one Comforter to guide into all truth. Wherefore I have written this book, that ye may know what hath been placed in the pan against thy soul. Blessed is the man whose pan is full.