Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-10-23
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

The only proper contentment is tina
which combines with godliness anC
which sees from the standpoint o.
Gods Word the Divine power able Z
correct the difficulties which assail ui
and oil mankind The godly believer
thus instructed Is able to approprlat,
10 himself the Divine promises oi
proyidential care and thus to be con
tent with conditions which are mo-
satisfactory.
On the other hand, those who elthel
do not know OF the Divine power, oI
have lost their faith in Divine wis
dom, chafe more and more under pres
ent conditions And the more dlscon
tented they become, the greater is
their tendency toward ungodllness-
doubt OF Divine love, wisdom and
power. Self.dependence is a poor sub
stitute and. as disappolntments come,
the combatlve find anger. malice. ha-
tired, envy and strife surgIng through
their minds. Then they become rabld
socialists aud are In the way 10 even.
tually become rabld anarchists.
7 Again we have those who term
themselves Christian Socialists. These
well-meanlng souls perceive the sltu.
alton OF their brethren and say. Yes,
the world should be socially trans
formed It's riches should not flow,
as at present. into the favored chan
nels, but should be scattered every
where for the general refreshment
and comfort OF mankind as a whole
They philosophize on what God surely
would and surely would not approve
amongst men, and then declare that
all Christians should at once set about
70 secure 20 the world OF mankind a
just division OF Gods bounties. Their
love and zeal for right principles we
should aud do admire aud commend.
But we cannot commend their course,
their hopes, their preaching. by which
they seek 10 obtain the ends desired.
Recognizing the principles OF Divine
Justice they seek 10 apply these, for
getful OF the fact that they have not
the Divine Wisdom necessary 60
proper application.
They seem 10 forget also that justice
has been the same for several thou
sand years past, aud that Divine Wis
dom has not yet seen nc 10 establish
Divine Justice amongst men. II they
think that this Is a neglect on Gods
part which they are wise enough 10
rectlfy. the thought Is evidently an
erroneous one. II they believe. on the
contrary, that the time for the estab-
lishment OF justice was not in the
past, but has now come. they should
be able 10 ind aud point MS to a Di-
vine revelation 20 this effect. practical
ly authorizing them 10 take their stand
now for socialism and explaining that
the due time for the prosperity OF JUS
tice has now come aud how they shall
proceed and what shall be the out
come But do they offer us such eyi.
dences from the Bibley DO they offer
us such proofs as these? Nay. verify.
Like the other socialists they are mere
~ discontinued and become discomfort
ed seeking remedy.
From the Bible standpoint the world
Is not properly ready for It's own con.
troll under any form OF government
IL Is a rebelllous province In the Dl-
vine Empire-one In which sin aud
selnshness nnd death constitute the
ruling elements. The Bible declares
that what the world needs is mon
archy-a strong. centralized govern
ment In which the masses must not be
allowed 70 have voice az an, be-
cause, la their fallen condition. they
know not what Is for their own highest
good, The hible tells us that present in
stitutlons under the power OF selfish.
ness, driving the wealthy In one dlree.
tion aud the masses In the opposite
direction, Is about to brlug a universal
crash anarchy. This and athelstlc
socialism ana Christian socialism. ana,
IN a larger sense, general seldshness
ana discomfort are urging upon the
two great eomhatants. both OF whom
Will fan In the struggle, never 10 rise
again However according 90 the
Scriptures. they win be succeeded 10y
the Kingdom OF Gods dear son,
That strong Government. that theoc.
racy to which every knee must bow
ana every tongue confess 60 the glory
OF God. IL the Kingdom that the world
needs Its rule Of righteousness alone
will bring 60 mankind the Joy and
peace and blessing which an crave
hut which none ~ us are wise enough
10 know how 10 bring abOut--not even
our socnllst friends, The part of faith
and the part of wisdom h to look unto
the lord from whom cometh our help,
Nor should we look 10 him 10 approve
lur meihods. but rather 20 be Informed
respecting hls methods and 90 approve
them md 20 cooperate TO the extent Of
our abilities.
Church Congress OF Boston.
AZ church cnngress recently held
10 Boston day was slven to the dis,
cussion Of Chrislian Socialism. Roth
sides of the question were permitted
60 he prosecuted One minister. Rev.
an.s.I lall.f Ktrhlt. A. e..,.sfal l.. tha