Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-11
Return Of the jew. 20 rsIsstine.

The religious editor of the Ohio STATE
Journal says that events are now transpiring |
which indicate a general movement Of the
Jews to repossess the promised land. THE |
tide Of progress, after a lapse of centuries,
seems to have fairly turned in that direction,
and the prayers long offered by that scat
tered people may be said to be Fastening to
its ful6llment." The Journal states that
liberal propositions have been made by the
Sultan Of Turkey for the encouragement of
Jewish emigration to Palestine, but holds
that these events are more in consequence of
prophesy than Of Turkish lberality; and that
ITO the reader of the yet unful6lled pages Of
Revelation they pointto what" as it respects
the Jewish nation, prophets and kings"
have long waited for, "but died without the
sight"
In regard to "the prayers long offered by
that scattered people," there is probably
mistake of fact. The prayers for the restora-
ton of the Jews have been chiefly offered by
devout Christians, who have insisted that the
Scriptures should be fulfilled in this way.
The Hebrews themselves have taken all pro-
per means to show that they are just as much
native in the countries where they are born,
as any other people, and that they desire no
restoration. II seems singular that Tartars,
and Saxons, and even Africans, should have
facilities of transmigration to any country,
and Of becoming native to it, while it is in
sisted that the Hebrews shall be regarded
as exiles, tarrying in the wilderness, and
longing for return to Palestine.
The Christian idea is that the Hebrews are
under a curse, and it is very creditable to
Christianity that it should wish it removed.
But so far as temporal prosperity is con-
cerned, there are no signs Of the disfavor OF
God, and in this country, where there are no
political distinctions on account OF religion,
they have equal rights with all. This is all
that they ask or need, and this will answer
every purpose, except the fulfllment Of a GER
tain Interpretation of the prophesies. But
these can only be fulfilled by restoration Of
the Jews to favor as Gods peculiar people,
when all other nations would be outside bar
barians, or "dogs," as the Hebrews used
to call them, when they mono lolized
divine favor. Even converts to the Hebrew
religion were not regarded worthy to
enter the Temple, but had the privilege of 9
pen outside. In view of this, the prayerful
anxiety of Christians seems curious. But II
is clear that nothing less than this will be
such restoration as is prayed for. The
Hebrews enjoy the highest temporal pros
perity now. They are also natives of coun-
tries compared with which Palestine is q
desert; therefore the only restoration that
can better their condition is a return Of the
peculiar favor of God. We doubt if the peo-
pie who are praying for this would like to
have their prayers answered in the only pos
sible way. Gods purposes required a chosen
people once; they have been worked out OF
abandoned, and certainly to re-establish such
favoritism now would not glorify his
justice.
A Nashville paper anticipates a difficulty
In the way of restoration to Palestine, from
the fact that the Hebrews are not now an
agricultural people, and, therefore, the pro-
gress of the nation would be crippled by the
want of the means Of subsistence. But the
fact Is they never were an agricultural people
they were pastoral, and probably would re-
turn readily to that mode of living, in {
country adapted to 1t. This bent was un
doubtedly given to the Hebrew mind by tn
Divine favor shown to Abel, who first intro
duced pastoral life, over Cain, who undertool
, AGRICULTURE Abel's offering of flesh havinl
been received with high favor, while tn
, fruits and vegetables of Cain met a cold re
csption. But if the restoration of the He
D brews Is really necessary to the fulfllment o
q prophesy, the means will be provided, ant
4 for us to suggest difficulties and wonder hov
God is to overcome them, is only reducing
omnipotence to our puny dimensions.