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 in Judaea  when  the  Messias,  so  long  promised,  appeared  on  earth in human  form,  even  Christ  the  Lord,  to  whom  be  honour  and glory for  ever  and  ever.

A retrospect by  which  we  can  recognise  God’s  wisdom  in  the guidance of  mankind:

1. Even  in  Paradise  God  revealed  Himself  to  man,  and  promised a Redeemer. But the  greater  number  of  Adam’s  descendants  turned away from  God,  and  sank  so  low  that  their  reason  was  obscured  and they lost  all  power  of  understanding  even  that  natural  religion  which was taught  to  them  by  the  visible  creation,  and  the  voice  of  their  own consciences. Nevertheless, in  all  pagan  religions,  there  were  preserved some remains  of  the  original  revelation,  such  as  the  memory  of  a former and happier  state,  the  consciousness  of  the  debt  of  sin  hanging  over the human  race,  the  sense  of  the  necessity  of  reconciliation  with  an offended  God,  the  dim  expectation  of  a Redeemer,  and  of  a future  and better state.

2. God  revealed  Himself  supernaturally  to  the  people  of  Israel,  in order  to  preserve  in  them  belief  in  the  true  God  and  in  the  future Redeemer, and  through  them  to  spread  abroad  this  belief  among  the Gentiles. However, the  inclination  towards  idolatry  was  so  strong  in the  chosen  people  that  it  was  many  centuries  before  God,  by  repeated revelations and  visitations,  could  wean  them  from  it. Man is  very  ready to make  his  own  god,  that  is,  to  make  out  God  to  be  such  as  his  own inclinations lead  him  to  wish  Him  to  be. Instead of  moulding  his  own inclinations, will  and  actions  to  accord  with  God’s  almighty  will,  he seeks  to  accommodate  God  and  His  attributes  to  his  own  desires. It was not  until  paganism  was  eradicated  from  the  religious  belief  of  the