The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-29
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

the Brooklyn IaDerllacle preacueu To-
day from the text. "Grieve not the
holy Spirit of God, by which you were
sealed unto the day of deliverance"
Ephesians iv, 30). He said:
Most evidently our text is not adj
dressed to the heather, who know not
God. nor to the masses of Christendom
even, but merely to those who come to
an intimate acquaintance with the
Lord and who have received his holy
Spirit as a SEAL mark, evidence. proof.
that they by and by will attain the
fruition of their hopes-the completion
of their redemption. their absolute de-
Iiverance from sin and death condi-.
tions. Most assuredly no one could
grieve the holy Spirit who had not re-
ceived it,
The expression. holy Spirit of God, is
here used exactly in the same sense as
if we were speaking to a dear earthly
friend, whose sympathy. fellowship,
favor we had learned to esteem very
highly. OF such we might say in very
similar language. If you do so and so.
il would aSsuredly wound and grieve
the spirit of your dearest friend. The
intimation would be that you would no
longer have his esteem and favor as
before; that the reprehended' conduct
would cause more or less of q breach
between you and your friend. 1t would
not mean that his acquaintance would
necessarily be cut forever. and that he
would become your enemy. instead Of
your friend 1t would mean. rather.
that having been your friend he would
esteem you no longer worthy of the
same degree of fellowship and conf
dence as before. He would no longer
treat you as dear and intimate
friend, and communicate to you his
plans and arrangements along various
lines. He might still speak as he
passed by. and treat you in every way
kindly. yet there would be difference.
n GOODNESS. a separation. cloud. be-
tween. If you esteemed the love of
your friend. his fellowship. his inter-
est in all of your affairs. You would
assuredly be continually on guard to
do nothing that might wound, offend.
grieye him and aiienate his sympathy
and fellowship-especially if he were
on higher plane of wealth or honor
or intelligence than yourself, and one,
therefore. whose patronage. advice and
counsel you needed and desired.
This. we take it. is the thought be-
hind the Apostles word "grieUe'' in
our text. 1t is closely allied with the
% off Sat
our Creator, our Heavenly Father. We
are not to get the thought that the
great Creator of the Universe could be
actually caused sorrow. grief. repin-
ing. pain. by any conduct of ours. He
is too great and we are too insignifi-
cant. Yet our Heavenly Father takes
note of us as world Of mankind. He
has provided for our relief from sin
and its penalty. death. He is specially
interested in those who have responded
to his gracious proffers. Like as IA
Their pitieth his children, so the Lord pit
ieth them that reverence him. psalm
CHI, 49,. His pity extended beyond
this-even to love, when we heartily
accepted his favor and made full con-
secration of our little all to him. 1t
was then that he was pleased to seal
us, to give us the mark or stamp Of
sonship, to evidence to us that we have
been begotten again to New Nature,
to Immortality, to glory with himself
if so be that we continue faithful to
our VOW of conservation.
The Lords Jewels,
AS a father he watches over the in
terests of this consecrated class. AL
though, as the Scriptures say. they are
''few," he estimates them very highly
and. amongst other precious names,
gives to these sons of God the title Of
Jewels" The experiences of the pres
ent life are intended to polish these
jewels-to prepare them for heavenly
setting in the Resurrection Morning.
'They shall be mine. saith the Lord of
hosts, in that day when l make up my
jewels" (Malachi iii. 10.
AS the lapidary first washes the dia-
mond which has been picked from the
miry clay; as he then critically exam
ines it to note its very best possibili-
ties; as he then gives direction to the
workman respecting its cutting and
subsequently respecting its polishing.
we have the Divine illustration of how
Gods providence through the holy
= Spirit, the holy Power Of God. over
rules and guides in all the experiences
of this consecrated Jewel class. 1t is
required OF them that they exercise
faith and learn to rejoice in tribula-
lions. as we'll as in more pleasurable
experiences. knowing that they are in
Gods hand. and that, If they are SUBJ
missive to him. he will work out for
them a far more exceeding and eter-
nal weight of glory" through the dis
appointments, the frictiOnS, the sor-
rows. the tears, the anguish even, Of
earthly experiences-if these be en-
dured for righteousness sake.
Coming down to human comprehen-
sion. the Lord represents himself as
pleased or displeased, rejoiced or griev-
ed. after the manner of the most noble
OF the human family. Because of his
generosity. his benevolence. his desire
to do good unto all. and especially to
the household of faith. and particular
~ to the fully consecrated. our Crea-
tor takes pleasure in the working out OF
a great Plan of Salvation for humanity.
For six thousand years our loving