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Show LIGHTS AXI) SHADOWS IX THE HOLT HXI). iTArTEAKS tint the attention of the world is being directed once more to the Jews, whose history for centuries his been so closely interwoven inter-woven with tho history of almost every other nation on tho earth. The persecutions they are suffering in Russia presents a problem which will have to be solved. Driven away from their homes; deprived, to a large extent, of their properly, what can they do? Most of tho countries in Kuropo are supposed ( be over-populated. Kngiisli laborers declare that they cannot allow the exiles to land in that country, compete com-pete with them, and lower their already small wages. Germany has, apparently, already too many Jews within her Inundarlcs, and would be glad to see some of them depart. The same feeling prevails In Austria. Switzerland is considered consid-ered to havo too many inhabitants already aud is glad to given early surplus of her own brave sons to other countries. America has pre-suaiably pre-suaiably not yet too large a poptila lion. Iit tlie dl-tance between ilusiia and America is great. Many of the exiles are too poor to emigrate so far, unless they rt-eelvo aid, and it is, therefore, likely enough that a great many of the unfortunate race will never be able to reach the shores over w Inch the great eagle spreads its protecting wings. But the hand of orpressicn is heavy. It presses hard on the people. Tho problem will have to be solved. It seems that for many of those Jews only one refuge is open, and that is their own beloved be-loved country, Palestine. At this time, it may prove interesting" inter-esting" to recall a few lassages of the ancient Jew! sh authors, in whicli their history is outlined with wonderful won-derful clearness. Before the Jews hid entered Canaan, while thsy w ere yet w an-dering an-dering In Uiey wilderness, their great leader and prophet, Moses, speaking in the name of Jehovah, says: If yo will not hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto mc; then I will walk contrary unto you abo in fury; and I will scatter you among tho heathen, and will draw out a swonl after you: and your laud shall bo desolate, and your cities wate. Then shall tho land enjoy her sabbaths. sab-baths. And upon them that are left alhe ofou, I will send a fahitncss into their hearts in tho lauds of their enemies; and tho sound of a shaken lear sha I chae them; and they shall flea as fleeing from a sword; aud they" shall fall, when nous pursucth. And yo shall ba e no ower to stand before be-fore your enemie. And ye shall parish among tho heathen, and the land of your cnem'c3 shall eat you np. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their Iniquity in your anamw 1 1, ii in ii iin.'i lan.ls. Ami yet (o when they 1-a in ll,o ln,i r IH l,l cast llimH neither w ill I abhor tliciti, iSHHI tbi in utterly and to breVjK nants with them: for IB thoirGod." Lcr.Sft; Zt-jj' S 'The I.onl shall ma jr thy land powder atiup hea eu shall it come Jr cntil thou be destroyi shall cause thec to bej thino enemies: thou i way against them, and lit. before them; and shalt lie into all tho kingdoms of IhoV.;.. And thou shalt gropo at noonday, as the blind gropcth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall savothee. The fruit ot thy land, and all thy labors, shall a nation which thou know est not eat up: and thou shalt lie onlv onnrosscd and cruoltfsl away. And thou shalt liecomc an astonishment, as-tonishment, a proverb, and a by onl, among all nations whither the Lord sliall lead thec. All thee curses shall, eomo upon thec, liccause thou hcark-cncsl.t hcark-cncsl.t not unto the oiceof the Lord thy G.id, to keep his commandments and his statutes which ho commanded thee. And they shall bo uponthco for a sign and for a w oudcr, and upon tby secd forc cr." Deut, 2S. 21 10. Through Jeremiah the Lord says: "1 will cauc them to lie removed into all kingdoms of the earth. I will ca'; on out of this land Into a land that ye know not, where I will not show ou fator." Jor. xv., 1, 11, 13. Kzekiel predicts: "They Khali cast tnlpir silcr in their streets, aud their gold shill bo re-moed: re-moed: their siltcr aud llieir gold shall not ho able to deliver them in tbeday of the wrath oftbo Lord." Ez. vii., la Isaiah has the following remarkable remark-able (Assage: "Make the heart of this people fat, ami mako their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they seo with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert and bo healed. Then said I. Ionl, how long? And ho answered. Until tho cities bo wasted without in-liahitant, in-liahitant, and tho houses without nun, and tho land bo utterly dcsobiU?, and tho Lord ha o removed men far an ay, and there bo a great forsaking In tho midt of tho land. jlsa. ii., 10-12. Orae more prediction' "The children of Israel sliall abide many diys .tuout a king, ami with-ou with-ou t a prince, aurt without a Kicrifice, and without a'n image, and without an ephol, and without toraphini." IIus. iii:l Tho meaning of this passage is that altlicugli the exiled Jews should have uo government of their own and no temple services, jet they should be preserved against idolatry. The cpbod was iart of the robe of Uie priest, and the tera-phlm tera-phlm are considered to refer to the Images U'cd for domestic worship, as among tho Catholics, for Instance. In-stance. And tho contrast is ail the mora striking In Busna, where cvtry orthodox house-owner has at least one cornerdedicated to a saint, before whoso imago lamps aro kept burning day and night. It is nut necessary to point out how remarkably every word hero quoted has been fulfilled. Tlie whole world cau testify to it. "What seest thou?" was the question put to Esekiei, as tilt sa incidents, then future, passed before his view. It was, indeed, a r,,lii,t- A-stto"' imp. "?. I WMMI irSiSuthgcouTrayriIIo ivorlUT Ikith the Greeks and the Romans considered Judex among their finest provinces. Ancient authors frequently fre-quently referred to its large number of towns and villages, the excellence of the climate, the fertility of the soil aud tho high degree of cultivation cultiva-tion it had reached, facts which aro sustained today by tho countless ruins which meet the eyes cf tlie traveler wherever he goes. Yet, it became devastated. Tlie most fertile plains have been uiitllled. The country has been overruu with wild hordes and spriukled with blood in inumerable battles. Where formerly were luxuriant lux-uriant gardens and vineyards are now only thistles. Many hills arc inaccessible on account of briars and cactus. Where once numerous roads led l'mru city to city are now only paths almost Impassable. Only a few years ago, there was in tlie whnlo country not a road, not a bridge, not even a wagon or a cart. So literally has the w ord of GoJ teen fulfilled upon that country and nation. na-tion. There is a great lesson in this. If the threats have been so terribly carried out, that not one iota has failed, may we not rest assured that the blessings which have been promised will also surely come? It I stated that the curses shall be takeu away aud that the Holy Land shall again be consecrated as of old. The following promises are as sure as were the divinn threats: "if their nncircuuicised hearts bo humbled, and they then accept of tho punishment of their Iniquity: Then will I remember my rmenant with Jacob, and al'o my covenant with Isaac, aud alo my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will reincmlrlho land." Lev. xxi, 11, ii. "I will cause their captitity tore-turn, tore-turn, and ha o mercy on Ihoui." Jor. xxili, 2G. "Afterward shall the thildren of Israel return, and seek (he Lord their God.and David their kin-; and sliall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days." IIos. lii, 3. Here are promises of a glorious restoration. There is no room for doubting that these will Us fulfilled, for the first rays of a glorious day have already dawned upon the Holy Laud. Tho blessings of heaven smile upon it. The rains are regular regu-lar auJ abundant. The soil is being gradually cleared and cuItivaUd by diligent hands and yields abundantly. abund-antly. Means of communication arcbeingestablished. The Turkish government has relaxed Its iron grip upon the country and tolerates strangers of all nationalities. The wealthy Jews are iu vesting capital in various enterprises there. Aud tho commotions among the nations drivo many of tho Jews to seek a refuge in that country, to escape the hand of the oppressor. Who cannot can-not seo that that tlie Almighty is working in order to bring about a speedy consummation of His plans and purposes? |
