The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-29

history, and observe the prospect
On this side, stretch the narrow
boundaries of the Jewish people,
alone lighted by CLEANS from the ap-
preaching sunlight. Right in front
of us shines the Divine promise,
written by His finger, upon the black
background Of the Fall, "The seed
of women shall bruise the serpent's
head |" A Divine Redeemer, the
anointed of God, and the son of Da-
vid, how the hearts of those grand
old prophets labored with the hope,
and kings peered into the darkness OF
the future for sight Of his flashing
crown, who should be "Kilg OF
Kings and Lord of Lords.' The
whole attitute of Jewish economy
was one of expectation. Every sac
rifice pointed to the future for its in
terpretation, land every Jewish mother,
as she pressed her first-born to her
bosom, longed and prayed that her
child might be the promised seed.
But the field, so far as this portion of
it is concerned, is too familiar to us
all to need closer investigation.
Look out therefore from our watch
tower upon the religious chaos in the
heather world, which is boiling up,
like the sea when it cannot rest,
around that little island of Jewish
faith. We are met with an endless
variety of systems,-like workman
whose skill in execution is less than
his power of conception. The hu.
man heart creates, only to cast aside,
countless forms of religious belief,
all different, and yet, from one point
of view, all profoundly similar, null
tiform and yet with one connecting
thought. The parti-colored beads
are hung on single string, beneath
the numerous eddies we find traces
of the existence of a current which
flows steadily and without change in
one direction,-it is the longing of
thu. soul for the union of humanity
with Divinity In that system
which is avowedly received by third
of the human race, and which seems
to possess charm tor the higher de-
velopments of the irreligious intellect,
the creed Of the eastern Pantheist,
the Godhead itself is annihilated to Sc
cure this union. No Deity, he tells
us, but that of universal Nature,-
man in union with, because part Of
that mighty Divinity whose form
and outline are recognized in the ma
terial world, absorption into the uni
versal principle, he anticipates as the
sum and crown of human blesssdness.
Foolish dreamers Does such creed
do more than administer opiates to
the conscience, crying "Peace,
Peace" to the afflicted? Can it per-
suade the soul save when intoxicated
with insane fanaticism, to welcome
pain and suffering and bereavement
as the necessary step toward blank
oblivion And no wonder that in
that direction the heathen world, like
the sea when lashed by fierce temp
ests, can find no rest. Turn now
your eyes to the setting sun and won-
der at the idolatrous worship in
which the mind, Just as strong and
clear-sighted, naturally, as are those
of intellectual men to-day, is bowling
down to its utter degradation. It's
altars are crowded with idols,--dead
heroes, departed friends, personlfed
qualities of manhood, creations of
fantastic imaginations, virtues, vices,
each with its appointed service and
crowds of devoted worshippers. We
stand amazed a. the humiliating
spectacle. And yet what are they all
but frightful masks for the great de-
sire Of the human heart,--a divine
manhood For what is the thought
that pervades their worship but some
connection between ourselves and
Deity? If Gods will not become
men, let us lift up men into union
with the Gods. And in their di-
viner moments, the wiser heathen