The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-04

presence and pleasure or GOD were SYMBOL
| lied by the cloud of incense; his holiness by
the publication of the Tabernacle, his SYM
bolic dwelling place. The penitence of the
people was symbolized by the sin-offering;
| the forgiveness of their sins by the scape-
| goat;" and their conservation and fellowship
with COP by the burnt offering. 1t was
called the Day of Atonement because it was
day of national penitence and publication.
The meaning of the word atonement is re-
vealed by its use. 1t is applied to ceremonial
publication (15-20). To make atonement
| was to purify. This was affected by the GER
emony of Washing and sprinkling with
blood. By the Interpretation contained in
| the Epistle to the Hebrews, the blood of the
sacrifices symbolizes the Holy Spirit iix. Z
| 10Y. The blood, which is the life of the body,
| is made to symbolic the true life of the
soul. The real atonement is the "washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit" In the Common Version reconcilia-
ton is employed as the equivalent of etone-
ment COY. 1t is uniformally 80 used in the
New Testament where the word atonement
does not appear in the Revision. "The blood
of CHRIST cleanseth from all SIM" The
blood of CHRIST may symbolic the Holy
Spirit which he imparts, or his blood may
represent his death by which we are recon-
ciled to GoD Romans v. 10Y. JESUS died re-
vealing the compassionate and reconciling
love of COP for his sinful children (Romans
v. 81, of which it has become the sign or
symbol.
"THE EGOAT."-"Scapegoat," en-
ployed in the Common Version, is not prop
erly translation, but an Interpretation of
the original, which is more correctly repre-
scented by the Revision. The goats were
chosen by lot, one for JEHOVAH, one for
Azazel. Who Azazel represents is not clear.
The word may have been an earlier persona
fcation of the power of evil than Satan,
which is employed in the Book of Job, and
elsewhere. From the Book of Enoch we
learn that one of the chief fallen angels who
corrupted the earth before the Flood was
Azazel. The Office of one of the goats may
have been to carry the sins of the people into
the wilderness, back to him who was con-
ceived to be their source. Or, it may have
been the official title of the man, who was
appointed to conduct the " scapegoat" into
the wilderness. The word may mean, " one
who sends, or is sent away" or ''cast out"
like an evil spirit. But whatever may be the
meaning of Azazel, the Office of the Escape
goat" is apparent. 1t symbolized the for
giveness of sins, which were sent away into
the wilderness never to return, or back to
him who was their father. The 'scapegoat"
was symbol of the truth that GoD forgives
repentant sinners, and not substitute for
the sinner to receive the penalty due to his
sins.
1t is doing a great wrong to the Hebrew
Scriptures, and wrestling them from their
true import, to affirm that, here or elsewhere,
they teach that GoD accepts any ceremonial
observances as substitute for righteous
life. The scapegoat was an offer of mercy,
but it would be Intellectual unless accepted
with the heart through a renewed life. The
scapegoat was privilege given, in its Divine
significance; but to no insincere or unre-
pentant heart was it the fact of forgiveness
accomplished. The lesson to the Hebrews
was: Repent of your sins on this day of SOL
emn fasting, believe in COPS reconciliDg
mercy that may be clean from all your
sins before the LORD. A broken and con-
trite heart GoD cannot despise.-G. L. De-
naarest, d. D., s. S. Helper, Nov. 's1.
sCAPEG0AT-
We must be careful in the application of
this term. 1t is one of the terms liable to
abuse. The image has always been accepted
as one symbolical of the work of CHRIST in
bearing away the sins of the world. Consid-
cred strictly as figure, it is full of beauty
and helpful suggestiveness. 1t has neverthe
less, been open to the most mischievous per-
version. We use the term now too freely in
describing the action of a man who wishes
to lay upon another the blame of actions
l~rks al 1a has Wa orao of
certain men az being "mere scapegoats;" as
if they had been dragged in to meet the ne
cessities of situation and to relieve others
from the burden of just penalties. The
scapegoat does not come into the world to
carry away the sins of mankind in any arbi-
trary fashion. The deceitful heart may
say,-Take your own course, do just what
you please, and at the end of the sinful day
place all your iniquities upon the head of the
scapegoat and he will bear them away into
the wilderness of oblivion. This is perver-
sion; this is more than perversion, it Is un-
pardonable blasphemy.-Joseph Parker, d.
d., ''The Peoples Bible"
OUR HIGH PRIEST.-In Hebrews tx, K
CHRIST is set forth as our High Priest, who
has fulfilled the symbolic ceremonies of the
Day of Atonement. In these ceremonies
there was no remission or publication with
out shedding of blood. 1t hath pleased the
Father, having made peace, that is reconcile
Acknowledgement, through the blood of his
cross to reconcile all things unto himself,
whether they be things on earth or things in
heaven, (Colossians l. 20), in the accomplish
ment of his declared purpose, That in the
dispensation of the fullness of times he might
gather together in one, all things in CHRIST,
both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth" (Ephesians i. 10). "GoD is in CHRIST
reconciling the world unto himself" He is
the High Priest who is now administering
the sacrifices for our publication and recon-
Citation to COP; in whom we have our re-
demption, the forgiveness of sins. Being
reoonciled to COP by the death of CHRIST
| (Romans " 10), we may be saved by his life
when we make his sinless life the pattern of
our lives. The sacrifice of CHRIST was the
sacrifice of himself. "He gave himself for
u.s." Our true sacrifice is denying uDgodli-
ness and worldly lusts, to live soberly and
righteously and godly, in this present world,
looking for the blessed hope and appearing
of the glory of the great GOD and our Saw
iuor JESUS CHRIST, who gave himself for us
that be might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a people jealous
of good works" Titus ii. l2-14).