Esoteric V10: July 1896 - Iapsop.com

206 GoD's REVEALED "TILL. [Nov£'mber
And their pastors will, in their ignorance, only add darkness
to darkness: " The Priests said not, Where is the Lord ? and
they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed
against me' .Ter. 11. 8. "For the pastors are become
brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall
not prosper." Jer. x. 21. "Many pastors have destroyed my
vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have
made my pleasant portion a desolate wildernesR. They have
made it desolate, desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land
is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart." Jer. XII.
10, 11.
Not only will the pastors be blind leaders of the blind, but
those who perceive that God's people are Rtill wandering, instead
of leading them to tl1e truth, will deceive them as to the
cause of their sorrows : "Thy prophets have seen vain and
fooliRh things for thee: and they have not discovered thine integrity,
to tu1·n away thy captivity: but have s~n for thee
false burdens and causes of banishment." Lam. n. I4.
It is said of this people when they do turn and renew tlwir
covenant and learn to fear God, •• Then shall ye return, and
discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him
that serveth God and him that serveth him not." Mal. 11. 18.
ThuR we see that they will be so blinded that they will nnt
be ahle to distinguish a God-fearing man from a sinner, not
knowing right from wrong; and we see, moreover, that, when
they return, teachers will be given them who know the tr·uth.
"Turn, 0 backsliding children, Raith the Lord; for I am
married unto you: and I will take yon one of a city, and two
of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: and I will give you
pa.'ltors according to mine heart, which shall feed yon ·with
knowledge and understanding." Jer. III. 14, 15.
Ther·e will, then, be but one her·e and anotl1er there who will
return. Comparatively few in the world are yet able to tum to
God wholly, for few are able to receive the truth. .JesuR said
of his teaching concerning the kingdom, "He that is able to
receive it, let him receive it." Matt. XIX. 12.
(To be continued.)
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