“And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many people as a Lion among the beasts of the forest, as a Young Lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.”—Micah v. 7.
“His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns like the Horns of Unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth.”—Deut. xxxiii. 17.
THE THRONE OF DAVID.
Discourse XIX.
ENGLAND’S PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE BERLIN CONGRESS—THE HARP OF TARA THE HARP OF ISRAEL—THE FUTURE EUROPEAN ALLIANCES—ROYAL SUCCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
“I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it Him.”—Ezekiel xxi. 27.
The closing of the famous European Congress will now freely permit us to canvass the work and results of the same, and to compare the sequences with the teachings of the prophets and intentions of Providence. The results of the Congress have taken the world by surprise. The very fact that one should have been held under the enforced conditions of the crownless king, Disraeli, was a wonder in itself. But the wonder is not
confined to the meeting and work of the Congress, for outside of, and in spite of the Congress, a treaty has been made which converts wonder into amazement. Back in the middle of last May (1878), England and Turkey formed an alliance, offensive and defensive. Nay, more, for Turkey cedes to England the fruitful and strategic island of Cyprus. What a triangle of strongholds—Cyprus, Malta, and Gibraltar! Shades of Bonaparte! Where is France in these days? She is renewing her strength, and is wisely standing aside so as not to oppose Providence. In all this there is nothing new or strange to the prophetic student. For long ago it was written of Israel that she should be a company of nations, and possess the gates of her enemies.
It is not by might, nor power of human origin, that these events must be judged, or that they come to pass. But surely by the Spirit of God. “There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding.” Here Job gives us the key to unlock the mysteries of the crownless king and his success. The apothegm of Bonaparte is as false as he was unsuccessful—namely, that Providence is always on the side of the strongest battalions. In Israel, in time of old, this was seldom true. In fact, it was not true in the experience and campaigns of Bonaparte. The logic of such a faith has been the ruin of lovely France more than once, and will be again. For it must needs be that France break her alliance with England, though now they are friends. France in a few years will ally with the Beast, the Roman Church, in its last struggle for rule and supremacy; and she will join hands with Anti-Christ. France will repeat the follies of ’93. She will again seek to dethrone Religion, and enthrone Reason. Her Marats, Desmoulens, Herberts, Clootzes, and Robespierres are at hand ready to overturn. And the Church of her choice is patiently waiting to re-enact the scenes of blood and terror of St. Bartholomew. Her time of opportunity will appear to have come in a few years. Bismarck and Kaiser William will be out
of the way, and Germany will languish for want of two equal successors. And France will not forget to pay back the debt of revenge she owes to Germany, and seek to reclaim her prestige in councils, and especially to restore her lost influence over Egypt, Turkey, and the Mediterranean.