Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-11-25
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
I abernacle.

above text. He said
No other book treats the matter of
human woe and sorrow in the wise,
tender. sympathetic, helpful manner of
the Bible 1t assures us that however
cold, heartless and disappointing the
world may be and our friends may be,
or those from whom we may have ex-
pected better things, we have, never
thelesS, a God of sympathy-a God of
love- No heather religion knows any
thing of such a God With them Gods
attributes are merely more or less of
ferOcity. Their gods are to be placat-
ed and worsbipped from fear Of what
they otherwise would do to their crea-
lures. The God of the Bible assures
us of his love. his sympathy, in all Of
our distresses-his interest in our af-
fairs and his provision for the ulti-
mate welfare of all those who will
come into tIse attitude of loving right
eousness and hating iniquity-the only
proper attitude of heart, the only one
which he can approve and bless with
everlasting life.
A Night of Sorrow and Death.
The Scriptures point out to US what
we recognize to be the truth-that the
world has been under pail and blight
and curse of death for six thousand
years Appropriately our text de-
scribes this period as dark time of
hard, blighting experiences. a night
of Weeping-of sorrow. In harmony
with this figure it declares that dark
ness covers the civilized earth and
gross darkness the heathen.''
Not alone does this condition affect
those who are in alienation from God
through ignorance and superstition
and the power of sin, but it affects
also those who have accepted the
grace of God, who have turned their
backs upon sin and who are seeking
to walk in the narrow way, III the
footsteps of Jesus. Well does the
Apostle say. The whole creation
grOaneth and travaileth in pain to-
gether until now. And not only they
but ourselves also, which have the
first-fruits of the Spirit. even we our
selves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption; to wit, the redemp-
ton of our Body,'-the Body of which
Jesus is the Head or Chief and we
are SymbOlical members or an under
priesthood Romans viii, 30, 81.
There is a difference, however, be-
tween the Church and the world in this
groaning, as suggested by the Apos-
ties words The world groans aloud
without alienation, and even it's wait
ing for the manifestation of the sons
Of God is a waiting in ignorance; for,
being out of touch with the Eternal
One, they know not OF his gracious
purposes and arrangements-fOr these
are kept secret from all except his
Sanctifed ones. THE secret of the
Lord is with them that fear reyer-
enceI him and he will show them his
Covenant" psalm XIV. III. These
who possess the secret of the Lord
sorrow not as others who have no
hope" q Thessalonians iv, 49,. They
'groan inwardly" and wait for the glo-
rifcation Of themselves and all the
brethren. members of the symbolical
Body of Christ, by participation in the
First Resurrection. The hopes of these
must he realized first, before the bless
ing can come to the ''gEoaning crea-
ton" in general. The latter are wait
ing for the manifestation of the sons
of God; namely, the Church in glory.
A Light In Dark Place.
The Bible represents itself as being
the candle of the Lord, the lamp of
Divine Truth and enlightenment. But
it tolls US that it's light is not for the
world-either now or at any time
future. Its light is only for those who
by faith and obedience unto consecra-
ton seek to walk in the footsteps of
Jesus. They need the light God pro-
vides vt for them. These are repre-
scented by the Prophet as saying to the
Lord Thy Word is a lamp unto my
feet and light unto my path" foot
steps, psalm cXix, 1867. This light
evidently does not shine far into the
future. but enough for each onward
step as it becomes due.
ST. Peter amplifes the same thought.
Afteg telling US of the assurance which
he himself and his associates had upon
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION when
they beheld 'the Uision" (Matthew xvii,
1-9j of the Lord miraculously trans
formed and with him Moses and Eli
jah and heard the voice from heaven,
it was forcefu to their minds as
teaching the coming of our Lord in
glory. in due time. Nevertheless, says
the Apostle, honoring the Bible above
any vision, We have a more sure
word of prophecy; whereunto We do
we'll that We take heed, as unto a light
that shineth in a dark place. until the
day dawn, and the day star arise"
IL Peter i, %, indicating that the
morning is at hand and that the Sun
of Righteousness will soon fulfil its
mission Of blessing all the families or
the earth.
But Why Is This Thus?
Why does God permit the reign of
sin and death. injustice. unrighteous-
ness. sorrow. trouble. pain. headaches,
heartaches, ETC.? Why does he not
6oal with humanity orra oio,Yctu iy;nd1V