THE FOLLY OF INFIDELITY.
By G.
OPPOSITION to Christ never is consistent; it is always self-stultifying. A striking illustration of this fact is found in the case of the bitter antagonism of the chief priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem. After the resurrection of Lazarus, many of the Jews believed on Jesus, and the rulers who had opposed Him at all times became desperate, lest they should lose all their influence with the people. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this Man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and our nation.” The absurdity of such a plea is its own refutation. Jesus was Himself a Jew, and His labors—going about doing good—were mainly among the Jews, whose welfare He continually sought. Yet there is not the record of a single instance where the Romans found any fault with His work. Even when the Jewish council condemned Him as “worthy of death,” the Roman governor declared Him innocent of any fault. So it is clear that if all the Jews had believed on Christ, and followed His example, they would have avoided much trouble with the Romans, instead of incurring it. Jesus counseled them to “render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s;” surely they would not be in danger as long as they would follow such a course. In demanding the release of Barabbas, who had been convicted of insurrection against the government, those same chief priests and Pharisees took a course that was designed to increase the pressure of the Roman yoke. And in less than thirty years after their rejection of Christ and His counsel, the Romans did come and destroy their “place.” Thus by their determination to destroy Jesus, His most inveterate enemies called down upon themselves the very calamity that they alleged would come if all the people would adhere to Him. The foreknowledge of this fact caused Jesus to weep bitterly over the unwise course of those whom He desired to save. See Luke 19:41-44. No man ever yet gave an excuse for not accepting Christ that was not of itself a reason why he should do so. Many people of to-day, even professors of faith in Him, imagine they see lions in the way should they step out and walk in the commandment of God as He did. But the time will come when these dreaded calamities will come upon them because they have not obeyed His Word. God says, “Come now, let us reason together,” and He never yet has advanced an unreasonable proposition. Nor has He ever suggested a course that was not safer in every respect than any opposite course. He who sees the end from the beginning, is certainly safe guide; and it is folly to prefer the suggestions of those who know not what a day may bring forth. Those who trust in any human leadership will some day be crying, “Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of man.” G.