Page 49 - incense-bearers of han
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smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!
Here he stopped me for a moment and said, “What means all this and to whom
does it refer?”
“To the Lord Jesus, Who is the sin-bearer of all who believe in Him, Who took our
punishment on the cross,” I replied.
“Who wrote it?” he inquired.
“A man by the name of Isaiah,” I explained, pointing to the book title in the
margin.
“When did he write it?” was the next question fired by my inquisitor.
“About seven hundred years before Jesus Christ was born, and about a century and
a half before Confucius lived,” I shot back at him.
“Did I understand you to say that this Ee-Sai-Yai (Isaiah) wrote all these things
about the death of Jesus Christ seven hundred years before Jesus Christ was born?”
the Governor continued.
“That is quite correct, Sir.”
“Well, how could the man Ee-Sai-Yah know anything about it?” was the obvious
next question.
“Because the Spirit of the Living God who knows the end from the beginning
revealed these mysteries to him long before they came to pass,” I explained.
“Seven hundred years before!” mused this gentleman of Old Cathay.
“Ch‟i bei nien chi‟en—ch‟i gwai! Ch‟i gwai! Wonderful! Wonderful!”
The wonder of divine foreknowledge communicated to fallible men by the Holy
Spirit, the miracle of prophecy, gripped him. Would that it could grip a pleasure-mad
and Gospel-hardened America, which has trodden these pearls under its feet!
Presently he rose hastily from his seat as if to forcibly interrupt his own
meditations, announcing that the pressure of official business demanded his presence
at provincial headquarters. As he bowed around the circle to guests and hosts,
thanking the latter for their hospitality.
Finally, he turned to me and bowed to the waist and then extended his hand
western-fashion.
“I have a request to make of you. Could you come to my small place tomorrow and
instruct me further in this wonderful matter foretold seven hundred years before? And
Commissioner Yin (turning to our gracious host) could you accompany the Pastor to
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