Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-07

performing my duties as usual.v No
Hanger OF frenzy or fauaticisin In such
4 spirit.
Now. what does the coming Of
Christ pofteni? with what con.
s.sYuences To our world Is II fraughtg
u tiia coming were to be n mere grand.
spectacular display, new wonder Tor
men TO talk Of wit1ou, any herman.
entity beneficial effects upon oitr race,
tnen j, for one, should feel not the
slightest Interest In II. But past his.
tory hnd prophecies, both Ia the bible
AMI Book Of Mormon--if men would
nut read it-throw ilooi Of light on
this subject, aud show that those who
look forward 10 this event aud antlci.
pste from u universal benefit and blcs.
sing " the human family, have not
only revelation but sound philosophy
on their side.
To comprehend this subject one must
20 back TO the days Of Abraham. |
eau SEQ the unbeliever's lin
curl at the name OF one
whom he regards ~ n seml.bar.
barian, even II he admits his existence
AT all. hut Abraham was called "the
friend ofGodn God made , covenant
with him that through him and his
seed should all Mc nations Of the earth
be blessed. Deny the existence Of
Abraham II you please; but you cannot
deny the cxlstenc. Of his descendants.
They are n stubborn fact, n peculiar aud
distinct people whose existence ami
history sceptical sophistry cannot
destroy. Now why did the Father OF
our race select one particular man aud
his descendants 10 be n peculiar people
10 Himself and how were the nations
Of the earth TO be blessed through him
and them? The Christian world very
properly rcplics-'In order that the
knowledge and worship OF the true
God might DO preserved. aud that the
way might lie prepared for the birth OF
the Christ through whose life, teach.
ings, suiicrlngs, death and resurrection
all the nations OF the earth should bc
bleased.v
But II " self.oviicnt that only half
OF the great work OF redemption has
been performed. Hthe nations Of tho
earth have not yet been blessed ~
promised. Even those who have heard
OF the Person and Gospel Of the Lord
Jesus Christ have been but partially
blessed, rs the injustice, crucltle-, pov.
erty, wars ami their attendant suffer
ings prove. There IN n great work yet
10 he done before the promises made 20
Abraham shall bc fulfilled in their ful.
Mess, when there shall he universal
peace, when nations shall learn war no
more, and when "thc kingdoms " this
world shall bc the Kingdom Of our
God aud His Christ"
Both from n biblical and common
sense standard II N evident that the
Lord has not yct-if may lie pardoncd
q hacknoy,I approximations with
the Jcws. The grand purposes for
which He selected them have not all
been fulfilled. There IN still u great
workfOr thcm 10 do. They are 10 play
n wonderful part In the awful tragedy
anu amazing drama OF this age. God
has said they shall be- gathered again
10 their own land-that He will make
Of them n grand nation. What though
they are hated aud despIscd by all
nations? What though mighty EN-
pcrors aud their cruel aud debassd sub.
Jects perscrule them and seek 10 dies.
troy them? They nrc hut helping 10
bring about Coda purpose. only
forcing these afflicted people 10 10
where God has appointed they shall 10.
But for what are the Jews 10 be- no
stored 10 their own land? For what
reason are th.y 10 bc again made
mighty nation? II they are not quite
10 full OF concclt as when their ribbls
taught that ga Jcw'a splttic was Of
more value Ia tho sight Of God" than
tho lives OF scores OF Geniiles, they are,
a. a rilc, proud, stifi-neckcd, arrog, ant
aud, had they the power now, would
doubtless rule with rod OF iron. Hut
the Bible expressly forc,clls that they
will DO brought through SUCH severe
trials aud sutleilngs that they will be-
very different people. They viii be.
come humble, repentant, obedient aud
ready 10 say, blessed Ia he
that cometh In the name Of
the Lord.v When weir Messiah
comes again M their Il ivorer, they
viii welcome Him with every demon
stratlon Of JOY, aud will grieye over the
wickedness which led their forefnlhers
10 reject Him.
Tho obccior, however, may reason
ably say; "Supposing all this 10 he
true, what does II amount TO? Why
should God be no particularly Interested
In the welfare OF 10 small n portion OF
His children? Why should He select
lhcm as His special favOrites? There
arc tens Of thousands OF more intelll-
gent, humble. faithful, scli.sacriflcing
among mankind who do believe In and
love Jesus Christ; why not select
them." The answer u: God has no
fivorites except Oh account Of superior
righteousness, II Col chooses any
portion OF His children for u certain
work II II III order that all the rest OF
His children may be, II they Will,
blessed thereby. Abraham aud
many Of the Patriarchs were
favorltcs with God because OF their
Righteousness. But their descendants
were used, not because OF their right
,ou,ness, but partly because God had
made promises 10 their fathers which
lie would not violate, anu partly for
the same reason that He has always
used the weak Of the world TO confound
the mighty, and the poor ana despised
aud ignorant 10 carry out His purposes
because the strong, the rich, the
noble. the learned Will not DO used.
God has offered TO use our own great
aud enlightened nation. He would
have honOreds It's people by making
them His ministers OF salvation and
peace 10 nil the world. But they laugh
Him 10 scorn. The Jews will bo "wil-
ling Ia tho day OF His power" The
Gentlles now viii reject Him rs the
Jews did formerly; and the same terri
BILE results viii 10 experienced by the
Gentilcs as were by the Jews.
To understand the object which be.
lIeve the Lord has In view In coming
10 restore Israel TO nationality anu
poWer. we must glance at the condition