Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/28

 t? The Plan of the Agfs.

ancy, until then, had been that God would bring a deliv- erer to save Israel from their enemies, and to exalt them as the chief nation of the earth, in which position of power and influence God would use them as his agency for blessing all the families of the earth. The offer given them of heir- ship in the kingdom of God was so different, in the con- ditions demanded, from what they had expe&ed, and the prospers of the class being seletfed ever attaining the greatness promised were, outwardly and humanly consid- ered, so improbable, that all but the few were thereby blinded to the message. And their blindness and hostility to it were naturally increased when, in the process of God's plan, the due time came for extending the message, and making the invitation to share in the promised Kingdom applicable to every creature under heaven who should by the exercise of faith be reckoned a child of faithful Abra- ham and an heir of fche promise made to him*

But when ths gospel which Jesus taught came to be under- stood after Pentecost, it was seen by the Church that the blessings for the world were to be of an enduring chara&er, and that for the accomplishment of this purpose the King- dom would be spiritual, and composed of Israelites indeed, a " little flock" seleAed from among both Jews and Gen- tiles to be exalted to spiritual nature and power. Hence we read that Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Tim. i : 10.) And since Jesus' day yet more light shines, as he foretold it would, saying, " I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now : how- beit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth, , . and he will show you things to come." John 16: 12, 13.

There came a time, however, after the apostles fell asleep, when the majority of the Church began to negledi the lamp, and to look to human teachers for leading ; and the teach-

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