The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18

the waiting congregation of Israel, by
the high priest, returning from the holy
place in the temple. The comparison
is between this closing function of the
high priests Office and the re-appear-
ance of Christ from the heavens, unto
the salvation" of all who looked for
him. The comparison is deliberately
drawn between the various functions Of
the high priest, and those of Christ
through three chapters, including the
ninth and part of the tenth. l will
criticise few words of this passage,
making our exposition evident.
l. The original word rendered zap
pointed" means literally laid upon,
or incumbent. The idea is that of
duty growing out of official appoint
ment. This makes it evident that the
high priests are the linen" referred to.
Men in general are not officially ap-
pointed to die, but die of necessity by
virtue of natural law.
2. The "men'' referred to in the
passage being special class, usage re-
quires that the article or pronoun (tois)
be prefxed thus these men, the high
priests.
8. The word Judgment" Is from
Erisis (crisis) meaning turning point.
Now, in the case Of the Jews, offering
their sacrifices, it was turning point
in their lives each year. The sacrifices
offered blotted out the sins of the past,
and they turned to the new life of the
year to come with consciousness of
pardon. Thus, year by year, they
passed through the crisis, or judgment
of dissolution, pronounced upon them
by the high priest returning from the
symbolic presence Of God /; their sacri-
fees having been accepted. Hence it
was judgment of pardon, not of con-
demnation. So Christ, having offered
an acceptable sacrifice, and gone into
the real presence of God in the heavens,
should come again without sin-offer-
ing to the salvation" of those who
looked for him.
4. The passage is evidently elliptical,
words and phrases being omitted which
have a clear meaning in the context.
This elliptical mode of expression is
common and necessary in all writing
and speaking; and to supply the ellipses
from the main body of the argument is
not to violate the authors meaning;
but, on the contrary, to do justice to it,
if, on account Of brevity, he has left it
obscure in any particular. Now, if we
put together verses 81 and 2S, supply
ing the ellipses warranted by the con-
text, the meaning of the passage will
be plain.
''And as it is appointed unto these
men 1.-THE high priestsl once la year, to
die [typically]. but after this the judg-
ment declaration Of absolution pro-
nounced upon the waiting congregation
by the high priest returning from the
holy placel; so Christ was once offered
to bear the sins of many and unto
them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin [sin-offer-
ing] unto salvation"
Jesus uses the word judgment in the
same sense in which have defined it
above: Nov is the judgment (crisis)
of this world" Now is the turning
point in human history, when the forces
of good emanating from the life and
sacrifice of Christ should begin to tri-
umph over the forces of evil. Now is
the prince of this world (evil personi6ed)
cast out. "And 1, if be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto me-"
The effect of this judgment is saliva.
ton, not condemnation. "For God set
not his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world through
him might be saved"
In most of Christ's teaching the word
judgment signifies the searching char
acter of his light in the human con-
science. "He that doeth evil hateth
the light, neither cometh to the light
lest his deeds should be rerroved. But
he that doeth truth cometh to the light
that his deeds may be made manifest,
that they are wrought in God" Christ's
light establishes standard or criterion
to judge men by, or, rather for men to
judge themselves by. This light shin
ing in the conscience, "convicts men of
sin, of righteousness, and Of judgment"
1t searches all the dark lurking places
of sin in the soul, ferrets out iniquity,
and shows mems evil deeds to them
selves, as they only can see them in the
light of awakened conscience. Wicked |
men stand at the bar of conscience self |
They feel and confess
that they are sinners, and in the light |
Christ's spirit read the sentence of |
their own condemnation. In this re-
spect Christ wounds only that he may |
heal. If men will come to the light,
although the first effect of it will be |
and remorse, the later
effect, if they turn away from sin, will |
be forgiveness and peace. Jesus spoke |
of this as resurrection to damnation,"