Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/418

 Jews, and  the  Old  Testament  revelation  had  become  an  essential  part of their  existence,  that  they  were  ready  for  a further  and  more  perfect revelation. Then, and  not  till  then,  the  world  was  prepared  for  the coming of  the  Only-Begotten  of  the  Father  to  be  its  Redeemer.

3. As  time  went  on,  the  promises  concerning  the  Redeemer  became more  and  more  explicit. These promises  were  conveyed  partly in prophecies,  partly  by  types. Let us  then  recall  the  prophecies  which have been  mentioned:  1)  that  made  to  Adam  and  Eve  after  the  Fall,

2) and  3)  made  to  Abraham,  4)  and  5)  made  through  Jacob,  6)  through Balaam,  7)  through  the  dying  Moses,  8)  through  David,  9)  through  Isaias, 10) through  Jeremias,  1 1)  through  Ezechiel,  1 2)  through  Daniel,  13)  through Aggeus, 14)  through  Zacharias,  and  15)  through  Malachias. The people whom we  have  studied  as  types  of  the  Messias  are:  1)  Adam,  2)  Abel, 3) Noe,  4)  Melchisedech,  5)  Isaac,  6)  Joseph,  7)  Job,  8)  Moses,  9)  Josue, 10)  Gedeon,  11)  Samson,  12)  David,  13)  Solomon,  14)  Elias,  and 15) Jonas.  The  objects  to  which  our  attention  has  been  directed  as types  are:  the  Tree  of  Life;  the  sacrifice  of  Melchisedech; the  paschal lamb;  the  manna;  the  sacrifices  of  the  Old  Law;  the  brazen  serpent  &amp;c. The  prophecy  uttered  by  Malachias  was  the  last  one  vouchsafed,  because from  that  time  forward  the  Jews,  being  confirmed  in  their  own faith,  were  employed  by  God  to  spread  His  revelation  among  the Gentiles.

4. The  pagan  world  was  on  the  brink  of  an  abyss. It had  learnt by its  own  experience  what  man  comes  to,  when  he  has  forsaken  God. The ancient  world  had  made  great  progress  in  the  arts  and  sciences, but it  found  no  satisfaction  in  them,  because  its  moral  and  social condition was  deplorable. The truth,  which  raises  man,  and  delivers him from  all  uncertainty,  was  lacking  to  this  world  which  had  cast  off its God. Its best  and  most  learned  men  were  fully  aware  of  the  folly of paganism,  but  this  conviction  only  led  them  to  doubt  everything; as we  can  see,  for  example,  by  Pilate’s  question:  “What  is  truth?”  This state of  doubt  did  not  help  them  to  arrive  at  truth,  for  truth  can  only be found  in  God. Moreover, grace  was  wanting  to  them, — that  grace which enables  man  to  will  and  to  do  what  is  right,  which  puts  an  end to the  disorders  of  human  nature,  and  brings  peace  to  the  restless heart of  man. When the  pagan  world  at  length  saw  what  was  lacking to it,  and  that  no  help  could  come  to  it  except  from  heaven,  then  it was  that  God  dispersed  the  Jews  into  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  by their  means  spread  abroad  the  knowledge  of  the  living  and  true  God, and the  hope  of  the  Redeemer. Thus, four  thousand  years  after  the