the desire of ages-第5章
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dience to the law of God。 But with too many of the people obedience was not prompted by love。 The motive was selfish。 They rendered outward service to God
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as the means of attaining to national greatness。 They did not become the light of the world； but shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation to idolatry。 In the instruction given through Moses； God had placed restrictions upon their association with idolaters； but this teaching had been misinterpreted。 It was intended to prevent them from conforming to the practices of the heathen。 But it was used to build up a wall of separation between Israel and all other nations。 The Jews looked upon Jerusalem as their heaven； and they were actually jealous lest the Lord should show mercy to the Gentiles。
After the return from Babylon； much attention was given to religious instruction。 All over the country； synagogues were erected； where the law was expounded by the priests and scribes。 And schools were established； which； together with the arts and sciences； professed to teach the principles of righteousness。 But these agencies became corrupted。 During the captivity； many of the people had received heathen ideas and customs； and these were brought into their religious service。 In many things they conformed to the practices of idolaters。
As they departed from God； the Jews in a great degree lost sight of the teaching of the ritual service。 That service had been instituted by Christ Himself。 In every part it was a symbol of Him； and it had been full of vitality and spiritual beauty。 But the Jews lost the spiritual life from their ceremonies； and clung to the dead forms。 They trusted to the sacrifices and ordinances themselves； instead of resting upon Him to whom they pointed。 In order to supply the place of that which they had lost； the priests and rabbis multiplied requirements of their own； and the more rigid they grew； the less of the love of God was manifested。 They measured their holiness by the multitude of their ceremonies； while their hearts were filled with pride and hypocrisy。
With all their minute and burdensome injunctions； it was an impossibility to keep the law。 Those who desired to serve God； and who tried to observe the rabbinical precepts； toiled under a heavy burden。 They could find no rest from the accusings of a troubled conscience。 Thus Satan worked to discourage the people； to lower their conception of the character of God； and to bring the faith of Israel into contempt。 He hoped to establish the claim put forth when he rebelled in heaven；that the requirements of God were unjust； and could not be obeyed。 Even Israel； he declared； did not keep the law。
While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah； they had no true
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conception of His mission。 They did not seek redemption from sin； but deliverance from the Romans。 They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror； to break the oppressor's power； and exalt Israel to universal dominion。 Thus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour。
At the time of the birth of Christ the nation was chafing under the rule of her foreign masters； and racked with internal strife。 The Jews had been permitted to maintain the form of a separate government； but nothing could disguise the fact that they were under the Roman yoke； or reconcile them to the restriction of their power。 The Romans claimed the right of appointing and removing the high priest； and the office was often secured by fraud； bribery； and even murder。 Thus the priesthood became more and more corrupt。 Yet the priests still possessed great power； and they employed it for selfish and mercenary ends。 The people were subjected to their merciless demands； and were also heavily taxed by the Romans。 This state of affairs caused widespread discontent。 Popular outbreaks were frequent。 Greed and violence； distrust and spiritual apathy； were eating out the very heart of the nation。
Hatred of the Romans； and national and spiritual pride； led the Jews still to adhere rigorously to their forms of worship。 The priests tried to maintain a reputation for sanctity by scrupulous attention to the ceremonies of religion。 The people； in their darkness and oppression； and the rulers； thirsting for power； longed for the coming of One who would vanquish their enemies and restore the kingdom to Israel。 They had studied the prophecies； but without spiritual insight。 Thus they overlooked those scriptures that point to the humiliation of Christ's first advent； and misapplied those that speak of the glory of His second coming。 Pride obscured their vision。 They interpreted prophecy in accordance with their selfish desires。
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Chapter 3
〃The Fullness of the Time〃
〃When the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son； 。 。 。 to redeem them that were under the law； that we might receive the adoption of sons。〃 Gal。 4：4； 5。
The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden。 When Adam and Eve first heard the promise； they looked for its speedy fulfillment。 They joyfully welcomed their first…born son； hoping that he might be the Deliverer。 But the fulfillment of the promise tarried。 Those who first received it died without the sight。 From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets； keeping alive the hope of His appearing； and yet He came not。 The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent； but not all rightly interpreted the message。 Century after century passed away； the voices of the prophets ceased。 The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel； and many were ready to exclaim； 〃The days are prolonged； and every vision faileth。〃 Ezek。 12：22。
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But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path； God's purposes know no haste and no delay。 Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace； God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt； and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years。 〃Afterward；〃 He said； 〃shall they come out with great substance。〃 Gen。 15：14。 Against that word； all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire battled in vain。 On 〃the self…same day〃 appointed in the divine promise； 〃it came to pass； that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt。〃 Ex。 12：41。 So in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined。 When the great clock of time pointed to that hour； Jesus was born in Bethlehem。
〃When the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son。〃 Providence had directed the movements of nations； and the tide of human impulse and influence； until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer。 The nations were united under one government。 One language was widely spoken； and was everywhere recognized as the language of literature。 From all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts。 As these returned to the places of their sojourn； they could spread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah's coming。
At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people。 Men were weary of pageant and fable。 They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart。 While the light of truth seemed to have departed from among men； there were souls who were looking for light； and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow。 They were thirsting for a knowledge of the living God； for some assurance of a life beyond the grave。
As the Jews had departed from God； faith had grown dim； and hope had well…nigh ceased to illuminate the future。 The words of the prophets were uncomprehended。 To the masses of the people； death was a dread mystery； beyond was uncertainty and gloom。 It was not alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem； but the cry from the great heart of humanity； that was borne to the prophet across the centuries；the voice heard in Ramah； 〃lamentation； and weeping； and great mourning； Rachel weeping for her children； and would not be comforted； because they are not。〃 Matt。 2：18。 In 〃the region and
