GRAFTING CONTRARY TO NATURE.
By R. F. Cottrell
In natural grafting, or grafting in accordance with nature, we always expect that the fruit of the ingrafted branch will be like the fruit of the tree from which the scion is taken. But Paul, in Rom. xi, speaks of the Gentiles' being grafted into the stock of Israel, under the figure of grafting scions from the wild olive-tree into the good. This is said to be contrary to nature; because the branches that before bore wild olives, now, partaking of the root and fatness of the good olive, bear the same good fruit. I was yesterday conversing with a sort of Adventist who took the ground that the Sabbath was never given to the Gentiles, but admitted that the Jews were under perpetual obligation to keep it. In the course of our conversation, wishing to enlighten my mind concerning the "age to come," he referred to Rom. xi, and the subject of grafting contrary to nature was mentioned. He agreed with me that in this kind of grafting the fruit of the scion was changed from what it was by nature to that of the stock into which it was ingrafted. Now, said I, you admit that Israel were under perpetual obligation to keep the Sabbath, and that they will keep it in the "age to come," therefore, when the Gentiles are grafted in, they must bear the same fruit with that Sabbath-keeping stock. He saw he was caught, and made no other response than a burst of laughter. R. F. Cottrell.