The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-07-05
ABSOLUTELY PURE


able progression Of human power
and Of human intellect, the latter
always attained TO wider domin.
ion, ana always reached \ higher
plane Of morals and Of iutellectu-
ality than its predecessor. In
obedience to this divine impulse
of Improvement the Assyrian
empire possessed a purer religion
than the bestial worship Of Egypt
and during the 1900 years of its
existence il reached a nigh de-
gree Of civilization, as the archi-
tectural wonders Of Babylon suf.
ficiently attest. But the Assyrian
empire became rotten and COR
rupt, and il cruelty oppressed
God S chosen people, and its fall
was prophesied and decreed; and
the curtain rose upon the fourth
act Of this drama.
This was accomplished through
the Mede. Persian empire, which
rose upon the conquest Of the
Assyrian. Under the law Of
progress which | have mentioned
for the first time in the history OF
the world a pure philosophy was
taught, and idol worship ceased.
Under Gods servant Cyrus and
his successor, Judah was restor-
ed to Palestine to enter upon the
last stage Of their national ex-
istence But the Persian became
ennlrvatcd, and in his turn fell
before the rising power of the
Greek, and this epoch marks the
| fifth act in the great drama that !
have been tracing The Greclans
had been in n state Of preparation
for their allotted work for many
generations They had become
a most enlighteded people, the
most enlightened the world has
ever produced outside of Chris
tian influences. They had invent
cd and perfected the finest lan-
/ guage that has ever been written
or spoken the language in which
Homer sung; in which Plato and
Aristotle taught, and in which
the sublime teachings Of the Di-
vine Master were given 10 the
human race.
Alexander conquered the world
and impressed this beautiful lam
guage upon his widespread em-
pire, which included most Of the
| then known world, so that it be-
came q common tongue, and a
most elegant one, through which
the apostles we're afterwards en-
abled to execute their Master &
! injunction to 60 into all the world
and preach his gospel. But one
step more Is needed, IL must be
made safe for the disciples Of the
| coming Messiah to journey and
to preach, and SO the curtain
rises upon the sixth and last act
| Of this stupendous drama.
The stern Roman conquered
the empire Of the more cultured
| Greek, and placed his mailed
hand upon mankind, and inspired
such fear and respect that to be q
! Roman citizen gave protection tc
the humblest throughout the con-
| fines Of the Roman world. Paul
often invoked this protection as
you know.
Let US sum up the results.
During 5000 years or more man
had been gradually elevated from
barbarism to enlightenment; from
idol worship 10 a spiritual one ;
all organized nations had been
| consolidated under one powerful
government; a perfect language
had been diffused throughout
this wide domain as a means OF
communication and the tenor OF
the Roman name had made il
safe to teach wherever the Roman
Eagles had penetrated. For the
| first time in the history Of the hu-
man race was it possible for the
religion Of the Lord Jesus Christ
| to be preached to a lost world,
and then God, who had made the
way plain, sent his Son to redeem
a fallen race. To me the guild
ance Of the Divine Hand through
all these ages is plainly visible.
Can any rational man doubt thaf
, the same hand is guiding still?
In this marvellous age wher
! nations are as giants compared
with tn : very greatest OF the olC
| world; when science has almos
touched the confines of creativl
t power in its amazing discoverie
: and inventions, there is create
need Of Divine guidance thai