Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-15
"GoD WITH Us"

llt VIEW lOlh IANAhll w ihhN Nhii'i'fi
gives considerable space. In its editoria
columns, to a signed article by min
lister Of the gospel on the subject Of
the omnlpresence and abiding compan.
ionship Of Deity, The reflections offer
cd are commonplace, and contain moth
ing new as to the benefits OF the belief
that God is with US, but they are
based on a text which, It seems to us, is
not intended 10 convey any such idea
as that adopted by the preacher, and
which he has really perverted from its
meaning. lie quotes 1t thus at the
head Of the article: "Emmanuel-God
with us--Matthew /, 23.'
Reference to the passage will show
that It II part Of prophecy to be
found in Isaiah W. IA and is cited by
Matthew as fulfilled in the birth Of
Jesus OF Nazareth It is this:
Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign Behold, virgin shall con-
ceIye, and bear son, and shall call
MS ndiHt lAilildHutl.
Matthew gives the Interpretation OF
the word, namely, God with u.s. and
after narratlng the particulars Of the
birth Of Jesus. the declaration OF the
angel to Joseph the carpenter concern-
Ing Mary's conception, and other par
tculars Of the great event, declares:
Now ell this was done. that II might
be fulnlled which was spoken OF the
Lord by the prophet &c.
The name Emmanuel" was thus be-
slowed upon Jesus, because he was the
Christ, the Messiah. the Son Of God,
who was IN the beginning with God"
and who was God manifest in the
flesh" that il TO say. God with u.s. God
dwelling with man. Deity present with
humanity. There is no declaration OF
scripture more definite and positive
than that.
But the New York minister proceeds,
through labored treatise, to divert the
minds Of his readers from the glad It'd
ings conveyed in the story of the COM
ing of the worlds Redeemer, by long
string Of platitudes about "a present
instead Of an absent God, who Ia
within the souls Of men, Among
modern dlvines there has been much
discussion as to the direct application Of
the term Emmanuel and the fulhment
OF lsaiahs prophecy concerning the
virgins son. But the different notions
entertained are all strained attempts
to get away from the grand central,
Christian doctrine Of the coming Of God |
the Son to dwell among men, suffer |
and die for the sin Of the world. and |
become the resurrection and the life to
all the posterlty OF Adam.
Yet those dlsputing sectares claim
to be His ministers, They preach as
authorized Of Him to ohiciate in His
name. But they befog the minds OF
men with their human theories and prl-
yate interpretations and thus obscure
The great truths He came TO unfold,
and which He sent out His Apostles
to proclaim to the world II jesus Of
Nazareth was not God with man. n He
was not the revelation of the Father,
II lie did not represent God in person
on earth then the message OF His dis
,iples to mankind was a myth.
But the doctrine that the Father was
manifested to man In the personality OF
he Soa that He is the perfect image
md likeness OF the Father in His ex-
lct form and figure and attributes and
runs counter to the vain
OF modern Christendom, in
Is Invention or rather adoption OF the
leathen rotion, OF On lmmaterial phan-
o1 everywhere present but having no
hare or locality or substantial reality;
md SC the plain and pointed declara-
ious concerning Deity IN the inspired
eachings Of Old and New Testament
writer's, have to be reasoned away and
tade void through human nterpreta-
IONS ond traditions.
In the revelations Of Christ OF these
after days We have the same an
ouncement concerning Hls Father and
ur Father, His God and our God. as
hat in the New Testament Roth are
Individuals In whose likeness we are q
1rmed. Jesus was in the beginning I
18th the Father and participated IN an 4
ne works Of creation lie came to l
lrth as the babe Of Bethlehem and
as God with man. even Emmanuel lie 4
'turned TO the Father lie WIFI come
gain at the appointed time, but MS 1
ing Of kings and Lord OF lords. and 3
lrth viii receive her Ruler and Sa- :,
.or He win redeem mankind from n
aath, and all the rescued OF Adams h
ice win rejoice In haillng the Great b
and with the angels viii Y
NC the glad anthem: God Is with u.s. h,