The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-12-28
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of the Messiah. On the dark back
! ground Of the plot the characters
Of the deliverers stand like white
canoes i'll Clear-cut outline and
high relief. esther iv, 10; Y, So
Ezra was a savior Of buddhism.
1t was a crisis i'll the national life.
Seventy years had passed since the
return from captivity. Zerubbabel,
the prince of Judah, had left the
little colony in Jerusalem, and had
gone back to Babylon, his birth
place, to end his days. The de
lenses of Jerusalem were still I'M
finished. There was a sort of
creeping paralysis of indifference
in Church and State. There was
no enthusiasm, no sturdy faith.
There was a widening gap between
mobiles and rustics. Paganism was
making subtle inroads. The
days of the Hebrew State and re-
ligion were numbered. Then ap-
peared the second Moses. The
nobility of Ezra's personal charac-
ter and his worth to his nation can
hardly be overestimated. He put
an imprint upon his Church which
It bears to this day. And as Chris
tianity IS evolved from Judaism,
Christianity itself may be said to
bear to some extent the marks of
the good scribe" ezra viii, 81
So
Study Of this incident reveals
Nehemiah as one of the most illus
trious examples Of disinterested
patriotism, which history, sacred
or proflne, affords. He had life
tenure upon an office Of high rank
and many emOluments. He stood
next to the monarch of the world.
A palace was at his disposal, with
all It's luXurions appointments.
But for the sake Of his countrymen
he relinquished all. What enhan-
ces the deed is that it was not done
i'll burst of enthusiasm, but after
a considerable period, in which
every clement and phase Of the sit
uation was passed in review.
| (Neh. /, LID
Paul cautions the Corinthians
to keep the wing of love unfurled.
The Heterogeneous composition
of the Christian societies :makes
this necessary. Paul is liberal.
He says: eve know an idol is a
nonentlty. Meat can not be effect
ed by being placed before an idol.
Meat, whether 50 placed or not, can
be eaten without scruples. But be
careful. Don't let the wing of
knowledge drive you blind1y round
the small circle of a selfish person
al interest. Spread your other
wlng-the white pinion of love. In
your Church at Corinth there are
many novices in Christianity.
theoretically they know that an
idol is nothing, but practically
they have not been able as vet to
rid themselves of superstitious no.
tions imbibed with their mothers
milk. Do not urge such a one to
violate his conscientious scruples
while they remain. If, under your
advice, he does what his conscience
forbids, he sins" The conditions
then and now and a1ways-de-
mand a generous elf-denia1 for the
sake of Others. & Cor. X, 23-33.)
The rebuilding Of the wall was
a great enterprise. The circum-
stances were unfavorable. Labor
ers were few and inexperienced.
Enemies were many and crafty.
Instead of a clean site there was a
heap of rubbish. But the genius
and zeal Of Nehemiah were more
than match for such adverse con.
ditions. His organizing and ad.
ministrative ability were superb.
Everybody was enlisted. working
as families and guilds. There was
good-natured rivalry. The work
was done i'll incredibly short time,
The temple, after seventy years OF
exposure was now safe from sacri.
legious and plundering hands.
(Nph w = oC