The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-03-20

such as earth had never seen was pictured by
ancient prophets and expected by the Hebrew
race, before the time of Jesus Christ. The sub
lime Oracles, written in the and century G.
declare: when Rome shall rule Egypt, then
shall appear upon men the supremely great
Kingdom of the imm ,rtaI r>ing :" Tacrus saws:
Many were persuade d that it was contained IN
the old records OF the priests that at that
'lme the East should prevail and some coming
out OF u lea should gain the rule Suetonius
says: AN old and constant opinion had grown
throughout the whole E tst that 1t was foretold
that al that time one coming out OF Judea should
OBTAIN the rule " Josephus says: What did
mo elevate the Jews IN undertaking this
Was an ambiguous oracle. that was also found
in their sacred books how about this time one
from their country should become governor of
! the habuabe earth The Jews took this pre-
dlctIon TO belong TO themselves IN particular
and many OF the wise men were thereby deceIv-
ed. Now thus oracle Certainly demo I'd the gov
ernment OF VeSpASlan. who was appointed En-
peror IN Judea We have nothing to do with
the unnatural application by these interested
writers. Tney show the general expectation
that time based on the jewish records There
Is no question of the portrayal and expectation
of some marvellous person whose influence
should outlast the ages. Gaze on another pic
lure Jesus came The Messianlc conscious
ness was the inspiration of his life. Born into
p1verty. Trained amid bgotry. without rank
or education He taught the spirituality and
paternity OF God Revealed a philosophy of
| men thai has inspired whatever is great and good
IN modern CIVILIZATION Saw deep into sin, but
stands alone IN his sness character.
Jean Paul said: He was mightiest among
the molly, and holiest among the mighty, who
with his pierced hand lifted empires off their
hinges, and still governs the a4es."
Look on these two pictures, and tell me if
one has no connection with the other.
We have the birthplace OF The Messiah stated
| III Micah v. 2: " But thou, bethlehem Ephra
| lah, though thou be little among the thousands
| OF Judah, yet out OF thee shall come forth unto
| me that Is to be ruler In Israel; whose golngs
| forth have been from of old. from everla sting "
When Herod desired to know where the NIessI
ah should be born, the Jews referred him to this
pass ge-
esar sent forth decree that all men should
be taxed. They were required to register In
| the place where their ancestors had lived For
this purpose Joseph and Mary journeyed TO
| Bethlehem There the Christ is born How
| the unsigned acts fulfil the prophecy
| Some other passages VIII speak tor themselves
| as they read the light OF history Zech-
| arIah TX, g: Rejoice greatly. 0 Daughter OF
Zion shout. o Daughter OF Jerusalem; behold
my king cometh unto thee; he Is just and hav
ing s4lvatIon; Iowy. and riding upon an ass,
and upon a colt. the foal of an ass " Again
| z -ch. XII 10: :" / will pour upon the house Of
| David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem
| the spirit OF grace and OF suppIcauonS, and
| they shall look upon whom they have pierced
and shall mourn Tor him" Nal Iii, 1 =" Be
hoid send my messenger, and he shall pre-
| pare the way before me; and the Lord whom
ye seek shall suddenly come TO his temple. even
| the messenger OF the covenant. whom ye de
| light in; behold he shall come, Saith the Lord
| Ot HosIS
The force is lot in any one passage, but in
| great variety, all pointing to one person.
| Remember, they we're written from four
centuries and upward before he WAS born.
| Their 1ulhllmenL req ulred the concurrence
| OF many COmplIcateu events, and took III all
| sorts OF people. His life could not have been
| fabricated from them, for he recOncIIes ap-
| parent contradictions, and his conception Ut
the MesSIahshlp Is entirely distinct from the
| conception OF his age.
| In adverse circumstances he shakes off all
prOvIncIallsm III which he WAS educated
rises above all the bIgotry that filled the
l. jewish mind, and by his universally and
wonderful preCeptS none OF earth Imperfect
philosophers can be compared with MN.
II would be sacrIlege 10 put any other by
| the side OF his sInless character aud III his
| marvellous Influence for good on the ages
| the world has never seen his eq ual.
We infer from this that the OId Testament
| economy, of which these things are a part,
Was supernatural, aud the records of divine
| inspiration.
| We infer the truth OF Christianity and of
| ChrIsts redeeming work.
What must be the dignity of that being
| expected and longed for from the dawn oI
| human history!
We infer that the other prophecies of the
| old prophets are yet to be fulfilled. God
fulfilled this in spite of, yea by the means OF
| opposition. In the face of skeptcIsm and
obstacles of every kind the knowledge OF the
| Lord shall fill the earth. Christ's reign shall
be complete. He shall not fail nor be dis
couraged." "They shall beat their swords
into plowshares and spears into pruning
| hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any
more" The earth shall blossom like the
| rose" We are III the line OF prophecy. We
are fulfilling prophecy all things written
| by the prophets concerning the Son of Man
shall be accomplished.