were to become once again enemies. This Cyprus wedge has cleft open a
little farther the dark and mysterious way.
Last Monday we received the astounding telegram of the treaty between
England and Turkey. It evidently was a surprise, we have no doubt, even
to Rev. Dr. Storrs, and the _New York Herald_, as well as to many others
who could see nothing but defeat and shame for Israel-England. From Dr.
Storrs we have not heard what he now thinks of his child of promise,
Russia. From the _Herald_ we did hear, for, by the way, the _Herald_ is
one of our morning papers. By an editorial of a column and a half the
_Herald_ struggled nobly to wriggle out of the tight corner in which its
sympathies for Russia had crowded it. We like and admire the _Herald_,
because of its tact and ingenuity in getting news first from any part of
the world. Still this time she was behind time. Two years ago, from
this pulpit, we announced the exciting facts of the past week. Last
Sunday evening we closed our discourse in these words: "Now, again,
England pledges herself a Continental Power, nay, more, an Asiatic Power.
She will come forth from the Congress the virtual ruler of Turkey, the
owner of Palestine."
If the Saxons be the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel--and most certainly they
respond to all the features that were to distinctly mark them when found,
as written in the Bible--then the English throne is a continuation of
David's throne, and the seed on it must be the seed of David, and the
inference is clear--namely, that all the blessings attaching by holy
promise to David's throne must belong to England. This is the key that
unravels and makes plain the marvellous and sublime history of the
English nation and throne. We know many scout the idea of the Lost
Tribes ever being found, although over thirty times God declares by the
prophets that they must return; surely before they return they must be
found. God has not cast away His people for ever. No, no. He declares
Israel to be His inheritance, and that this people He had formed for
Himself.
The Two Tribes forming the Jews of to-day are said by the best
calculation to number about nine millions. If, then, the Two Tribes
number nine millions, how many ought we to expect the Ten Tribes to
number? If the Two Tribes have stood and survived the shock and
persecution of centuries when known, and therefore open to assault, is it
not reasonable to suppose that the Ten Tribes will be in existence, a
numerous and powerful people, for they have been hid, and thus have they
evaded the persecution that a knowledge of their nationality would have
entailed upon them from the Gentile and Pagan nations?
Some, indeed, persist in looking for God's chosen seed--His people, His
inheritance--among the bushmen of Africa, the Indians of America; indeed
wherever they can find a people mean, and few, and very low in the scale
of civilisation. They overlook the fact that Israel, not the Jews, were
to be the most powerful and prolific people on the face of the earth, to
be as sands of the sea, as the stars of heaven. Especially were these
promises to be true in the latter day--for then God promises to multiply
them, men, beasts, and the fruits of the field. This is one of the signs
of the times, and it is a remarkable one. See our harvest, see our
cattle, and see the Saxon race--doubling, at least, every forty years.
No other nation is doubling at that rate. Germany comes the nearest, and
both in Prussia and Austria they only double every one hundred years. In
one hundred years from to-day the Saxons will control the world for peace
and Christ.
To this end God is overturning, and will overturn until the whole world
shall be federated around one throne, and that throne is David's--the
only throne God ever directly established, and the only one He has
promised perpetuity to. God has a land--Palestine. He has a
people--Israel. He has a throne--David's, and for that throne He has a
seed, just as the seed of Levi was selected for Temple service.
This kingdom is the fifth kingdom, to be set up in the latter days of
those kings, says Daniel. The kingdom was never to be left unto other
people. It is typified by the stone cut out of the mountain that is to
fill the world. Why then stand amazed at the cession of Cyprus to
England, if she be Israel. To her was promised the isles of the sea, the
coasts of the earth, the waste and desolate places--the heathen and
uttermost parts of the earth, as a possession. Already out of the
fifty-one million square miles which composes the earth, England,
including the United States, now owns about fourteen millions, or say
one-fourth. She bears rule over one-third of the people of the earth;
she adds a colony every four years on an average. At the present rate it
will not be long before the kingdoms of this world will be given to the
saints of the Most High. It is no marvel in the light and instruction of
prophecy that this throne and people should be so stable and prosperous.
Turn your attention to the founding of this throne of David. You will
find the throne and seed unconditionally federated, the place and measure
of prosperity conditioned on the obedience of the people and throne to
God. "The Lord has sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it;
of _the fruit of thy body_ will I set upon thy throne" (Psalm cxxxii.
11). Again, "I have sworn unto David, thy seed I will _establish for
ever_, and build up thy throne to _all_ generations" (Psalm lxxxix. 3,
4). This promise is to all generations--not a part, nor simply for sixty
years. For the kingdom was rent in twain when Rehoboam, the grandson of
David, began to reign. The throne of David would be about the poorest
type of Christ's throne and rule, and reign, if we can only see it in
Palestine. There it was soon divided, very corrupt. "If ye can break My
covenant of the day and night in their season, then may also My covenant
be broken with David My servant, that he should not have a son to reign
upon his throne . . . Thus saith the Lord: If My covenant be not with day
and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and
earth, then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David My servant, so
that I will not take any of _his seed_ to be rulers over the seed of
Abraham" (Jer. xxxiii. 25, 26). Let anybody of the same mind read the
seventh chapter of the second book of Samuel, and they will see that God
promised to David that his house and kingdom should be established for
ever, and that God would set up the seed of David after him. Well might
David exclaim when he sat before the Lord, "Who am I, O Lord God, and
what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a
small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy
_servant's house for a great while yet to come_." It is a pity men will
not take and interpret the Bible by the rules of common sense.
David at this time was king over all the Tribes and was at peace, and
settled and prospered. But God told him that "He would appoint a place
for _My people Israel_, and will plant them that they may dwell in a
place of their own and move no more." This promise was to Israel. If
the promises of the multitudinous seed were to be fulfilled to Israel,
then it would be necessary to find them another place, for Palestine
wouldn't hold them. So God has planted them. God never promised to find
the Jews another country; Palestine is specially reserved for them. They
have been without country, king, or government. In the year 725 B.C. the
Jews and Israelites were separated, and since that time they have never
been united. But the day is coming, says the prophet, when they shall
dwell together and appoint one head over them. The Israelites are only
to return to Palestine representatively (Jer. iii. 14).
When Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jews captive, he took the king, Zedekiah,
with him, and destroyed all his family, and all the real royal seed of
David. Zedekiah died in Babylon. He placed upon the throne of David,
Gedaliah. Now Gedaliah was not of the seed royal: but God was displeased
and permitted the crown to go to others. Ezekiel was taken captive to
Babylon in the reign of Jehoiachim, the father of Zedekiah. The prophecy
of the text was written in Babylon, and refers to Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel
calls the "wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, iniquity shall
have an end. Thus saith the Lord God, Remove the diadem and take off the
crown, this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him
that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no
more until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it to Him."
Now all this is plain if we keep in mind that Zedekiah was the last
prince of the House of David that ever reigned in Palestine. God removed
the diadem. But in the course of time a lawful heir of the seed of David
shall appear, and the throne and the seed will be established again in
Jerusalem. It is to this end Providence is overturning Turkey to make
way for this seed royal. But where is this seed royal? Answer: It is on
the English throne. Listen carefully to the following:
Jeremiah tells us that with him he had the daughters of Zedekiah, who had
by some means escaped the destroying edicts of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer.
xliii. 6). And from Jer. xliv. 14, we learn that they visited Egypt, and
from Jer. xliv. 28, we learn that a small number escaped. Now Jeremiah,
being the only prophet in Judah at that time, had a right to take charge
of the royal seed. He could not stay in Egypt, nor in Palestine, nor
would he go to Babylon. Where, then, did the prophet go? He no doubt
took ship with the Danites, and sailed for Cornwall, in England, for this
place was called Tarshish. We learn from Ezekiel the ships of Dan traded
in tin, and other things. History and tradition both agree that there
landed on the coast of Ireland in the North, a divine man and a princess.
God had promised to Jeremiah his life wherever he went. "But thy life
will I give thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest" (Jer. xlv.
5).
[Picture: Jacob's Stone]
The North of Ireland had been settled with the Tribe of Dan; they at once
understood who their visitor was. They called him Olam Folla, meaning a
Divine man or teacher. The princess was called Tea Tephi, the beautiful
one from the East. This princess was married to Heremon, of Ulster, the
king of Lothair Croffin, for such was the name of the city of Tara. This
word Tara is Arat spelled backward. The Hebrew reads from right to left;
English left to right. Lothair Croffin was changed into Tara at the time
of the wedding. Tara means law. Thus began the seed of David to take
root, and from there it spread over all Ireland, then to Scotland, thence
to England, and Jacob's Stone in Westminster Abbey marks the journey of
David's throne, and has always kept with the seed, and they have been
always crowned on it. Ezekiel's riddle is at once solved. The tender
twigs were Zedekiah's daughters. One of these twigs was planted by the
great waters in a land of traffic. Our Episcopalian friends intended by
their beautiful service to aid the members of their communion to read in
order, and through the Bible, or a given portion of each chapter, once
per year. But strange to say, this 17th chapter of Ezekiel, they have
left out both of the Old and New Lectionary. It is itself a riddle, why
this should so happen, that the only two chapters of the Bible left out
or proscribed are the 17th and 21st of Ezekiel. Surely blindness in part
has happened to Israel, and what we esteemed as accidental in the
increased light of Revelation, stands to view as the ordered purposes of
an all-seeing God.
The royal standard of England has nine lions on it and a unicorn. Let
anyone set this standard before him as a map, the right hand will
represent East, the top North, left West, the bottom South. The unicorn
comes from the East, it has a chain round its neck. So the Tribe of
Benjamin came that way, and, as Normans, were finally attached to the
throne. The big lion comes from the West, so it did from Ireland to
Scotland and London. On the top we have a crown, and on the top of this
we have a lion. On the first quarter are three lions, second quarter
one, on the third a stringed harp with an angel's head, and on the fourth
three lions, the total of lions nine, and an unicorn. The fact is, this
standard, had we time, teaches a world of history, and with the Psalmist
we may say: "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee; that it may
be displayed because of the truth" (Psalm lx. 4). The genealogy and
descent of Queen Victoria from Zedekiah we will furnish you. This
genealogy has been got up by the faithful and very persevering labours of
Rev. F. R. A. Glover, M.A., and Rev. A. B. Grimaldi, M.A., two
Episcopalian clergymen of England. The chart is supposed to be as near
perfect as any such thing can be. If any of you find any defect be kind
enough and let me know. In the following genealogy those who reigned
have K. prefixed--the dates after private names refer to their birth and
death, those after Sovereign's names to their accession and death.
ADAM TO VICTORIA.
GENERATIONS.
1. Adam (B.C. 4000-3070), Eve.
2. Seth (B.C. 3873-2978).
3. Enos (B.C. 3765-2860).
4. Cainan (B.C. 3675-2765).
5. Mahalaleel (B.C. 3605-2710).
6. Jared (B.C. 3540-2578).
7. Enoch (B.C. 3378-3013).
8. Methuselah (B.C. 3313-2344).
9. Lamech (B.C. 3126-2344).
10. Noah (B.C. 2944-2006), Naamah.
11. Shem (B.C. 2442-2158).
12. Arphaxad (B.C. 2342-1904).
13. Salah (B.C. 2307-2126).
14.. Heber (B.C. 2277-2187).
15. Peleg (B.C. 2243-2004).
16. Reu (B.C. 2213-2026).
17. Serug (B.C. 2181-2049).
18. Nahor (B.C. 2052-2003).
19. Terah (B.C. 2122-2083), Amtheta.
20. Abraham (B.C. 1992-1817), Sarah.
21. Isaac (B.C. 1896-1716), Rebekah.
22. Jacob (B.C. 1837-1690), Leah.
23. Judah (b. B.C. 1753), Tamar.
24. Hezron.
25. Aram.
26. Aminadab.
27. Naashon.
28. Salmon.
29. Boaz (B.C. 1312), Ruth.
30. Obed.
31. Jesse.
KINGS OF ISRAEL.
32. K. David (B.C. 1085-1015), Bathsheba.
33. K. Solomon (B.C. 1033-975), Naamah.
34. K. Rehoboam (B.C. b. 1016, d. 958), Maacah.
35. K. Abijam (B.C. 958-955).
36. K. Asa (B.C. 955-914), Azubah.
37. K. Jehoshaphat (B.C. 914-889).
38. K. Jehoram (B.C. 889-885), Athaliah.
39. K. Ahaziah (B.C. 906-884), Zibiah.
40. K. Joash (B.C. 885-839), Jehoaddan.
41. K. Amaziah (B.C. b. 864, d. 810), Jecholiah.
42. K. Uzziah (B.C. b. 826, d. 758), Jerushah.
43. K. Jotham (B.C. b. 783, d. 742).
44. K. Ahaz (B.C. b. 787, d. 726), Abi.
45. K. Hezekiah (B.C. b. 751, d. 698), Hephzibah.
46. K. Manasseh (B.C. b. 710, d. 643), Meshullemeth.
47. K. Amon (B.C. b. 621, d. 641), Jedediah.
48. K. Josiah (B.C. b. 649, d. 610), Hamutah.
49. K. Zedekiah (B.C. 599-578).
KINGS OF IRELAND.
50. K. Heremon fl. (B.C. 580), Q. T. Tephi. She was Zedekiah's
daughter. Reigned 15 years.
51. K. Irial Faidh (reigned 10 years).
52. K. Eithriall (reigned 20 years).
53. Follian.
54. K. Tighernmas (reigned 50 years).
55. Eanbotha.
56. Smoirguil.
57. K. Fiachadh Labhriane (reigned 24 years).
58. K. Aongus Ollmuchaidh (reigned 27 years).
59. Maoin.
60. K. Rotheachta (reigned 25 years).
61. Dein.
62. K. Siorna Saoghalach (reigned 21 years).
63. Oliolla Olchaoin.
64. K. Giallchadh (reigned 9 years).
65. K. Aodhain Glas (reigned 20 years).
66. K. Simeon Breac (reigned 6 years).
67. K. Muireadach Bolgrach (reigned 4 years).
68. K. Fiachadh Tolgrach (reigned 7 years).
69. K. Duach Laidhrach (reigned 10 years).
70. Eochaidh Buaigllcry.
71. K. Ugaine More the Great (reigned 30 years).
72. R. Cobhthach Coalbreag (reigned 30 years).
73. Meilage.
74. K. Jaran Gleofathach (reigned 7 years).
75. K. Conla Cruaidh Cealgach (reigned 4 years).
76. K. Oiloilla Caisfhiaclach (reigned 25 years).
77. K. Eochaidh Foltlenthan (reigned 11 years).
78. K. Aongus Tuirmheach Teamharch (reigned 30 years).
79. K. Eana Aighneach (reigned 28 years).
80. Labhra Luirc.
81. Blathuchta.
82. Easamhuin Eamhna.
83. Roighnein Ruadh.
84. Finlogha.
85. Fian.
86. K. Eodchaidh Feidhlioch (reigned 12 years).
87. Fineamhnas.
88. K. Lughaidh Raidhdearg.
89. K. Criomhthan Niadhnar (reigned 16 years).
90. Fearaidhach Fion Feachtnuigh.
91. K. Fiachadh Fionoluidh (reigned 20 years).
92. K. Tuathal Teachtmar (reigned 30 years).
93. K. Conn Ceadchathach (reigned 20 years).
94. K. Art Aonfhir (reigned 30 years).
95. K. Cormc Usada (reigned 40 years).
96. K. Caibre Liffeachair (reigned 27 years).
97. K. Fiachadh Sreabthuine (reigned 30 years).
98. K. Muireadhach Tireach (reigned 30 years).
99. K. Eochaidh Moigmeodhin (reigned 7 years).
100. K. Nail of the Nine Hostages.
101. Eogan.
102. K. Murireadhach.
103. Earca.
KINGS OF ARGYLESHIRE.
104. K. Feargus More Mac Earca (A.D. 487).
105. K. Dongard (d. 457).
106. K. Conrad (d. 535).
107. K. Aidan (d. 604).
108. K. Eugene IV. (d. 622).
109. K. Donald IV. (d. 650).
110. Dongard.
111. K. Eugene V. (d. A.D. 692).
112. Findan.
113. K. Eugene VII. (d. A.D. 721), Spondan.
114. K. Etfinus (d. A.D. 761), Fergina.
115. K. Achaius (d. A.D. 819), Fergusia.
116. K. Alpin (d. A.D. 834).
SOVEREIGNS OF SCOTLAND.
117. K. Kenneth II. (d. A.D. 854).
118. K. Constantin II. (d. A.D. 774).
119. K. Donald VI. (d. A.D. 903).
120. K. Malcolm I. (d. A.D. 958).
121. K. Kenneth III. (d. A.D. 994).
122. K. Malcolm II. (d. A.D. 1003).
123. Beatrix m. Thane Albanach.
124. K. Dunkan I. (d. A.D. 1040).
125. K. Malcolm III. Canmore (A.D. 1055-1093), Margaret of England.
126. K. David I. (d. A.D. 1153), Maud of Northumberland.
127. Prince Henry (d. A.D. 1152), Adama of Surrey.
128. Earl David (d. A.D. 1219), Maud of Chester.
129. Isobel m. Robert Bruce III.
130. Robert Bruce IV. m. Isobel of Gloucester.
131. Robert Bruce V. m. Martha of Carrick.
132. King Robert I. Bruce (A.D. 1305-1329), Mary of Burke.
133. Margery Bruce m. Walter Stewart (I.).
134. K. Robert II. (d. A.D. 1390), Euphemia of Ross (d. A.D. 1376).
135. K. Robert III. (d. A.D. 1406), Arabella Drummond (d. A.D. 1401).
136. K. James I. (A.D. 1424-1437), Joan Beaufort.
137. K. James II. (d. A.D. 1360), Margaret of Gueldres (d. A.D. 1463).
138. K. James III. (d. A.D. 1488), Margaret of Denmark (d. A.D. 1484).
139. K. James IV. (d. A.D. 1543), Margaret of England (d. A.D. 1539).
140. K. James V. (d. A.D. 1542), Mary of Lorraine (d. A.D. 1560).
141. Q. Mary (d. A.D. 1587), Lord Henry Darnley.
SOVEREIGNS OF GREAT BRITAIN.
142. K. James VI. and I. (A.D. 1603-1625), Ann of Denmark.
143. Princess Elizabeth (1596-1613), K. Frederick of Bohemia.
144. Princess Sophia m. Duke Ernest of Brunswick.
145. K. George I. (1698-1727), Sophia Dorothea Zelle (1667-1726).
146. K. George II. (1727-1760), Princess Caroline of Auspach
(1683-1737).
147. Prince Frederick of Wales (1707-1751), Princess Augusta of
Saxe-Gotha.
148. K. George III. (1760-1830), Princess Sophia of Mecklenburgh
Strelitz (1744-1818).
149. Duke Edward of Kent (1767-1820), Princess Victoria of Leiningen.
150. Q. Victoria (b. 1819, cr. 1838), Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg.
Thus do we see how God has kept His word to David, and with this view,
English and American history are at once understandable. The future is
assuring and grand. God will assuredly overturn till His throne once
more is planted in Jerusalem.
JEREMIAH AND ST. PATRICK.
Discourse XX.
THE PROPHET'S COMMISSION--HIS LIFE--THE TRIBES IN HIS DAY--LANDING OF
JEREMIAH IN IRELAND--WHAT HE BROUGHT WITH HIM--COLONISATION OF
IRELAND--JEREMIAH THE FOUNDER OF THE ANCIENT IRISH GOVERNMENT AND
RELIGION--TEA TEPHI AND HEREMON--THE ANCIENT IRISH FLAG--THE HARP AND
LION--SEASON OF IRELAND'S HISTORICAL PRESTIGE--CAUSES OF HER DECLINE--ST.
PATRICK A BENJAMITE--HOW ROME DESTROYED JEREMIAH'S MEMORY AMONG THE
IRISH--DESTRUCTION OF TARA--ULSTER NEVER CONQUERED--IRISH
INDEPENDENCE--ARK OF THE COVENANT--RUINS OF TARA.
"See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the
kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw
down, to build, and to plant."--Jer. i. 10.
In these words we have set forth the Divine commission given to the
prophet Jeremiah. Never before, or since, was such a commission given to
mortal man. It is not that Jeremiah is constituted a prophet for his own
people, or over his own nation, and country, but he was Divinely
appointed and set over the nations and kingdoms of the earth, with an
authority "to root out, pull down, destroy, and throw down." Surely he
was rightly named, for the word Jeremiah means the exalted, or appointed
one of the Lord. By common consent, the Jews gave him the first place
and name among the prophets. Up to the time of the Babylonian captivity
he was second, Isaiah being first. But after the captivity, on the
re-arrangement of the holy canon, his name was put first, and ever after
he was regarded and accepted as the patron saint of Judea. He was born
of a priestly family, about 641 B.C., in the priestly town of Anathoth,
which was situated a few miles North of Jerusalem, in the territory of
Benjamin. His work and commission awaited him, because they antedated
his birth, for he says (chap. i. 4), "Then the word of the Lord came unto
me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before
thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee
a _prophet unto the nations_." Jeremiah's life-work, extent, and
devotion, can only find a parallel in the majesty and compass of his
commission. It is the extent of this commission that I wish you would
specially notice, for it is neither tribal nor national in its
limitations. He was ordained a prophet unto the nations. Hear the voice
of his wailing (chapter xv. 10), "Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast
borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the _whole earth_."
Consistent with the vastness of this commission is the recorded fact that
he was forbidden to marry in his own land, for "the Word of the Lord came
unto me, saying, Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have
sons and daughters in this place" (Jeremiah xvi. 2). The claims of a
wife and cares of a family could only have been harshly fitted on to such
a work and commission. Indeed, every peculiar fact in the life of
Jeremiah may be best accounted for by taking into consideration the
greatness of his commission. To discard this is simply to invite
confusion, and yet, strange to say, many prefer confusion rather than
admit that he performed the _role_ assigned him of Heaven. For this very
reason writers, even Jewish historians, are at a loss to account for the
latter half of the prophet's life. They do not seem to know where he
spent his last days; they know not the time, manner, nor place of his
death. And why, you ask? We answer, Because they selfishly and
persistently limited his life and labours to his own land. They have not
been willing to allow that he was set as a prophet over nations and
kingdoms. Then again, they have been willing to allow him to be a puller
down and destroyer, but not a builder and planter. To grant that he was
a builder and planter, would have obliged them to have found the place of
his building and the objects of his planting. These they well knew could
not be found in Palestine, and they were as loath as many are unwilling
to-day to permit Jeremiah to leave his own land. A man who would be
equal to the Bible must be large-hearted, generous, and free, not
fettered and bound by the errors of youthful training, the selfishness of
sectarianism, the bigotry of orthodoxy, or the indifference of
infidelity, but seek the truth, no matter from whence, or what it upsets
or overturns of preconceived ideas. The command is, "Prove all things,
and hold fast that which is good." To hear some people talk and lament,
you would think that the command was, Prove nothing, but hold hard on to
what you have got.
Try now, and reasonably and patiently follow me while I trace the
wanderings of Jeremiah to Old Ireland. You will be surprised to find how
intimate Irishology and theology are.
Ireland and the Tribe of Dan have a peculiar history, which history only
can be made plain by reference to the Bible. Ireland has had much to
undergo, yet of it God says, "To the islands He will repay recompense: so
shall they fear the name of the Lord from the West."