The Newtown bee., 1899-12-08

he had entrusted the custody OF the tenn
pie and the performance OF worship
there, they were sold Into captivity and
during the prophetic ministry OF Jeremi-
ah, which commenced some 20 years after
Micah's closed, Zion was, 40 Micah had
1oretold, "pl 1wed az field, and Jerusa-
lem became heaps, and the mountain Of
the house as the high places OF the for.
est" .a But the Jews captivity In Baby
Ion bad a salutary effect upon their char
aetsr and made profound impression ON
the religious thought and life of the peo-
ples among whom they were dispersed.
This was accomplished, In part, through
the elevation of wise and devout mem
bera OF the Jewish race, to places OF
great responsibility and authority, In
vindicating their fidelity when it seem
ingly exposed them toscertain death and
that In the presence Of kings and subor.
dinste rulera and immense multitudes of
people, compelling naughty sovereigns
70 revoke their edicte and to profess
themselves bis servants and 80 Issue
tproelamations in favor OF true religion !;
disposing the head of o vast empire to
pnblish an order permitting the return
OF the jews to their native land and en-
fcoursging and aiding the rebuilding OF
the temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem, as
Iaaiah had foretold he would ITO years
before. Then they sang:
4 mgwhau Sba awA $p~no0 urO{u tho na~%zx~;%xv
| OF Zion.
We were like unto them that dream
Then was our mouth filled with laughter.
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations.
rae Lord hath done great things for thsm.'
A. later Persian monarch authorized the
learned Ezra, attended by o numerous
escort Of his eouueryrmen, 10 90 to beau-
tify the reconstructed temple and to In
struct his people in the sacred teachings
committed to their fathers. And still
later one empowered Nehemiah, his
srusted cupbearer, 10. return to the Jew
Ian metropolis to superintend the resso.
ration Of its walls. And under thig gov
eFnor the people confessed and rsnounc-
ed their former aims OF omission and
commission and mada solemn covenant
which was written and sealed by the
princes, the Levitss and the priests, to
observe and do all the commandments
and judgments OF the Lord their God and
all the ordinances and regulations, re.
lspecting the maintenance and service Of
tfze sanctuary. And another Persian
monarch took beautiful Jewesa for llaa
queen and advanced her unele and sosssr
father TO the highest position In Ehe en-
Ipire. When the foundations OF the sec
loud temple were laid the people were
poor and few, and the prospect was dis
threatening. BnE Jehovah assured the
builders: "Yet once il Ia, o little while,
and / viii shake the heavens, and the
earth, and the sea, aud the dry land and
will shake all nations, and the desira-
BILE things Of all nations sh&lE come, and
win ill this house with glory, saith the
Lord Of naats. The, silver ID mine and
the gold Is niue, saith the Lord Of hosts.
The latter glory OF this house .shAll be
greater than the former, saith the Lord
Of hosts; and In this place Will give
pesce, saith the Lord of hosts. -
The former temple was the religious
center for people inhabising the land
Of Palestine. The second temple, In ad-
ditson to this, was the religious center for
a people dispersed through Northern AZ
RIGA, Southern EuTope, Asia Minor and
Central AfrscA. And i'm their frequent
pilgrimages TO the mother city thay wers
often accompanied by devout GenkElea
who fulfilled the prophecy OF .Zecheriah:
Thus saith the Lord or hosts 10 shall
yet come 30 pass that there shall come
peoples, and Eha inhabitants on many
cities; and this Inhabitants &C ona city
shall go to another, saying, Let No 70
speedily TO intreat the favor OF Jehovah,
and to seek the Lord ofnpsbs II VIII 10
also. Yea, many peoples and strong rs.
tions shall come to seek the Lord OF
hosts In Jerusalem and TO entreae the ia
voz OF jehovah. iThns saith the Lord or
hosts; Ia those days ii shall come 10 pass
that ten mensshan take hold, ont OF all
Ithe languagea OF the nations, ahall even
take hold or the skirt Of him that Ii q
jew, saying, Let us 20 speedily with you
Tor we have heard that God Ii with you.' =
The sups rior glory OF the second temple
visa the glory of 4 vastly wider and more
commanding usora land religious II 10
enoe - ifflUencs chat prepa rad the way
tor . atill more glorious Illustration BIT
the mercy ana saatla Dc Go assclans coy-