The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-21

out lDtO OuteT Oar n
lASIOR RUSSElll ness; there shall be
weeping and gnasb-
ing Of teeth" (Nfatthew viii. II, 12J
The speaker declared that In COM
mon with the majority Of ministers he
had misinterpreted this and similar
Scriptures to refer to all the insanity
Of mankind and to imply that they are
writing in torture in hell whose To-
cation is unknown and which he now
sees to be q human tradition without
authority Of the Word Of God.
The Pastor analysed his text and
showed that it was addressed to the
Jews, that they for sixteen centuries
had been Gods favored nation, in har.
mony with His promise to Abraham.
They had much advantage every way
over all the other nations-not only in
the fact that the promises were given
to them and the assistful influences of
the Law. but additionally that to them
were sent the Prophets with their en-
couraging messages.
Notwithstanding all these favors but
comparatively few Of that nation were
in the heart condition to be accepted Of
God. to be Messiah's joint-helrs in His
Kingdom. As the natural seed Of
Abraham they were the children or
heirs Of the Kingdom, and to them
Jesus presented Himself. All Of His
miracles and teachings went to them.
yet only few were in such condition
of heart that they could receive this
Message.
In the context Jesus referred to the
fact that the Gentle centurion who
had none Of Israe's privileges had
more faith than any Jew. Comment
ing upon this the Great Teacher de-
,clared that God would take from the
Jews the special privileges. except
such Jews as were "Israelites indeed"
and that He would complete the num-
Der Of His elect by a selection Of saint
~ characters from amongst Gentiles.
The Election Hath Obtained II.
st. Paul declares, Israel hath not
obtained that which he seeketh for.
but the election hath obtained it and
the rest Of the nation were blinded"
(Romans II. ~ The elect Of Israel
were gathered into the New Dispense
ton at Pentecost and subsequently.
while the Jewish people as a whole
became more and more blinded and
darkened in understanding until their
nation expired in a time of anarchy, |
a d. TO- Since then the Jews have !
been In trouble In SORROW
1t was to this very condition Of
things that Jesus referred. He used
the highly figurative Language COM
mon in the East. What St. Paul styl- !
ed blindness upon Israel" Jesus de-
scrIbed as going into outer darkness
Iosing the light of the.prophecies and
the hopes of the Abrahamic promise
and thus getting into, the same blind
and dark condition in which Gentiles |
In general were. The experiences Of !
the Jews during the past eighteen cen
turtles Jesus described as weeping
and crashing Of teeth" His words !
simply signify sorrow. disappointment
and chagrin.
Truly the Jews have had all of these
experiences. We are glad If we see in |
Gods Word a glorious prospect for His |
ancient and Covenant people. St Paul
calls this promise to our attention In |
Romans ri. 1888. He tells us that |
Gods Covenant with Israel cannot be |
broken. but will be established. and
that natural Israel shall yet receive |
mercy. Divine favor. at the hands and
through the agency Of the Church
spiritual Israel-part of whom have
been selected from the Jews and some
from every nation-all sanity.
"st Down With Abraham"
The Great Teacher declares that
while the natural heirs Of the Mes
Siapic promises would be cast out from
Divine favor, as they hare been cast
out for the past eighteen centuries-in |
the meantime Gentiles from the East
and West, North and South would he
found of similar character to the Cen
turion whose servant was healed. And
these would sit down with AbrabaD.
Isaac and Jacob In the Kingdom, In
the sense that they enter into rest. |,
As st. Paul declared. 1--WE who believe
do enter into rest" This is the same
rest or sitting at ease that Abraham.
Isaac and Jacob enjoyed. They bad
Gods promise that eventually He
would raise up a spiritual Seed OF
Abraham through whom all the fami-
lies Of the earth would be blessed
Abraham rested upon that promise;
90 did Isaac; so did Jacob. And SO we
rest in this Divine assurance that a
will come to the children OF
Adam in Gods due time;, more than
this. thus seated. we are resting in the
Divine promise. To us has come the
wonderful assurance that. II we sacri-
Zee our little oil Of the present life. we
n Lal. II ct 4 L..