The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-27
The Colossal Fact.

entered as active and conspicuous forces
into the current of human affairs. They
have been in this current, and as distinct
ly part of it as the waters of the Alps
are in the beds of the Rhine or the
Rhone. That the descendants of Abra
ham were in bondage in Egypt, that they
escaped, and that they were finally
planted in Palestine, forming a nation
there. cannot be disputed any easier than
one might dispute the formation of the
American Republic. So, too, with his
toric names. To the Jewish people
Moses was as real leader and COM
mander as George Washington was in
his day. When we consider events in
their articulate order, we find also that
the Jewish nation impressed it's annals
upon all the great empires with which
It's destiny was closely bound up. Egyp-
tian, Assyrian, Roman testimonies to the
peculiar history and peculiar civilization
OF the Hebrews are abundant.
All concur in affirming that they were
indeed peculiar people, and as such
were hated by their neighbors. Their
popularity, however, consisted in their
faith and worship, and the laws, intend
ed to raise them far above the condition
OF the heather who had rabble Of divini-
ties
Gods passionate, vengeful. and unjust,
whose attributes were rage, revenge, and lust"
The Jewish nation being more than a
myth or a fable or a romantic invention
as every sceptic must admit, it follows
that its own understanding of its special
mission, as declared by its lawgivers,
prophets, and priests was to stand in it's
lot and await the coming Of some great
Retormer, Deliverer-a Messiah
Rising far up high above all other
facts of the Jewish economy was its
constant witness to the existence of one
God, only one, only wise, only true,
only holy God. In this consisted every
thing that was distinctive in the Jewish
polity as compared or contrasted with
the politics of the polytheistic nationali-
ties then known. This one Supreme
Ruler gave to the Jews code universal
contained in the Ten Commandments
There can be no dispute on this point
The first nation that ever had that com
plete perfect moral code of universal fit
ness tor all mankind, in all climes, and
for all times, was the Jewish. At pres
ent we open no discussion as To how they
got 1t; we are content simply to affirm
that they had it, and had it as their or
ganlc code when they began their sepa-
rate career Now that Iaw-the Deca-
;;ogue.hes at the basis of our latest and
best forms of advancing civilization
Lawyers, statesmen, publicists people OF
historic intelligence, who know anything
at all deserving attention, declare with
Blackstone that this revealed law is oil
infinitely more authenticity than that
moral system which is framed by ethical
writers" Hence, because of its supreme
authenticity, its sanctions are held to be
right and reasonable and lust in and nm
der the civil and criminal jurisprudence
OF the most cultivated and advanced ma
tons.
The Jewish nation, its special mission,
its expectation of Messiah, and its per-
'ect law, are facts which cannot be ig
nored or denied or destroyed. The e
facts constitute a firm historic basis on
which the superstructure of Christianity
has been reared
Nor can it be denied by any rational
mind that the Jewish prophets did por
tray the character and describe the work
OF the Messiah when he should appear
as the bright consummate flower of
JuGean hope. Questions about inspira-
ton, verbal infallibility, genuineness, or
authenticity, do not concern us here
What is the fact? Is Christ in the Jew.
lsh Scriptures? in the prophetic visions e?
In the temple worship? It is his com
ing, anticipated by those writings, which
gives character to the Old Testament as
the Magma Charta that insured in the
fitness Of time the advent of One who
should g" break every yoke and let the
oppressed 60 free, as the one who should
establish kingdom, not for the Jews.
but for all nations. Adverse criticism
however malignant, cannot deprive the
Old Testament of its chief glory viz.
that it was the oracle which, in MANY
ways and in divers forms, loretold the
coming Of Great Deliverer, to whom
the gathering of the nations should be.
At length the advent Of Christ became
a fact-the palpable fact, above all other
facts, in the mighty revolutions and in
the, tremendous controversies which have
shaken the heavens and the earth. and
will continue to shake them until the
glorious liberty shall have superseded
the chaos and dark night" into which
error and sin and superstitions vast and
dire have plunged the masses of human
kind No matter potv ,,,bot +l,oo,.:o. 49,