Milford chronicle., 1909-05-21
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

Glasgow, May 1--we know all
things work together for good TO them
that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. For
whom he did foreknow be also did
predestinate to be conformed to the
image Of his Son; that he might be the
arstborn among many brethren" (RO-
mans viii, 2s, 29).
Coming to the land Of that sturdy
man of God. John Knox, am remind
ed Of his able contention for the doc
trine Of Election-its Scripturalness
and its demonstration Of the greatness,
majesty and sovereignty Of the Lord
our God. We surmise, however, that
the good mans heart must frequently
have been sorely distressed with the
logic of his own argument; that the
eternal woe Of nine-tenths Of our race
was as unalterably fixed in advance
Of their birth as was the eternal joy
Of the blessed handful predestinated
to be saints and to share the heavenly
glories. We may well thank God. dear
friends. that in the clearer light now
shining upon the Scriptures we may
discern the errors handed down to US
from the dark ages, without losing our
appreciation Of Divine foreknowledge
and Divine sovereignty.
While it is true that it would be diff
cult TO estimate the value Of the doc
trine of Divine foreknowledge taught
by Brother Knox, not only in this ma
tion, but also throughout the world in
culcating a reverence for the Almighty,
Il is also true that it would be difficult
to estimate the amount Of damage
which has resulted TO Christendom and
throughout the world from his teach
ings respecting the Divine treatment
Of the non-elect. This serious error
has alienated the hearts of thousands .
from God and from his Book. Let us .
look together at the doctrines Of Elec- /
tion, Predestination and Foreordina (
tion, from the Scriptural standpoint, .
that we may note their beauties and be
drawn the nearer to the Lord and TO
his Book in true reverence and wor-
ship.
Foseknown and Predestinated.
Our text declares that whom God did
foreknow them he also did predestinate;
but we notice that the predestination is
stated only as respects the Church and
not in respect to others. This fact does
not escape the attention of others, but
they have reasoned erroneously.-that
u God fOreknew an elect Church, for
whom he predestinated special bless
Ings and honors this would imply that
the remainder of mankind non-elect
were to be tortured eternally. The
ogic of this position is unsOund and
L is quite unscriptural to say, that all
If the non-elect will be consigned to an
eternity Of torture at the hands of fire /
proof demons in fufllment of a Di-
vine predestination fixed before crea- {
ion. There is no Scripture whatever &
o this effect. and Brother Knox and G
,thers were in error to the extent that /
hey wove into their theories matters ]
lot Scripturally stated !
According to the Scriptures. as well
s according TO human judgment as eX- l.
ressed in the laws of civilization, the G
highest. the severest penalty to be en- b
Orced. is the death penalty. the taking O
way of the life not used In harmony a
7ith the Creators reasonable, righteous O
equirements. This is the Scriptural q
eclaration to which, for so long time,
re were blind: THE wages Of sin is 81
eath;" The soul that sinneth. it shall Il
ie;" "All the wicked will he Destroy" Y
They shall perish as brute beasts" s,
They shall be destroyed with an ever a
sting destruction" (the Second Death. fl
Romans vi, %; Ezekiel xviii, 4; Psalm W
Clv, 20; II Peter II, u; II ThessalO- m
ans I. 9. al
Thus seen the very severest results bl
ossible to nOn-election would be ex- W
nction-the Second Death. But the W
,riptures clearly show that God has re
'acious purposes, not for the "elect" al
lly, but also for the nOn-elect, and that tn
his due time the non-elect shall be tn
ought to a clearer knowledge Of the of
ruth and to a full opportunity Of har- an
Ony with their Creator and through re
lrist Jesus the re-attalnment of all is
at was lost in Adam. all that was re- fl,
GAuGu " lAle pEttluuS SdtEluGe ol an
lrist Thus, as the Scriptures de W,
ire, there is q common salvation"
1de - in which all Of Adams chill el,
en- shall be privileged to have a share. Iii
lere is also a special salvation, a m,
Ugh calling Of God in Christ, which he
referred to as so great salvation ste
iich began to be preached spoken ba
the Lord, and was confirmed unto "a,
by them that heard him." (Heb. ii, 81
This special or great salvation is ~,
: one which our Lord has provided NO
. the Elect" while the common as
walton" is his provision for the non.
ct
)oes # not seem strange that m
other Knox and Others his coadiu-
s, in getting away from much Of
smoke of the dark ages" failed
even think Of a salvation Of the
Reject as part Of Gods providence?
eir eyes. beholding the awful and
,hting errors respecting eternal tor
ut, totally blinded them to Gods
g. al. Z F.