Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-04
Sermon by
CHARLES +.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


sues Of life. death aud u hereafter ar,
all in the band " pOwprof he Lord II,
took counsel Of none Of US. and holds
himself fully responsible. declaring
that all OF his purposes shall be ac-
compisbed. and that his Word that
has gone forth shall not return to
him void. but shall accomplish that
which he pleases 0saiah lv. 10. III.
He owed US nothing in the begin.
ning, aud will be under no obligations
10 us In the end We are his debtors
Tor all that IL profitable or enjoyable.
He is a rich King and Father aud Is
able and willing to do exceedingly
abundantly for us. his creatures
than we could have asked or thought
But he has bis own way for doing
this, which. IN the end. will be seen
to be the best way. His ways are
Ia clouds and darkness" writes the
prophet and the poet answers, yes.
God moves In a mysterious way
Hts wonders 10 perform"
The Gift Of God.
Eternal life Is "the gift OF God" for
all OF his creatures who Will take II
on his terms: aud for all others he
declares. The wages Of sin is death"
the blotting out OF life. And who
cannot see that this arrangement to
destroy all who will not use life in ac.
cord with the Divine Will Is really
mercy? 10 perpetuutc life opposed to
bis will aud Inv of righteousness
would be disgrace 10 God aud an
injury 10 the holy as well as TO the
unholy. God gave our race life In
Adam. but. as hp had foreseen. they
lost II by disobcdieuce aud came under
the penalty-deuth As he purposcd
before the fouulu,Ion of the world, he
In due time sput hls Son to be The
Lamb OF God viii Il nkcth away the
sin OF the world" As such Jesus
died. "the Just Tor the unjust" "tast-
Ing death fnr every mun' Hebrews
II. ~. This glorious purpose God set
forth Ia Father Abraham In his oath
bound covenant co.. which the Apostle
writes IN Hebrews 81. 1920.
The context si.ws distinctly that
the Apostles rnd the early Church
drew comfort trum the Oath.Bound
Covenant. and clearly Implies THAT this
same comfort hr,uuss lu every trur
Christian down IN The eud of this age
Ito every memher 0f the Body of
Christ The Apostles words Imply
that Gods prDuiiss lud oath were In
tended more Tor ut HAN tor Abra ham
more ter uur ,ouiforl than for his.
Note the Alns,.,, words That by
two immu'lh.r 'a''as two unulterablr
thiugsl. in wh, u ' was Impossible fur
God To llr. We CJr G'spH ChurJ Jh
might have a a',.l. ,unsulitinu. Ovri
who have hed fur refuge TO Chrlsu,
20 lay hold upon lhr hope set before
ua"
Assurances OF Almishty's Oath.
doubtless Abraham aud all of his
family Israel after the desh. drew a
certain amount uf blessing aud en-.
eourngement from this Covenant or
promise Hnd the oath OF the Almighty.
which douhly sealed lt which gave
double ASSURANCE of It's certainty of
accomplishment, but the Apostle In.
tlmates In the words quoted. that
Gods special design In giving that
Covenant aud IN binding II solemnly
with an oath. was To encourage Spirit
ual israel-to give us firm founda.
tlon for faith
God well knew that, although 3OOo
years from hls own standpoint would
be hut brief space. "as watch IN
the night" nevertheless to us the time
would appear long, and the strain upon
faith would be- severc, hsnvc the posi-
live statement aud tide sg,ll mure dc
llberatc oath that bound II We cul.
not but wonder at such coudesceusion
upou the part of the great Creator
that he would stoop Ia his fallen crca
furrs and above an, that hr should
roudescend to give his oath un the
subject
our Lord Jesus was the great heir
u the Ahuhamic PROMISE, and the
Ai'htul OF his cunsecrated people ct
thii Gnsne' .A-c Arr declared tn be- his
hnt-heirs he thnt promise which is
not yet ulhlled For It's mlhllmeut
nol only the Chuph Is waiting. as the
..l.le u. iyuOw. .memhers OF the Body
VI christ, 10 be participants with the
Lord Ia the glories Implied In the
prunlse. but additionally the whole
y9fian 1.-THE eutire human family Is
is'oRnlng aud Travelling In pain "a.
ge'her waiting Tor the great fulhpment
ul that oathbound prOmise or cove,
naut U,omans viii, 1873.
THOSE who follow the Apostles argu,
E.rui and realize that we as Christians
are still waiting for the fulnllment OF
this promise will be anxious TO know
what are the terms Of this Covenant
which is the hope OF the world. the
hope of the Church and the object OF
50 much solio itude aud care on the
part OF Gad, Ia thai he would promise
aud then back his word with an oath.