tidbits of interest from the Metropolitan

1.  A useful summary of the various sections of Scriptures and how they point to Christ in the great Story:

"There are different things contained in the Holy Scriptures, as the commandments of the law, rules of morality, prophecies, accounts of different revelations which God made of himself to man, miracles, and promises, together with many accounts of the transactions of men. However, all these tend to nothing else but to the revelation of the eternal counsels of God, concerning the salvation of mankind through our Savior Jesus Christ. Thus, for instance, the Law, by bringing us to the knowledge of our guilt before God, leads us to seek for a Deliverer; the prophecies proclaim his approach; the sacrifices point him out; the different revelations which God made of himself, either prepare us to receive the faith of Christ or illustrate more clearly the acts of our Savior. And all the promises of God, in assuring us of the mercy of our heavenly Father, rest on Jesus Christ, as our Mediator with God." (in Section 2, 'On the substantial contents of the Holy Scriptures')

2. An interesting theological speculation, 'If humanity had not fallen, then...'
"From this we conclude that if man had not broken the union by which he was closely connected with God, he would have enjoyed a most happy life on earth, and at last, according to the determination of his Maker, would have been translated to heaven, to enjoy God eternally. Of this, we have an example in the person of Enoch. (Gen. 5:24)"

from A Summary of Christian Divinity, by Platon Levshin