cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and wert grafted
contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these,
which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree."
Again, the wild olive stands for the Gentiles, the good olive tree for
Israel, the branches broken off, but which may be grafted in again, for
the Jews. Thus to this theory of interpretation the whole Bible responds
easily and reasonably. With this kind of interpretation one need not
twist and distort the sacred Word in order to understand it. I trust the
day is near when men will expound the sacred Scriptures by the rules of
common sense.

The calamity that happened to the nine Tribes of Israel in been carried
captive has been turned into good by our heavenly Father--into good for
them and all the world. "Therefore the Lord removed Israel out of His
sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So was Israel
carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day" (2 Kings
xvii. 23). Keeping back the Tribe of Benjamin is a marvel of goodness.
And with Paul we may exclaim: "Now if the fall of them be the riches of
the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how
much more their fulness." If Israel had been able to contribute so much
of Christianity to the world, and evolve in her imperfect state such an
equitable form of government, what will her contribution be when
gathered, restored, and once again put into a theocratic relation to God?
"For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what
shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" This people who
have been scattered among the Gentiles God is collecting out from among
them for His own glorious purpose and work. Thus scattered they have
been a mystery--a mystery among the Gentiles. Paul to the Colossians
says: "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of
glory."

When will the fulness of the text take place? We answer. Before long.
The fulness here stands over against the Gentile fulness. In the three
last discourses we called your attention to Israel's maturing fulness in
land, people, and language. And now, if you will consider the state of
the Gentile nations, it will be apparent to you that the time of Gentile
fulness is now present. These Gentile nations are now overflowing. Take
China wit