The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-10

/ of COP and His righteous will from their
minds. He had gone away and left the adj
ministration of the kingdom of Israel to the
care of the priests and rabbis, only in the
| sense that they no longer sought faithfully
to promote the kingdom by declaring and
doing His will, but we're seeking to promote
| themselves and to perpetuate their authority
and power.
THE MESSENGERS.-As the season of the
harvest approached the owner of the vine
yard is represented as sending his servants
to receive his share of the fruits. These the
tenants brutally drove away, killing some.
They utterly refused to make any returns to
! the owner of the vineyard, who Is represented
as continuing to send his messengers, who
we're as constantly rejected, till he at last re-
solved to send his only son, thinking that
they would surely respect him. But him
they killed, hoping to finally possess his in
heritance, concluding that the father might
never return to occupy his possessions.
When the Hebrew nation failed to bring
forth the fruits of righteousness, and the
rulers to make returns of their stewardship
of the kingdom of COP, He sent prophets
unto them to declare his will and to call the
faithless shepherds of His people to account
for their neglect of duty and disregard OF
high and sacred obligation. But their holy
messages we're despised and rejected, and
the messengers themselves were cruelty tor
tured and killed. jeremiah was beaten and
put in the stocks by priest of the Temple
IT / y. w GtnnAd
the court of the Temple; and frequent men
ton is made of the killing of the prophets
both in the Old and New Testaments Il Kings
xix. 10; Nehemiah tx. 26; Matthew xxiii. 81
81; Acts vii. 52). JESUS, the Son of Cop, was
put to death by the decree of some of the
very perso ms whom he addressed. The jew
ish rulers put JESUS to death because they
feared that his teachings would destroy their
influence and power in the nation. They
would perpetuate their misused power as re-
ligious guides by destroying the Son of COP,
whom He had sent to redeem His people
from their selfish and wicked rule into the
true liberty of the sons OF COP, through
faith and obedience to His will written in
their hearts.
THE PUNISHMENT.-Having related the
story of the wicked husbandmen, JESUS asks
his questioners what the owner of the vine
yard will do unto them when he returns.
They answer, "He will ANONYMOUSLY de-
stroy these wretched men, and will let out
the vineyard to other husbandmen who will
render to him the fruits in their seasons"
Being evil they would come to an evil end.
JESUS applies the answer which was given to
the Jewish rulers themselves, and declares
that the kingdom of COP shall be taken away
from them and given to nation comprising
the true Israel, which would be formed large
Iy of Gentiles, and which is represented by
Christianity. The declaration of JESUS ap-
plies to the destruction of the Jewish COM
monwealth and ecclesiastical polity, which
was accomplished during that generation,
with great severity and suffering. GoD will
accomplish His purpose to bless mankind,
and when the Jewish nation, providentially
raised up and privileged, failed to render the
fruits of righteousness when called on by
providential dealings and by inspired mes
sages, it was suffered to reap the fruits of its
obstinacy and iniquity, and subjected to
providential discipline till it should come to
ODeQleQce, even GnOuSn IL bHOulu po dLtor bnc
Gentiles have fully acknowledged the Divine
authority and entered the kingdom of heaven.
Under the Divine administration individu-
ais, as we'll as nations, are destroyed in their
iniquities and brought to repentance and
obedience through discipline severe and eff
fectual.
When men close their eyes to the demands
of duty, when they show utter incapacity to
either understand or receive the truth, when
| they resist all its influences and turn against
all its persuasions, then they must be left to
just the only thing that can bring them to
| realization of their true position, utter over
| throw and disaster. Men must acknowledge
| their relations to GoD; if not willingly, then
| perforce. Even in the dismissal of the hus-
bandmen GoD is only carrying out His de-
mand for obedience to its sublime height.
| How feeble and foolish mans resistance to
COPS demands seems beside that infinite
and inexhaustible Will which can command
the forces of the universe to execute its pleas
ure He who in riches and honor will not
serve Him, must serve Him in shame and
want; He must be served.-Reu. G. NJ Har-
mon, in S. S. Helper, August, 1882.