The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-14
IN DEFENSE
 0F THE JEW
(Written for the Farmer

(Wr1tIen TOT the Fdrmef.)
 The refusal of the Jews to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, and the persecution of the Apostles and early Christians by the Jewish au thorities, while it may seem to us in the light of revelation and fulfilled prophecy, a sin against Jehovah, yet to the Jew. in the words of the Apos tie Paul as Saul of Tarsus.
 "They thought they were doing Gods service.'
 Faith in Jehovah as the God of Is- rael.
 In Abraham as the founder of the nation.
 In Moses as the liberator from Egyptian bondage, and the giver of the law.
 In Joshua as the successor of Moses and leader of the people in the con- quest of the Promised Land.
 In David as her inspired King.
 The Hebrew nation, adopted by Jehovah as his own peculiar people" ical nature inbred with the religeous and prophetic teachings of Moses and the prophets, developed an unwaver- ing faith in the authenticity and pur- ity of their religion esta blished by di- rect communion of Jehovah with the founder and epoch makers of the na- tion.
 For more than two thousand years Israel had upheld the sanctity of the religion and government of the faith CTS made sacred by devotion to its principles amid glorious prosperity and national importance. as we'll as national diversity and degradation unparalleled in the history of any other nation. The many manifesto tions of divine guidance, and care ov- CT his people, had endued them with a sublime faith in Jehovah, and de- veloped an heroic patriotism in the Jew, and a love of country that death in the defense of either was con- sidered the crowning sacrifice of his life.
 That the Jew. with such religious and national experience did not ac- cept the Messiah who came from among the common people unan- nounced by some signal manifestation of the Divine will, as had appealed to Israel's inspired founder and ma strange when the great religious and national events in their preceding history had been foreshadowed and directed by Jehovah through his Prophets, Priests and Kings and ac- cepted by the people as the voice of the God of Israel.
 The prophecies referring to the coming of the Messiah seemed vague and mystical and not understood either by the Rabinical teachers, the doctors of the law or the common people.
 The first prophecy which may refer to the coming of the Messiah is found in Genesis Sd Chapter, 14th and 18th verses.
 IA. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this. thou are cursed above all cat tie, and above every beast of the field: upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.
 thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruiSe his heel.
 In Genesis. 18th chapter, 10th verse Jacob in blessing his sons, says:
 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor law-giver from be- tween his feet until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. k 4< f
 In Deuteronomy, 18th chapter, 18th verse:
 15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
 Isaiah 10th chapter. Sd verse re- fers to John the Baptist.
 3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LOrQ, make SlTdiSul III tliS ucS- ert a highway for our God.
 Isaiah 53d chapter. I will quote the 9th and 7th verses.
 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his tripes we are healed.
 z. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his moutt- he is brought as lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
 Isaiah esd chapter list verse.
 Who is this that cometh from Ed om, with dyed garments from Boz rah? this that is glorious in his ap- parel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in right eousness, mighty to save.
 Micha, 9th chapter 2d verse.
 g. But thou Bethlehem Ephratah. though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from