29.03.2013 Views

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

heaven ?* Could anything, <strong>the</strong>n, be Pet. uu 7 higher<br />

than <strong>the</strong> peculiar calling <strong>of</strong> Israel, or better qualify<br />

<strong>the</strong>m for * ^^ ^ > ^ being <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> God ?<br />

It is necessary to transport oneself into this<br />

atmosphere to undei^ st<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> views entertained<br />

at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>, or to form any con* ception <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir ii^nite contrast in spirit to <strong>the</strong> new doctrine.<br />

<strong>The</strong> abhorrence, not unmingled with contempt, <strong>of</strong><br />

all Gentile ways, thoughts <strong>and</strong> associations; <strong>the</strong><br />

worship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Law; <strong>the</strong> selfrighteousness,<br />

<strong>and</strong> pride <strong>of</strong> descent, <strong>and</strong> still more<br />

<strong>of</strong> knowledge, become thus intelligible to us, <strong>and</strong>,<br />

equally so, <strong>the</strong> absolute antagonism to <strong>the</strong> claims<br />

<strong>of</strong> a <strong>Messiah</strong>, so unlike <strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

ideaL ELis first announcement might, indeed,<br />

excite hopes, soon felt to have been vain; <strong>and</strong> His<br />

miracles might startle for a time. But <strong>the</strong> boundary<br />

lines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom which He traced were<br />

essentially different from those which <strong>the</strong>y had<br />

fixed, <strong>and</strong> within which <strong>the</strong>y had arranged<br />

everything, alike for <strong>the</strong> present <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> future. Had<br />

He been content to step within <strong>the</strong>m, to complete

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!