The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-08-13
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
4 Tabernacle.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Ooc

broOSIy IL, ~ l., aug. o. dStoi
Russell preached today in Brooklyn
Tabernacle to q crowded house. He
said, in part
Explain it how we will, there is q
persistency in the Hebrew race not
found in any other. Many and great
nations have risen and fallen since
Gods promise to Abraham, I'm thy
Seed shall all the families of the earth
be blessed" The Hebrew race alone
has continued. 1t is with us today-a
power throughout the civilized world.
In literature, medicine, science, and
art, as well as in finance, the Jew oc-
cupies today a high position. No
other nationality can make as good a
general showing.
The Jew, willingly or unwillingly, is
q witness for God and his Word-not
that the Jewish traits are all amiable,
or Godlike, or worthy to be copied, or
worthy to be considered examples for
the remainder of mankind, but because
the race connects us up with the great
promise Of God. which is the hope of
the whole world-the Oath-Bound Gov
enant made with Abraham, which is
yet to be fulfilled.
3 lsrael's Double Experiences.
The Jews know, and Christians
know. that for centuries Israel was
Gods peculiar people, Of whom he
said, ''You only have / known of all
the families Of the earth" amos Iii, y.
Both know also that since the time
Of Jesus death that favored nation
has been cut off from the favors once
enjoyed, has been a people without a
country, held together indeed, but
subjected to calamities and persecu-
lions. But very few of either Jews
or Christians have Investigated and
are aware that there is an exact paral-
lei, or duplication, Of time between the
two experiences of ISrael-that is to
say, that the period of their favor
ending at the Cross of Christ, and
the period Of their disfavor beginning
at the Cross, are of exactly the same
length, or duration. And compare
ltively few know that there are sew
eral distinct promises which foretold
this parallelism. this division of Is
raePs history into two great. equal
portions, one Of favor and the other
rOf disfavor, each 1916 years long
One Of these prophecies marked the
beginning of Israel's disfavor in ad-
vance, saying. 1.-THE days come, saith
the Lord. when 1 will cast you off, and
show you no favor Jeremiah xvi, 49,,
and render unto you double. Another
of these Scriptures pointed to the ex-
act date which constituted the turning
point in their experience, saying, Even
today do j declare that 1 will render
unto you enthusiastically, the other
half Of your experience (Zechariah
tx, 12). That turning day is distinctly
noted by the Prophet as being the
one on which our Lord rode to Jeru-
salem on the ass at the close Of his
ministry, when he wept over the city
of Jerusalem and said. "Your house
is left unto you desolate. Ye shall see
me no more until that day when We
shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord (Matthew xiii
80, 39).
Our text marks the closing of Is
raels period of disfavor, announces
the forgiveness of IsraePs sins and the
return to that people of Gods smile
of favor and states the reason for
this in the words. HE hath rendered
unto her double for all her SINS" Not
double punishment. as though God
were unjust to punish too severely. but
double, or parallel, of experience
under disfavor corresponding to pre-.
vious period of experience under Di-
vine favor as Gods peculiar people.
Speak We Comfortingly.
Every Christian who is rightly in
formed and of proper heart will have
three reasons for pleasure in speak
ing comfortingly to the Jew, in har-
mony with the exhortation Of our
text, at the present time.
ID He should have that general
sympathy for the Jew as for all
others of the human family, and
should therefore be glad to rejoice
with him that the end of his tribula-
lions is near at hand. even though the
Scriptures distinctly declare that his
tribulaion will close with a very
sharp experience.
(2) When the Christian remembers
that the hopes and promises which he
cherishes belonged once to the Jew,
and were forfeited by that nation be-
cause of unpreparedness Of heart to
receive the Messiah, it must cause a
fresh sympathy. While rejoicing in
the riches of Gods grace which.
through the failure of the Jew. was
extended to the Gentiles, we should
also feel pity and sympathy for them
In their loss of the Divine favor,
which has come to us and which we
enjoy (Romans XII, 2S-32).
90 The Christian may well rejoice
with the Jew additionally because the
Scriptures clearly indicate that with
the end Of IsraePs disfavor will come
the end Of the present order of things
and the Inauguration of the Millen-
NAL Dispensation of Divine favor TO
Israel, and through Israel to the
world. And this will mean the COM
pletion of the Church, her change in
the First Resurrection" from mortal
to immortal, from earthly to heavenly
conditions as the Bride Of Christ and
as Zion In the Millennial throne or
OtnrU-flrGf fn CV nd