The Present Truth, vol. 13

May 27, 1897

“The Gathering of Israel. The Everlasting Covenant Complete” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the Acts 15:18. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.1

“And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:20, 21. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.2

“To Him give all the prophets witness.” Acts 10:43. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.3

The final gathering of God's people, and their establishment in the earth restored, has been the theme of the prophets ever since the fall; and as a necessary consequence they have all borne witness that all who believe in Christ shall receive remission of sins, since it is only through the remission of sins that the gathering and restoration takes place. Let us then look at a few of these prophecies that tell of these things, and they will serve as representatives of all the others. We take first the eleventh of Isaiah. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.4

“And there shall come forth a rod (shoot, R.V) out of the stem (stock) of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall he slay the wicked. (Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:8.) PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.5

“And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Verses 1-9. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.6

THE GOSPEL HISTORY IN OUTLINE

Here we have an outline of the entire Gospel history, including the blotting out of sin and sinners, and the establishing of the righteous in the earth made new, when “the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11, together with verses 9, 10. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.7

Having given the whole story as already read, the prophet goes a little more into detail. Going back to the point where he began, he proceeds:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.8

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek, and His rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day; that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of ludah from the four comers of the earth.” Verses 10-12. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 321.9

Of this gathering of the elect from the four corners of the earth, we read also in Matthew 24:31. The power by which this gathering is to be accomplished will be no less than that which was manifested when the Lord set His hand the first time to gather His people; for we read: “There shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” Isaiah 11:16. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.1

“BEHOLD YOUR GOD!”

Of this gathering, first and last, we read also in the fortieth of Isaiah. The preaching of the Gospel, including the forgiveness of sins, the giving of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the setting forth of God as the only Power in the universe, the Creator and Preserver, and the announcement of the coming of the Lord in glory, is all found there. Then in the message, “Behold your God,“ we read:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.2

“Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him (compare Revelation 22:12), and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm; and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Verses 10, 11. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.3

We have before read about the gathering of the lost sheep of the house of Israel into one fold, so that there shall be “one fold and one Shepherd;” here we see that that gathering is begun by the preaching of the Gospel, and is completed only by the coming of the Lord in glory, with His angels; and further, that the power and glory of the coming of the Lord are identical with the power that must accompany the preaching of the Gospel. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.4

THE LOST SHEEP UNDER THE APOSTASY

In the following verses we read the condition of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and how the unfaithful shepherds scatter the sheep instead of gathering them:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.5

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds, Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you: with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have we sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea, My flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.6

“Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live saith the Lord God, surely, because My flock became a prey, and My flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not My flock; therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I am against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep, and deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places in the country.” (Compare Romans 4:18.) PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.7

“And I will set up one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even My servant David; He shall feed them, and He shall be their Shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a Prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land (compare Isaiah 11:6-9); and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” Ezekiel 34:1-13, 23-28. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.8

GATHERED BY THE RESURRECTION

Exactly how this final gathering is to be accomplished, we are told in chapter 37:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.9

“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about; and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And He said unto me, Son of man can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, Thou knowest. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.10

“Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. (Compare John 5:25-29.) Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live; and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.11

“So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the wind prophesy Son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their few an exceeding great army. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.12

“Then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say Our bones are dried, and our hop, is lost; we are cut off for our parts (“clean cut off,“ R.V.). Therefore, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know, that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your land; then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” Verses 1-14. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 322.13

“THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL”

Thus we see that the promise of the Lord to David, that He would appoint a place for His people Israel, and plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more, and no more be afflicted (2 Samuel 7:10), is to be fulfilled by the resurrection from the dead. And this gathering of Israel, the only one that has ever been promised, and it is enough, embraces all the faithful ones of all ages; for when the Lord speaks, “all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.1

We have seen that this gathering is to be of “the whole house of Israel;” the verses following show that at that time there will be no division of the kingdom, but only “one fold and one shepherd:”— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.2

“The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel and his companions; and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in Mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into kingdoms any more at all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be My people, and I will be their God. And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto lacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever; and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.” Ezekiel 37:15-25. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.3

Now note particularly what follows:—

“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Compare Revelation 21:1-3.) And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Verses 26-28. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.4

GOD's JUDGMENT UPON ALL NATIONS

That the deliverance of Israel is not a mere local affair, is plain in shown in the punishment threatened upon Babylon, in the twenty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah. It was at the close of the seventy years captivity that God purposed to bring this punishment; but, as we have already seen, Israel was not fully ready to be gathered at that time. From that day to this, many of God's people have been in Babylon, so that the word comes in these latter days, as well as then, “Come out of her My people.” Jeremiah 51:45; Revelation 18:4. Nevertheless, God began the punishment of Babylon at that time, and the following verses will show that the promises to Israel, and the threats of punishment upon their oppressors, concern the whole earth:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.5

“Thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me: Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send thee to drink it. (Compare Psalm 75:8; Revelation 14:9, 10.) And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me; to wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his servants, and all his people; and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 323.6

“Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Ye shall certainly drink. For lo, I begin to bring evil upon the city that is called by My name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore prophesy against them these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth, for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with ill flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter, and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard; for the Lord bath spoiled their pasture.” Jeremiah 25:15-84. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.1

THE TIME OF DELIVERANCE

Notice that this is at the time of the punishment of the false shepherds, as prophesied in Ezekiel 34, when Israel shall be gathered, and a covenant of peace made with them. Of the nature of this covenant and the time of the making of it, we have the clearest information in the book of Jeremiah, especially when read in connection with the scriptures already quoted. A brief sketch of two chapters will suffice to make the story complete, so far as our present study is concerned. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.2

We begin with chapter 30.:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.3

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying. Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” Verses 1-3. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.4

Here we are on familiar ground. These verses mark the time when the things later spoken of shall take place when God brings His people back to their own land. So we proceed:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.5

“And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him; but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David My servant, whom I will raise up unto them.” Verses 4-9. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.6

Compare with this Daniel 12:1: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall he delivered, every one that shall be found a written in the book.” Although God's people are to be delivered in the time of trouble that immediately precedes the coming of the Lord, so that no evil shall befall them, nor any plague come nigh their dwelling (Ps. xci.), yet it is impossible that they should behold and see the reward of the wicked without themselves being filled with fear and trembling; for it is no small thing when God arises. Therefore He says:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.7

“Fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the Lord: neither be dismayed, O Israel; for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee; though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, but will I not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.” Jeremiah 30:10, 11. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.8

“Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be builded on her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and the voice of them that make merry; and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before Ma, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governors shall, proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me; for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the Lord. And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God. Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind (a sweeping tempest, R.V.); it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return until He have done it, and until He have performed the intents of His heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.” Verses 18-24. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.9

RANSOMED FROM THE GRAVE

“At, the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus saith the Lord, the people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to eat. The Lord hath appeared of old unto Me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:1-3. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.10

“Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles, afar off, and say; He that scattered Israel shall gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the Lord hath ransomed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat; and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd, and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” Verses 10-13. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 324.11

“Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the Lord: Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.” Verses 15-17. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.1

Here we have another sure guide as to where we are, or rather, as to the time with which the prophecy deals. We know that this prophecy was partly fulfilled when Herod slew the babes of Bethlehem. Matthew 2:16-18. But the Lord says to the mourners, that the last ones shall come from the land of the enemy (See 1 Corinthians 15:36) to their own border. Thus we see again that it is only by the resurrection of the dead that Israel's captivity is to be turned, and they be gathered to their own land; and we note that, the time of which we are now reading in Jeremiah is the time when God turns the captivity of His people. So, speaking of this same period, the prophet continues:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.2

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the sped of man, and with the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to afflict: so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the Lord. In these days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall. be set, on edge.” Verses 27-30. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.3

THE NEW COVENANT

From the connection, there cannot be the slightest doubt as to what time is here referred to; it is the time of the punishment of the wicked, and the reward of the righteous; the time when God's people are to be for ever delivered from all wickedness and oppression, and to be established in the land, to possess it to all eternity in peace and righteousness. So, still speaking of that same time, the prophet proceeds:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.4

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever. Thus saith the Lord: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed or Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:31-37. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.5

Here we have the conclusion of the whole matter. With the making of the new covenant, the days of exile and captivity are ended, and God's people dwell in His unveiled presence for evermore. That covenant remains yet to be made; yet by living faith all its blessings may now be enjoyed, even as the power of the resurrection, by which God's people are finally established in their own land, is the power by which they are prepared for that glorious day. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.6

THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS

We have long since in this study of the Promises to Israel seen why, and under what circumstances, the old covenant was made, when Israel stood at the base of Sinai. That is called the first or, old covenant, not because there was no covenant that preceded it, but because it was, the first that was made “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”—with the whole house of Israel as such. The covenant with Abraham was more than four hundred years earlier, and it embraced everything that God can possibly bestow upon any people. It is by virtue of that covenant with Abraham, confirmed by God's oath, that we now come with boldness to the throne of grace, and find strong consolation in all our trials. Hebrews 6:18-20. All the faithful are children of Abraham. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.7

But Israel of old proved unfaithful, and forgot or despised the everlasting covenant made with Abraham. They wished to walk by sight, and not by faith. They trusted in themselves, rather than in God. In the test, when God reminded them of His covenant with Abraham, and as a help to their faith in the power of His promise, reminded them of what He had already done for them, they presumptuously took upon themselves the responsibility of their own salvation and entered into a covenant from which nothing but bondage and death could come. God, however, who abides faithful, even though men believe not, used even this as an object lesson. From the shadow they could learn of the reality; even their bondage should contain a prophecy and promise of freedom. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.8

WHEN THE NEW COVENANT WILL BE ENTERED INTO

God does not leave His people in the place where their own folly has placed them. So He promised a new covenant. Not that anything was lacking in the covenant made with Abraham, but He would make the same covenant with the whole people of Israel, as a nation. This promise of the new covenant still holds good, for by the oath of God, and by His own sacrifice has Jesus been made “surety of a better covenant.” Hebrews 7:22. So surely as Jesus died and rose again, and by the power of that death and resurrection, will all Israel be gathered, and the new, the everlasting covenant be established with them, the righteous nation that keepeth the truth. The covenant will be made with none but Israel, yet none need be left out, for whoever will, may come. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.9

When the first covenant was made with all Israel, God came with all the angels; the trumpet of God sounded, and His voice shook the earth as the law was spoken. So when the new covenant shall be made, all Israel will be present, there will be none who are not gathered,-“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence” (Psalm 50:3); “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), “in the glory of His Father, and all the holy angels with Him.” Matthew 16:2; 25:31. His voice shook the earth, but this time it will shake not only this earth, but heaven also. Thus will the whole universe be a partaker in this grand consummation, and the Israel of God all thus be joined to “the whole family in heaven.” By the cross of Christ, “the blood of the everlasting covenant,“ is God's throne established; and that which saves the lost of earth is the pledge of the eternal safety of the unfallen beings. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 325.10

THE FIRST DOMINION RESTORED

One lesson that must be pointed out in closing is that the new covenant brings in nothing new, except the new earth, and that is that which was from the beginning. The men with whom it is made will have already been made new in Christ. The first dominion will be restored. Let no one therefore think to excuse himself from keeping the commandments of God, by saying that he is under the new covenant. No, if he is in Christ, then is he in (not under) the covenant with Abraham, and as a child of Abraham, an heir with Christ, he has hope in the new covenant, of which Christ is surety. Whoever does not acknowledge himself to be of the generation of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in fellowship with Moses, David, and the prophets, has no ground for hope in the new covenant. And whoever rejoices in the promises of the new covenant, the blessings of which the Holy Spirit even now makes real, must remember that it is the virtue of the new covenant that the law of God is put into our hearts. The old covenant brought nobody to the obedience of that law, but the new covenant makes it universal, so that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Therefore, PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.1

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.2

“For of Him and through Him, and, to Him are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.3

“Still Out in the Cold” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

After suffering the rebuff at the hands of Rome, the Anglican Catholics decided to cover their failure by making friends with Russia. “As Paul turned from the unbelieving Jews to the receptive Gentiles, so we,“ said the Church Times, “shall turn from the unsympathetic Roman to the Greek. So the Archbishop of York has been visiting Russia as the official representative of the Church of England. Moscow papers have described how the Archbishop “reverently adored the relics of the Moscow saints,“ crossed himself, and otherwise showed that Anglicanism could be as pagan as the intolerant and persecuting Greek Church. But, alas for reunionist dreams, it is said that the efforts to establish ecclesiastical brotherhood have failed. “The Russian official organ of the Holy Synod has published a significant manifesto, in which full concurrence is expressed with the Papal decision, against the validity of Anglican orders.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.4

“Political Religion” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

The use made of religion by Governments which have a department of religion was illustrated a few weeks ago in connection with the Gr?co-Turkish war. At a time when the Porte had its hands full in forcing the passes into Thessaly, Bulgaria suddenly demanded permission to appoint several bishops in Macedonia, threatening to mobilise her army in case of refusal. Bulgaria has well known political designs on Macedonia, which now bars her way to the sea. This great interest in the religious condition of the Slavs of a few political agents, who should be working for Bulgarian interests to serve the master that appoints them, and they usually do so. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.5

“Melody that Heaven Hears” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

The higher degree of excellence that may be obtained in music the better, as ability to produce melody and the ear to recognise it are gifts of God, to be cultivated and used in His service. Therefore the heart must be in it; or it becomes but a travesty of sacred things. The song of praise to God that does not come from the heart is as much a mockery as the prayer that is spoken merely with the lips to be heard of men. The melody that Heaven hears is made in the heart. Ephesians 5:19. This in nowise belittles the importance of being able to express melody by the lips, but it is an encouragement to those of us who have no special gift of musical ability, or have to repent of the lack of it through failure to cultivate it. The “new song” is learned by heart experiences, and God hears the melody of heart praise even when the lips make no sound. The following old monkish legend has a lesson for these days when church music so frequently strains after theatrical effect:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.6

“There was once a band of poor men who had good voices but no idea of music, and so they were filled with regret because their service was so imperfect. One day there came to them one who had spent his whole life with music and musicians, one who understood all possible variations of tones and the relations between them. He pointed out to these humble monks the imperfections in their musical service, and he made them ashamed. They asked him to sing for them, and he sang, and it seemed to them that they had never heard anything so grand. But that night a voice asked the abbott why they had forgotten their evening song. The old man replied that they had not forgotten it; on the contrary, they had had a most magnificent service. ‘Magnificent it may have been,’ said the voice, ‘but not one sound of worship has entered heaven this night.’” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.7

“The Wailing Place” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

What is said to be a portion of the old foundation wall of the Temple at Jerusalem, is still standing. A writer in the Daily Mail describes the scene to be witnessed alongside this relic of ancient glory and memorial of the final apostasy of the Jewish nation. What these people now need is the Gospel of the Jerusalem which is above, to which Abraham, the father of God's true Israel looked. Too many of those who are trying to help the Jews are, like them, looking to the Jerusalem below for the fulfilment of the promise to the fathers. This writer says:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.8

A narrow lane, scarcely more than 10 ft. wide, runs at the base of the old wall, and here, for a space of about 200 ft., come the Jews to wail over the loss of their holy city on Fridays, and upon days just preceding any of their great feasts or fasts, as for instance, the Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles. Nominally they come to lament and pray, and read their religious books, and many of them do all these things; but many more of them come for quite a different purpose, and think less of the loss of Jerusalem than of gain to themselves, the time being mostly devoted to barter and sale, and retailing the latest gossip of the quarter. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.9

Imagine a long stretch of wall, 50 ft. high, composed of great grey stones, each many feet in length, and evidently of great thickness; grass and weeds growing between the chinks at the top, and the lower portions worn smooth by the long continued pressing of hands and lips to its once hard and rough surface. Close to this wall with their faces almost touching, stand men and women closely packed together in a long line, praying and wailing, their faces anxious, their eyes filled with tears. Old men and youths, grey-beards and striplings, young girls and shriveled old women, crowd each other and for hours this singular ceremony continues. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 326.10

Moving about among the mourners and keeping a particular look-out for strangers, whom they regard as their legitimate prey, are beggars-the lame, the halt, and the blind-some with an excuse for asking alms and others with none, except that it was the easiest way to make a living. There are, however, 6,000 professional beggars in Jerusalem, and the field is so crowded that it is no longer possible for any one to make a decent living by begging in the holy city. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 327.1

The long, high wall, the groups of picturesque men and women, the life, the motion, the shifting colour, the many changes of the scene will always be remembered, but only as a show; never as a religious ceremonial to impress the mind and heart with its recollection, for long habit has taken away what seriousness the custom might once have had. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 327.2

“A Nauseous Intoxicant” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

It is not the taste or the palate that calls for intoxicants. The craving is that of the nerves which have been enslaved and which rule over the will and the man. When once the drink habit is established it may be satisfied by that which would be altogether nauseous to the taste of a man who was free and in his right mind. The disgusting fruits of the stimulant habit may be seen in the ways which are taken in some quarters to supply a cheap intoxicant. The British Medical Journal says:— PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.1

“Attention has recently been drawn to the fact that much of the drunkenness amongst the extremely poor inhabitants of Edinburgh is caused by the consumption of a mixture of methylated spirit with paraffin oil. It appears that a certain proportion of the newly distilled whisky kept in bond undergoes decomposition, and it is thus rendered unfit for consumption. This material is treated with methyl, removed from bond, and is sold by retail dealers for use in furniture polishing and other similar occupations. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.2

“It was found, however, that the addition of methyl did not deter the poorer workmen from drinking the spirit, and consequently the authorities decided to add a small quantity of naphtha or paraffin oil. In spite of its nauseating character, however, this mixture, popularly known as ‘dynamite,’ is very widely consumed, and in the poor closes of the city one may see, in the words of the report, ‘groups of men and women, in a more or less hopelessly intoxicated condition, a bottle of “dynamite” in one hand and a corn-beef can in the other from which they continued to drink the liquid diluted with water from a neighbouring well.’ PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.3

“It can hardly be supposed that the liquor is relished, or that any amount of indulgence would lead to an acquired taste; the object is simply to get drunk, and the compound enables this end to be attained quickly and cheaply, for it is six or eight times less expensive than whisky. The injurious effects arising from this pernicious habit are not dwelt upon, but although the small quantities of methyl and naphtha may give rise to no discomfort to those accustomed to their use, yet the impure and raw spirit which is the basis of the compound must eventually work havoc, especially upon the nervous system. It will be remembered that ether drunkenness has become very prevalent in Tyrone and the North of Ireland, but our detailed exposure of the widespread practice, and the discovery that it was a fraud on the Revenue, led to its prompt suppression at the instance of the Treasury. A similar intervention might be equally useful here.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.4

“Items of Interest” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

-There are thirty-two Roman Catholic peers. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.5

-It is said that 70,000 men are at work on the great Siberian railway, which is expected to be completed in four years. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.6

-A deadly fever is reported to be raging in parts of the Transvaal, and the natives of Gouthansberg are said to be dying “like flies” from famine. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.7

-Only seventy years have elapsed since the first railway in the world was finished. During that comparatively brief period 400,000 miles have been constructed. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.8

-The new Russian census gives the total population of the empire as 129,911,000, of whom 64,616,280 are men. St. Petersburg has a population of 1,267,000. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.9

-A work in one hundred volumes, containing the names of all animals known and described, is soon to be published in Germany. There are 980,000 animals known. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.10

-The Salvation Army collection during their self-denial week this year has yielded ?25,000 in the United Kingdom. They expect the returns from abroad will be as much more. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.11

-The largest pin factory in the world is in Birmingham. 97,000,000 pins are made there every working day. About 10,003,000 of pins are made daily by other factories in England. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.12

-The bicycle has something to its credit if the complaints of publishers of novels in Francis are well-founded. They say that so many people now spend their leisure in cycling that novel-reading is decreasing. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.13

-In the discussion in the House of Lords of the prevalence of vice-produced disease in the Indian army the War Secretary said that of 70,000 British soldiers in India In 1894, 20,000 had been affected by this disease. And of 19,000 men who returned annually from India to this country only about 6,000 were altogether oleos from disease. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.14

-In all countries it is estimated that there are 1,000,000 blind people. The number is highest in proportion to the population in Russia and Egypt. In Egypt this is ascribed to the irritation of the eyes by drifting sand, and in northern Russia, where the number of blind is most numerous, it is thought to be due to badly ventilated huts of the peasantry and to the flat aspect of the country. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.15

-A missionary lately returned from the Upper Congo tells stories of the most revolting cruelty habitually practised upon the natives by the directors of the Congo Free State. Natives of cannibal tribes are set over districts with orders to kill or cut off the hands of natives who fail to bring in sufficient rubber. The missionary himself had seen these things going on. He says, “These things are not altogether the fault of the officers; they are due to the iniquitous system. The curse of the Congo is its forced labour and its inevitable accompaniments. The system of trade authorised by the Government is simply one of wholesale robbery, extortion, slavery, and murder.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 334.16

“Back Page” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

A French colonial paper says that it is expected that the ex-Queen of Madagascar will soon be received into the Catholic Church. She is said to hope in this way to regain favour with the French Government. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.1

Not even the correspondents whose business it is to describe war dare attempt to tell its horrors. “The scene in the temporary hospital at Domoko,“ said Reuter's Correspondent last week, after the final battle, “was almost beyond description, and had better be left undescribed; and the sum of agony endured by the wounded in their conveyance across the Furka and Lamia Passes can only be reckoned by the recording angel.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.2

It is customary for religious newspapers and even pulpits to devote considerable time to literary criticisms. Perhaps it is this that has led to much criticism of the Apostle Paul of late, because he showed “no appreciation of art” and a meagre knowledge of Greek literature and philosophy it is not strange that the apostle had only warnings to give concerning them. He knew that the immoral lives of the cultured of the day were but the fruits of their philosophy, which is even to-day studied in the colleges as “moral philosophy.” But aside from this, think of the Apostle Paul who knew God, had seen the Lord Jesus and the paradise of God, stopping to pass criticisms on current art and literature! While the Holy Spirit wrote the Word, it was by men who knew the Lord. The Word is written for sinners who need a Saviour from sin and wrath to come. The Gospel is not something to interest people, but to save them. The Apostle Paul's message for the last days, when people with itching ears demand pastors who can tickle their ears with “philosophy and vain deceit,“ is, “Preach the Word.” PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.3

It is to be hoped that none will feel like complaining because there is so much quoted from the Bible in the article this week in “The Gathering of Israel.” If any feel so inclined, let them reflect that it is an indication that they prefer the word of man to the word of God. If all people were as willing to read God's own Word as they ought to be; there would be no need of such papers as PRESENT TRUTH, whose only object is to preach the Word. There are doubtless very many professed Christians who talk about the blessings and privileges of the new covenant, and who boast of being under it, who have never read the Scriptures in connection with which it is promised. Aside from the help in the subject immediately before us, we hope that this article may be an object lesson, showing the value of carefully connected reading of the Bible. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.4

This century has been the century of missions; and especially during the last sixty years-a period often mentioned in the recent annual meetings of missionary societies, in this Jubilee year-Protestant missions have scattered the Word abroad. This is a significant development in this time when prophecy shows the coming of the Lord to be at hand, for the word of the Lord is, “This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Whatever scatters abroad the Word is preparing the way for the coming of Christ. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.5

When protest on principle is made against war, people often say, “But how would governments maintain themselves without fighting?” Of course they cannot exist without warring, for Satan is “the god of this world” and where he is there will always be envy and strife and every evil work. The children of this world will fight in the quarrels of the kingdoms of this world, because swayed in their sympathies by the spirit of the god of this world. But the Christian belongs to the Lord's service. His kingdom is not of this world, and hence His servants do not fight. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.6

“‘Haven’t Time’” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

“Haven't Time.” -Have you no time to think of God, to seek Him, to study His Word, and to learn of Him?” “Are there not twelve hours in the a day”—yes, in your day? Is it not as long as any other person's day? “From him that hath not,“ said the Saviour, “shall be taken away even that which he hath.” If you have no time now, you will have none hereafter. None are so short of time as those who have no time to prepare for eternity. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.7

“Power, But Whose Power” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

Power, But Whose Power? -The Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16. The introduction or substitution of any other power is a perversion of the Gospel. Power is necessary, but it must be Divine and not human power. There is no Gospel where there is no power to save, and there is in man no power to save. Therefore the connection of religion with earthly powers is the destruction of the Gospel. The life is in the power, and so, although a body of men may hold the Gospel in its purity and perfection, the moment they attempt to unite that with secular power, that moment the vitality leaves it, for there is no power in man. “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him; for the redemption of their soul is costly, and it must be let alone for ever.” Psalm 49:6-8, R.V. “Power belongeth unto God.” Psalm 62:11. Therefore it is that only to Him belongeth the Gospel. Even the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25. Concerning His Gospel God says to all earthly powers “Hands off!” It “must be let alone for ever.” God alone can redeem. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.8

“Darkest Christendom” The Present Truth, 13, 21.

E. J. Waggoner

Darkest Christendom .—Some journals which, before the war, were enthusiastic in praise of the fighting spirit of the Greek troops and their preparedness for war, now that disaster has followed the Greek arms call the Turks “hereditary man slayers.” They are so. Mohammedanism, like its author, was a murderer from the beginning. But if the victory had been on the other side, and the slaughtering had been done by Greek troops, how different would have been the comments. Skill in slaying would not have been considered a reproach. Of a truth Christendom considers that “Christians” have the best right to kill. Missionaries go to heathen tribes to teach them to stop fighting one another and to follow Christ. Then as soon as they are converted they must learn that it is perfectly proper to fight and kill if only they do it in a civilised and “Christian” way. Verily there is need of preaching the Gospel to Christendom in order that men may know what Christianity is. PTUK May 27, 1897, page 336.9