Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-21
NJ ~ MOUTH-BETHEL 81
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BLESSED INDICTMENTS.

BLESSED JUDGMENTS.
With my soul have desired Thee in the
seek Thee early: Tor wnen thy Judgments are
abroad in the EARTH the inhabitants of the
world will learn righteousness" Isa.. 2e;s.
BROOKLYN. Dec. 19.-Pastor Russell spoke
today from the above text. Brooklyn tabernacle
was crowded with an attentive audience, as
usual We report the discourse, as follows:
Only those who to an advanced degree
of knowledge of Gods Wore can realize how
divine judgments are all gOOd-all blessed. I'm
not understanding Alright the teachings of the
Scriptures, supposing that they taught eternal
torment for the great majority of our race, we
feared God. rather than loved Him. We dared
not say that such Judgment was wrong. ma
lfcious, deYilish yet we were unable to see 1t
in any other light; hence the general perpIexity
OF Christendom, and the general alienation OF
heart and many intelligent minds driven to
infideity, and the dislike to think about God
and His supposedly terrible purposes respecting
our race and the general awe respecting the
Bible and fear Of its misunderstood teachings.
But now in the dawnng of the dispense
llon the Word OF God is shining never be-
lore, one passage Illuminating another, fear
gives place to reverential love and filiaI awe.
We begin to understand that the torment doc
rines which we received are wholly foreign to
the divine character which. on the contrary. is
distinctly marked by wisdom Justice mercy
agreement with the Scriptural declaration that
Gods judgments righteous altogether" and
we delight in them. Instead of a Judgment Of
eternal torment a penalty for sin. we find a
Judgment or sentence of death. We agree to
the righteousness of that verdict or Judgment.
God had the right to demand of His creature
the obedience He was able to render. He had
a perfect right to destroy him in death when
he refused the blessing OF life eternal the
terms of obedience. Seeing this how rejoiced
we are to note the divine mercy in the plan
of redemption for the sinner and his offspring
through the sacrifice of Christ! As a result
we have good hope in His judgments; for Him
who once judged MS worthy of death has with
equal justice redeemed and granted us the
opportunity of eternal life through the resur-
rection.
1t another part of the divine Judgment
against our race that. instead Of the death
PENALTY coming instantly upon Adam and Eve
1t came gradually, that through the processes
of gradual dying they might the better learn
the lesson Of the exceeding sinfulness of sim
to the intent that, when granted the new
trial secured by the merit of Christ's sacrifice
they might profit by it the more. The same
principles apply to all of Adams posterity
The whole creation grOaneth and travaileth in
pain together until waiting for the
manifestation of the of God" (Rom.. S:2S
49, They are waiting for the establishment
of Christ's millennial kingdom under which
they shall have full opportunity Of coming
to = knowledge OF the truth. Thev await ex-
periences with the blessings of righteousness
in the present life they have contact with
the experiences results OF sin. They
chiefly know evil. When they shall begin to
know good their judgment or trial will be pro-
portionate
This Is Gods provision for the world in gen
eral. What Cod did for the little nation Of
Israel during tive Jewish age. and what He
las been doing for Spiritual Israel since Pente-
cost I'm this Gospel age. are matters separate
and apart entire from His general dealing with
spiritual seed OF Abraham are executions to the
rule. They have been granted special privileges
and blessings not granted to the world in gen
eral-natural Israel under the law covenant
and spiritual Israel under the Ahrahamic
nant. From these two nominal Israels spe-
cial ''overccmers' have been chosen or elected.
These shortly. in association with the Redeem
or. will constitute the KINGDOM Of God. The
overcomers OF spiritual Israel becoming the
Of def nv To
the heavenly nature. will be like Him and share
His Glorv and constitute the kingdom class in
Israel resurrected to the perfection of earthly
Nature. will constitute the earthly phase Of the
millennial kinGdom: Mankind may see and nave
intercourse with these. hut will not see nor
have direct intercourse with the glorified Christ,
Hood and Bodv-thp King NJ Glory.
So fay as the world Is concerned. II has been
under Che one GENERAL sentence of Divine Jus
tice '%ying thou shalt die" But far az
natural and snIritual Israel are concerned. they
tence and trial for life or death arresh under
Gods judgments or disciDlines. Thus it is writ
ten. Jehovah will Judge his peonle.' Not all
under these judgments have understood them
not all were In the condition OF heart 10 re-
ceive their instructions. '"Ibe secret or the
Lord is with them that fear Him; ana lie
will show them His covenant" (Psa.. 85:l4.l
Thus. during the Jewish Israel often laps d.
into more less Of darkness and idoIatry ann
failed to see their special privileges and rela-
tionship 70 God under their covenant. But
amongst them wore the few faithful who with
the eye of faith discerned the righteousness
IF Gods dealing with them. or these were
the prophets who rehearsed the Divine deal
ings and rewards and punishments. that rney
true and righteous altogether and mercl
fui in the extreme.
Similarly during this gospel age Chrtstendom
whole has not been in the condition or
heart to near, to understand, to appreciate the
judgments Of the Lord. But some have been
''Israeltes indeed" who possessed the secret
Of the I orb and who were abe to rejoice in Ills
judSInente-His righteous dealings. They real
lied by faith Gods love for them. 1.-The Fa-
Their himself loveth you" John. 1921 BY
faith they appropriated the apostles assurance
that "all things work together for go0d TO
them that 1--we God. to them who the
called according to His purpose from, 4. !
2S.) Thus they were enabled to trace in |