"Believest Thou the Prophets?"
By W. N. GLENN
THIS was the pointed question directed to King Agrippa by the Apostle Paul, as he stood in chains pleading with an aristocratic assembly in behalf of the cause of Christ. It was a final appeal concerning the truth of the gospel. The apostle had no doubt demonstrated that, according to the prophecies, Jesus was the Messiah; and as Festus, who was a pagan, rejected the argument as coming from an over-learned zealot, appeal was made to the king, whom the speaker knew to be a professed believer of the prophets. It is a little peculiar that unbelief should occupy a reverse position in these days, and that men, while professing faith in Christ, will to a great extent ignore the prophecies, which are the only vouchers for his claim to the Messiahship. Especial effort is being made to set aside the book of Genesis, which contains the record of facts showing the need of a Saviour, and the first promise of such a provision. Even the prophecies of Christ himself, regarding his second advent, the signs and manner of the event, and the condition of the world at the time, are entirely overlooked or disregarded by his professed followers. It would seem that there was more reason in the "orthodox" unbelief of the primitive days of Christianity than in that of the present time. There is more apparent excuse (if there can be excuse either way) for the Jewish disbelief that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies, than for those who believe in him to discard the foundation of their faith. It is yet a pertinent question, "Believest thou the prophets?" W. N. GLENN.