Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/110

 to God only; but write at the bottom of your list, The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin " and grasping the inkstand on his table he threw it at the devil, who soon fled, the memorial of it being left in the ink-splash on the wall.

We are always reminded of this story when reading anti-Semitic literature, or listening to accusations and dis paragements of the Jewish people. No too-black a picture can ever be drawn of Israel's backslidings and apostasies; no human lips can ever sufficiently describe the heinousness of Israel's sins and transgressions. All that can therefore be said against their past or their present is true. But when you have read through your long indictment against Israel, write at the bottom of your list words such as these:

"Thus saith Jehovah, If heaven above can be measured, and the foundation of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith Jehovah" (Jer. xxxi. 37); or words taken from the very chapter which foretells in advance Israel's many sins and apostasies, and the terrible calamities which should come upon them in consequence: " And yet, for all ttiat, I will not cast them away, neither will I ablior them, to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them, for I am Jelwvah, their God" (Lev. xxvi. 44). No, "Jehovah will not forsake His people, for His great Name's sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you His people" in which faithfulness of the God of Israel to the nation which He has chosen for His own inheritance, in spite of all its unworthiness, you may see a picture, dear reader, of His faith fulness to you, and a pledge of your eternal safety in Christ.

Secondly, the Angel of Jehovah bases his answer to Satan's accusations on the ground of the sufferings in punishment of their sins which Israel has already endured.

"Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? " This same figure, with one slight variation, is found in Amos iv. n, and is used (as Hengstenberg well explains) to " denote the occurrence of great misfortune, which, however, is prevented by the mercy of God from issuing in utter destruction."