The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-12-11
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL
Pastor BROOKLYN
tabernacle

a large attendance today At the Brook.
lyn Tabernacle. He took for his text
the words of the Savior, No man hav-
Ing put his hand to the plow, and look.
ing back, is ht for the Kingdom Of
God" luke tx. G2,. The discourse toll
lows:
The Great Teacher did not Use the
methods of modern ~revivalistS 10 Sc
cure a following. He did not ask the
multitudes 10 raise their hand if they
would prefer to go TO heaven At death
and then publish them as converts
Christians. Indeed his methods were
the very reverse of this, avoiding all
kinds of sensational appeals to pride.
s~elishneSs. vanity. etc. He set forth
in plain terms the difficulties TO be eX-
pected by all those who espouSP his
Cause aud become his disciples. He
forWarned them that il would meal
the taking up of Il cross ard the bear
INK ot il In his footsteps in the mar
row way OF self sacrifice. He warned
these, saying. Marvel not. il the
world bate you. Ye know that 1t hated
me before il hated you. II We We're of
the world. the world would love bis
own; but because We are not of the
world. but ! have chosen you M of
the world. therefore the world hateth
you" Il John III. 10; Jonn ", Is. 19l.
Instead of trying to produce au eX-
citempmt which would over -balanCe the
judgment of his hearers and lead them
to prufesS what they subsequently
would MOI be able or willing to prac-
tiCe. the Great Teacher. ON thr CON
trary, said to those contemplating dis
cipleShip, sit down first aud count the
cost. Instead Of attempting to sway
the multitudes, our Lord took u dit
fereut COURSE and attempted 10 make
disciples of only Il special class not
the poor, nOt the rich. not the learned.
not the ignorant, but, irrespective OF
these class lines and Distinctions. his
call was To all those who loved wight
eOusness aud hated inquiry. All those
who We're weary aud heuvy-luden, up
pressed by sin ana ITS peualiy to tbein-
selves and their tnends-thrSe ne
called 10 earn OF him and bDd rest of
soul
ThencPfOrtb that class, having bpeD
brought IN touch with the RedeemeT.
can make further progress only
through faith IN him and submission
to his guidance into all Truth and into
fellowship with the Father. The class
thus Influenced We believe to be- small
AS compared to humanity as Il whole
only that portion which IN honesty OF
heart deplOreS sin and longs for
righteousness and fellowship with God.
These. like the remainder of the race.
are by nature fallen. imperfect, sinful,
condemned. but iH these still persists
some trace Of the image Of God, ia
the perfection OF which father ADAM
was cFpated 1t is This trace or strain
Of the Divine character represented
by conscience and faith which leads
them to recognize their fallen and sin
ful condition, AZ compared with The
Divine standard Of perfection. aud This
becomes the basis Of their calling Or
dra wing y; God, their ear" He thai
hath an ear Lot lin, huu - RaVAIutun1.
ii. ~. 1t will be- observed that We ar"
not specially blaming Ur conforming
these who have not the hearing ear
On the contrary we remember the
gracious words Of Scripture. that iIt
Gods due time, "All the blind eyes
shall he opened all the deaf EARS shall
be u%nstOpped' isaiah Ixxv. ~ We
are glad Ut this promise Of God that
ultimately all shah see and all shall
hear and all shall know Him. from the
least 10 the greatest. We rejoice. too
that when they know Him truly, they
will rejoice. even as do we now That
will be their time Of responsibility
their time Of irial or judgment for lif.
" altull tAtl hdl va lht FhllhI1 bldhF
The Kingdom Of God
Our text speaks Of the Kingdom Of
God And 1t is important that we
FIRST Of all notice that these words have
10 the Scriptures n twO-fold signi6
canoe For instance, our Lord Jesus
taught that we should pray to the ia
Their, Thy Kingdom come; thy will
be done on earth as ii is lone in
heaven" The reference Of this prayer
is to the Millennial reign or govern
ment Of Christ, which st Paul de
clares will begin at the Second Com
ing Of our Lord. and continue until he
shall have put down all insubordina
ton, all sin, everything contrary to
Divine character and Law 1t will BE-
the Kingdom Of God which will sub
due ali things. 1t will be the Kingdom
If God amongst meD perfected when
all things shall have been subdued
Aud when Cbrist's mediatorial King
dom shall be. at the end of the MI
lennium. delivered back 10 God. even
the Father. Gods Kingdom will have
fully come lu the earth Gods will