No sooner do we see England in guardian possession of Syria than the idea enters into the scheme of reform of extending the English language. The Board of Directors of the Syrian Protestant College at Beyrout have shown their appreciation of the new era of British influence by a recent vote, which is to the effect that on January 1, 1879, all instruction in the college shall be through the English language. The Arabic will only be taught as any other dead language. This remarkable action shows that British influence in Syria is hereafter to be more than simply diplomatic; it is to be an all-pervading and controlling power, affecting every interest of Society. Truly another Pentecostal day is drawing nigh—a day when all the world shall hear the Gospel in the language of Israel. In all these things we see the lively tokens and pre-millennial agencies hastening on the day of the Lord.
ISRAEL AND GENTILE FULNESS. DISCOURSE VI.
MEANING OF GENTILE FULNESS—BLESSINGS THROUGH JUDAH AND EPHRAIM—BEST RELIGION—JEWS OUTWITTED—WHY BENJAMIN WAS KEPT AT JERUSALEM—FRENCH PROTESTANTISM—GENTILE FULNESS CONTEMPORARY WITH TO-DAY—WHAT IT IS—EXCEPTIONAL TURKEY.
“Now, if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness.”—Rom. ii. 12.
Paul, the author of this epistle to the Romans, tells us that he was an Israelite of the seed of Abraham and of the Tribe of Benjamin. The fact so conveyed it is necessary that we keep in mind, if we would interpret aright this epistle. He introduces to our notice three parties: the Jews, who include at this time the Tribes of Judah and Levi; the Israelites, who embraced the Tribe of Benjamin and the other nine Tribes that had been in captivity for about eight hundred years—the whole together are generally known as the Ten Lost Tribes. In the third party we have the Gentiles. This word Gentile usually denotes and includes the non-Jewish nations and people. The Hebrew word _goyim_, in early Bible history, was equivalent to our word nation. It finally began to denote any people who were not of the sacred seed of Abraham. The Greek word so rendered is _ethnos_, which means a multitude or nation. In the New Testament another word is sometimes used in a more limited sense—namely, _hellenes_, which is translated Greeks. Ignorance of these three parties, their place in Providence, and relation one to the other, has given rise to much needless controversy and division in the domain of theology. Men have argued for an election and a reprobation, laying great stress on the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of Romans, that is in no wise taught. The election Paul deals with is a literal one, having reference to a distinct people, whom God has elected for a special work in this world. This people God calls “His people,” “His inheritance,” “His chosen,” “His witnesses,” “His servants.” “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise” (Isa. xliii. 21). Hence exclaims the Psalmist, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”