The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-23

Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


that without parable spake he not
unto the people. He declared that the
understanding of these parallels and
dark sayings was only for limited
class. He said, "Untp you is given to
know the mysteries df the kingdom of
heaven, but to them (outsiders) l speak
in parallels" (Matthew xiii. lib.
Many dear Christian people who are
themselves opposed to cruelty in every
form subscribe to creeds of the dark
ages which misrepresent the heavenly
Father as taking fiendish delight in
creating millions Of humanity with the
foreknowledge of a precarious exist
ence in the present life of few years
and their eternal torture. 1t is claim
ed by foreordination, or at least fore
ARRANGEMENT, God planned that all ex-
cept the saints shall spend an endless
eternity in most horrible torture.
Some say in physical and others say
In mental torture worse. These Chris
tan friends have apparently failed to
note that the Scripture references which
they believe teach eternal torment are
all of this parabolic or symbolic char
acter; that there is not literal state
ment to such an effect from Genesis
to Revelation. On the contrary, there
are numerous Scriptures which declare
that the wicked shall be destroyed"
perish" die" and that Gods provi-
sion is that none can have eternal life
except as a gift and favor through
Christ. 1.-The wages Of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord" Ro-
mans vi. 23).
The masses. Disguised with all doc
trines, no longer hope for anything
reasonable or logical in religion. Some,
devoid of heart and reason, are fully
satisfied; let the doctrines alone. But
others still hunger and thirst after
righteousness-truth Their hearts cry
out after the living and true Coda
God of justice, wisdom, love and
power. They realize that the Bible
must be his revelation of his own
character and purposes, yet are free
to acknowledge that they have never
been able satisfactorily to understand
It or to harmonic its doctrines. The
message of Present Truth is for this
latter class. and all over the world
they are hearing it and being blessed.
refreshed. comforted, strengthened by
divine might In the inner man. Com
ing to a clearer knowledge of the Di-
vine Plan of the Ages. they are finding
it soul satisfying and sanctifying. 1t is
this class that the Peoples Pulpit seeks
TO reach and to instruct more perfect
~ respecting the divine character and
purpose.
A Parable or a Literal Statement.
We remind you that in the parable
the thing said is never the thing meant.
For instance, wheat and tares do not
mean wheat and tares, but children of
the Kingdom and children of the
wicked one. Sheep and goats mean
ferent spirit or disposition. So in the
parable under consideration. We hold
that the rich man and Lazarus and all
the various things connected with the
story are parabolic. The majority Of
people. seemingly anxious to hold on to
this parable as a proof text favoring
the eternal torment theory. insist that
1t is not a parable, but literal state
ment of facts. We must pause. there
fore, to show the impossibility of that
view before we proceed to analyze the
true meaning. We need mention only
a few points to show that 1t could not
properly be understood as a literal
statement of facts. For instance. 1t is
not stated that the rich man was pro-
fame or immoral or wicked in any or
binary sense of these words. The whole
account is that he was rich, was
clothed in purple and fine linen and
Jared sumptuously every day. Viewed
literally the implication would be that
all the wealthy who wear purple ap-
parel and who have bountiful supply
of provisions will by and by spend an
eternity of torture. regardless of their
moral characters. Surely such an in
depreciation is irrational
AlhSWlSC VI ldLdi we ISdQ HUI
a word about his good qualities. his
purity Of heart. his generosity to the
poor, his reverence for God, etc.. but
merely that he was poor. lay at the
rich mans gate. desired to eat the
crumbs from his table and was full
of sores If these conditions are to be
understood literally, it would signify
that moral and religious qualities have
nothing to do with our admittance to
heavenly state. but merely poverty,
sickness. ETC., such as few of us could
claim to have duplicated. Moreover,
a literal Interpretation would imply
Abraham's literal bosom as the place
of bliss. And if Lazarus got there, and
even two or three since. it would leave
no room for any of us. unless Abra-
ham has a larger BOSOM and longer
arms than any one we know. But
enough of this.
The Parable Briefly Explained.
We offer a suggestion as to the mean
ing of the parable We admit that
since our Lord did not interpret it,
anybody has the same right as our
selves to seek to find and to make
rnnwn an Interpretation which will At
TO all the v.tiiUus paris III LIE paraDie
md ha .t,aa Sor.t l,it, Srrint1lrll and lar