A Scientist’s Testimony / by James Simpson W HEN I WAS A BOY AT SCHOOL I Saw a sight I can never forget— a man tied to a cart
case too; it was also the last instance of capital punishment being inflicted for that offence. I saw another sight—it matters not when— myself, a sinner standing on the brink of ruin, deserving naught but hell. For one sin? No; for many sins committed against the unchanging laws of God. But again I looked and saw Jesus, my substi tute, scourged in my stead and dying on the cross for me. I looked and cried and was for given. And it seems to be my duty to tell you of that Saviour, to see if you will not also look and live. “ 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” (Isa. 53:5-6). *Sir James Simpson (1811-70) was elected to the Chair of Obstetric Medicine in Edinburgh Univer sity. Here he carried out a series of hazardous ex periments upon himself in the use of anesthetics, resulting in the epoch-making discovery of chloro form. An interviewer once asked him, “What was the greatest discovery you ever made?” He an swered, “ That I have a Saviour.” shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanc tuary in the midst of them for evermore. My taber nacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord that sanctifieth Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever more.” It is customary in the prophets to refer to David’s greater Son under the name of His ancestor and pro genitor, David himself. See 37:25; 34:24; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5 among others; compare also Luke 1:36, 37. Ezekiel is now concerned to elaborate on the truth he has just mentioned previously; namely, the benevo lent rule of one king over God’s chosen people. Notice carefully the abundance of the promises: one ruler, a godly walk in the will of the Lord, settlement in the land of their fathers, an abundant progeny, an ever lasting covenant with them, God’s sanctuary in their midst without interruption, abiding fellowship with their God, and a testimony to all the nations of the blessed God of Israel and the universe. After Israel re ceives blessing, the whole world does also. Ponder well in this regard the truth of Acts 15:16, 17. Friend, what God will yet do for Israel nationally, He will do for any Jew or Gentile now in the spiritual realm. See Ephesians 2:1, 2. But He must have the penitent heart if the dead and dry life is to be made anew and live. A poor Jew, it is told, once went to the temple with no lamb, no doves, no meal to offer. He stood outside, ashamed, until he heard the worshippers sing Psalm 51: “ A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, Thou wilt not despise.” He had that, so he went in. Said the venerable rabbi, “ Bless you, my son; few come with such an offering!” God meets the penitent and contrite one with eternal salvation and life.
and dragged before the people’s eyes through the streets o f my native town, his back torn and bleeding from the lash. It was a shameful punishment. For many of fences? No; for one offence. Did any of the townfolk offer to share the lashes with him? No; he who committed the offence bore the pen alty alone. It was the penalty of a changing human law, for this was the last instance of its infliction. When I was a student at the University, I saw another sight that I can never forget — a man brought out to die. His arms were pinioned, his face was already pale as death while thousands of eager eyes gazed on him as he came up from the jail. Did anyone ask to die in his place? Did any friend come and loose the rope and say: “ Put it around my neck, and let me die instead” ? No, he underwent the sentence of the law. For many offences? No; for one offence. He had stolen a parcel from a stage coach. He had broken the law at one point and must now die for it. It was the penalty of a changing human law in this gressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling- places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.” It was one thing for the prophet Ezekiel to speak of the restoration of the converted nation to their own land, but it is well known that for centuries while Israel were in their own land, they were a divided, dis membered, feuding people. After the death of the great Solomon, the kingdom was disrupted, only two tribes remaining with Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, whereas ten tribes defected to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. That tragic breach has never been healed; it has not been reversed to this hour. But in the hour of which this passage speaks, the old enmity and animosity between the segments of the nation will be nullified. The sticks referred to remind us of the tribal rods of Numbers 17:2. They symbolically and visibly indicate the blessed cementing of the nation into one glorious unity. Now that they have become one nation through the working of God, there is no further need for a multiplicity of rulers. Therefore, God provides for them one King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will rule over a nation, united and purged and godly. Finally, the prophecy of God speaks of The Davidic King and the Sanctified People, 24-28 “ And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in mine ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever. More over I will make a covenant of peace with them; it
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