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

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

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legendary basis could be assigned to <strong>the</strong> narrative ;<br />

while on <strong>the</strong> second will depend, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />

account can be truthfully charged with an<br />

accommodation on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> QoA to <strong>the</strong><br />

superstitions <strong>and</strong> errors <strong>of</strong> astrology. For, if <strong>the</strong><br />

whole was extra-natural, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> sidereal<br />

appearance specially produced in order to meet<br />

<strong>the</strong> astrological views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Magi, it would not be<br />

a sufficient answer to <strong>the</strong> difficulty, ' that great<br />

catastrophes <strong>and</strong> unusual phenomena in nature have<br />

synchronised in a remarkable manner with great<br />

events in human history.' * On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, if <strong>the</strong><br />

sidereal appearance was not <strong>of</strong> supernatural<br />

origin, <strong>and</strong> would equally have taken place<br />

whe<strong>the</strong>r or not <strong>the</strong>re had been Magi to direct to<br />

Bethlehem, <strong>the</strong> difficulty is not only entirely<br />

removed, but <strong>the</strong> narrative afibrds ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />

instance, alike <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> condescension <strong>of</strong> God to <strong>the</strong><br />

lower st<strong>and</strong>point <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Magi, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> His wisdom<br />

<strong>and</strong> goodness in <strong>the</strong> combination <strong>of</strong> circumstances.<br />

As regards <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> Jewish expectancy,<br />

sufficient has been said in <strong>the</strong> preceding pages, to

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