The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-30

| of the ages arrange themselves with
reference to That as focus.
! The cross is the alcyone OF history
Around the cross the facts OF history
| are marshaled. From whatever point
they start, all roads cencerge at the
cross. All adown the ages the finger
| boards pointed forward TO the cross,
and back to il all the guide boards OF
subsequent history point. Calvary is
the elimination of the Divine purpose
in human history.
The history of each nation has been
made I'D. and its fate has been depen-
dent upon its relation TO the cross.
In so far as nations have conserved
its interests, they have been blessed.
Whenever and wherever they have
thwarted the will of God touching
the cross, disaster has come to them.
And when they have thrown them
selves across the pathway of his pur-
pose, as obstructionists, they have
been pulverized.
In the unfolding plan of redemption
the office of the Hebrew people was to
prepare the way for the coming of the
Messiah. Set apart to this purpose,
they were under the special care of the
Lord Surrounding nations were
blessed or punished, according as they
were friendly TO or hostile toward this
people in whom was wrapped up the
purpose of the Most High.
Egypt, furnishing an asylum for the
kindred of Joseph, was the object of
Divine favor. Egypt, as the oppressor
of Israeli is smitten down by the thun-
derbolts of Gods wrath. Binding
heavy burdens upon the Hebrews, caus-
ing them to make brick without straw
for generations, Egypt, the oppressor,
has been the oppressed of all ages.
From then until now Egypt has been
oppressed in turn by Assyrfa. Babylon,
Persia, Greece, Rome, Arabia, the OF
toman, and now is under the Protec-
torate of England. Egypt, slaughterer
of the Hebrew infants, had the first
born of all her homes slain by the
avenging angel of the Passover. Egypt,
following Israel to retain her in bon
dage, is overwhelmed by the waters of
in the Red Sea.
Assyria, who despoiled Israel by sue
cessful conquests and finally by depor-
tation bIotted out the Ten Tribes, is
herself swept from the earth by the
Babylon, who RACED
Jerusalem to the ground, demolished
the temple, polluted the sanctuary, car
ried away the sacred utensils and held
Israel in bondage for 20 years, herself,
at last, sees the handwriting on the
wall. She is weighed in the balance
and found wanting. Like an avenging
wave, burying in oblivion the nation |
Of Babylon, does Cyrus, with his vic |
.orious Medo-Persians, fulfill the will |
Of Jehovah.
Israel herself, so long as she ac
,epted the trust of being the custodian |
IF the Divine purpose, was signally |
ed by the pillar of cloud and of fire. |
But Israel, favored of God, His chosen
people, His Covenant nation, custodian |
IF the Ark of the Covenant, again and |
gain turned from His purpose, thwart-
ID His will and rejected His guidance.
As often as she turned to idolatry she
vas scourged into obedience by war
,estilence and captivity.
The Ten Tribes setting up a separate
forsaking the Covenant and
,oing into idolatry, are forsaken of
fod. What has become of the lost Ten
Tribes is one of the problems OF his
Dry.
Judah, although furnishing the lin
age of the Christ, rejects his own
Iessiah. Standing with fearful eyes
nd breaking heart, looking upon the
ity and temple he loved so we'll, con-
emplating their impending doom,
What an exclamation bursts from his
ps: eff thou hadst known, even thou,
t least in this, thy day, the things
hat belong to thy peace, the days
hall come upon thee that thine enemy
hall compass thee about and shall lay
bee even with the ground and shall
ot leave within thee one stone upon
mother that shall not be thrown down,
ecause thou knewest not the time of
by visitation" What fearful invo-
alton of their own doom when they
ry out: Cruelty him, his blood be
pom us and our posterity." Although
osephus sought to discredit the Christ,
is account of the destruction of Jeru-
alem and the nation, fulfills the pre-
lotion of the Savior as accurately as
{ written by the pen of inspiration.
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