THE greatest question in all the ages of the world's history and in all lands where the Jews have ever lived, a question above that of color or race is the Jewish question.

Politicians, some of them the mightiest and greatest men in the world, have tried to understand and answer it but have utterly and miserably failed in their vain attempts. Philosophers and scientists have theorized but have gotten no further in elucidating the mystery.

The Jewish people have been a puzzling enigma.

It was Hezel, one of the greatest philosophers and thinkers that Germany ever produced, a man who was intensely fond of showing the meaning of history, said, when he came to the history of the Jews: "It is a dark, troublesome enigma to me. I am not able to understand it. It does not fit in with any of our categories. It is a riddle." This explains the case exactly. To the man of the world and even to the Church of Christ to a large extent, Israel has been a "riddle" even as the Lord Jesus Christ has been a "riddle" to humanity. His name in Isaiah is "Pele"— "riddle"— "wonderful."

Alas, as the Lord Jesus has been a riddle to the world, so equally has Israel been to the Church! The Jewish people have suffered as no other people have, and practically at the hands of every nation under the sun. The most bitter sufferings were in the name of Christ, and at the hands of so-called Christians. So much for their physical endurance. Spiritually, she has been robbed of all her blessing, and stripped of all her glory. Even today she is being spoiled and mutilated by those who should be her best friends, those who have gained, so much from Him who came from among the Jews, and received salvation of which naturally the Jews are the human channels. Why this spoiling and wholesale robbery on the part of the Church? The great reason is that the Church has not yet understood her relation to her royal Head, and His relation to Israel. In other words, the Church has not comprehended scripturally the coming of Jesus. Both matters stand or fall together. Another reason for this indifferent attitude is the neglect of the study of God's Word. The Jews suffered more during the dark medieval ages than at any time since the fall of Jerusalem, and at this time the Bible was never more neglected. In fact it was a sealed book and many knew nothing of its existence, let alone its contents and teaching.

The result was that the church became thoroughly corrupt. What little of the Bible the people knew was second hand, — very often interpolations, grossly misunderstood.

Very little was heard of prophecy. The second advent was hardly ever mentioned; and when Ecclesiastics and Prelates were condescending enough to do so, it was looked upon as enigmatical. We see the result in attitude toward Israel. What happened is best seen in a quotation from a Jewish writer who wrote early in the sixteenth century, by name Samuel Usque.

The quotation I take from "The Shepherd of Israel," by David Baron: "To which part of the world shall I turn to find healing for my wound, forgetfulness for my pain, and comfort for my weary, unbearable sufferings?

"Among the riches and enjoyments of happy Asia I find myself a heavy laden pilgrim. In sunburnt Africa, rich with gold, I am a wretched, starving exile. And thou, Europe, my hell upon earth? What shall I say to thee? How shall I praise thee, warring Italy? Like a hungry lion hast thou fed on the torn flesh of my lambs! Ye corrupted French meadows, poisoned groves, did my lambs eat on you!

"Proud, barbaric, mountainous Germany, thou hast thrown down and broken to pieces my young men from the top of thine Alps! Ye sweet waters of England, bitter and salt draughts did my flocks drink of you! Hypocritical, cruel and bloodthirsty Spain, ravenous hungry wolves have devoured and are still devouring my flock in thy midst. It is the lot of every creature to experience change; but with Israel it is not so! His misfortune never changes, his sorrows never end."

What has altered the attitude of the world to the Jew?

1. The Church taking a greater interest in the study of the Scriptures, than in the middle ages.

2. The developments of philosophy, literature and science, in which Jews have largely figured, e. g., Spinoza, Mendelsohn, Herrschell, Disraeli, Karl Marks, and others.

3. The most important reason of all is the revival of the apostolic doctrine of Christ's second coming. The fire of hatred has not altogether ceased to burn, the flames are not apparent, but the inherent essense of the fire exists. In fact in some places, as in Russia, it still burns; and sparks are seen in other countries, as in Germany and recently in Wales.

This has all been by way of introduction, in studying our subject more closely, we will first lay down certain propositions. One is to rightly divide the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). Different dispensations should be kept clear and distinct from one another. Another is not to misappropriate Scripture. The apostle in I Cor. 10:32, divides the world up into three divisions — the Jew, the Gentile (all heathen and non-Jewish nations) and the Church (consisting of believers, Jewish and Gentile). Much distortion has been the result of not attending to these vital points in Bible study.

Gentile Christians have rather a tendency to steal Jewish blessings, giving them all the curses. All the Old Testament blessings are appropriated by the Church and the curses left literally for the Jews, now if the curses are for the Jews, let us be charitable enough to give them the blessings; and if the blessings are for us, then let us be honest and humble enough to accept the curses. This mode of Bible interpretation has been the cause of a great deal of muddle in every sphere of spiritual knowledge, and has made impossible a right conception of God's truth. Our holy anger has sometimes been kindled at such persistent "spiritualizing" of Scripture.

The Word of God should be taken as it stands without addition, adulteration or "spiritualizing."

Israel never means the Church in Old or New Testaments, and the Church never means Israel. The only exceptions to the literal interpretation of Scripture is where it is clearly understood to be figurative as in Isaiah 55:12; where the mountains and hills are referred to as singing, and the trees of the field clapping their hands; or as in the New Testament Christ referring to Himself as the door, the vine; and when at the last supper in offering the bread and wine as His body and blood.

Another false impression to be gotten out of many minds is that, God has changed in His eternal purpose regarding Israel. In other words, they imagine that God has cast off His ancient people and there is no place for them in the present economy of grace, and the future, as far as they are concerned, is a blank space. The Gentiles have been called in their place. The Devil has never told a bigger lie, and the Church never been more deceived in believing it.

Paul, in most of his epistles, proves the falsity of such a notion, especially does he do this in Ephesians and Romans.

The Rev. L. H. Wilkinson, London, England, gives seven reasons in the form of Scripture statements and confirmatory facts for believing in God's unalterable plan regarding Israel.

1. First Statement. — God regards the people of Israel with changeless benevolence.

Confirmatory fact.— The immortality of the mountains (Is. 54:10).

2. Second Statement. — The chastisement (involving scattering and judicial blindness) of Israel though prolonged and severe, is but temporary.

Confirmatory fact. — The immunity of the earth from a second flood (Is. 54:7, 8, 9).

3. Third Statement. — God will never cast off his people.

Confirmatory fact. — The immeasurability of the heavens and the impenetrability of the earth (Jeremiah

4. Fourth Statement, — The covenant made with David, by which a ruling posterity was assured to him, is irrefutable.

Confirmatory fact.— The fixety of the earth's diurnal motion (Jeremiah 33:20, 21).

5. Fifth Statement, — God will magnify and dignify the posterity of David and of the tribe of Levi.

Confirmatory fact. — The innumerability of ' the stars and the inmeasurability of the sand on the seashore (Jer. 33:22).

6. Sixth Statement. — The promise concerning the land and the people of Israel will be literally fulfilled to that same land and people.

Confirmatory fact.— The literality of the judgments which have fallen upon the land and people (Jer. 31 128; Jer 32:42).

7. Seventh Statement. — The continual existence of the people of Israel (the marvel of history) is divinely guaranteed and maintained.

Confirmatory fact. — The irregularity of the planetary and tidal motion (Jer. 31:35-36).

(To be continued.)