Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-11-27
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


No other book treats the matter Of
human woe and sorrow in the wise
tender, sympathetic. helpful manner Of
the Bible. Ii 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 God. With them Gods
attributes are merely more or less OF
ferocity. Their gods are to be placat-
ed and worshipped from fear Of what
they otherwise would do to their crea-
lures. The God of the Bible assures
US of his love, bis 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 the attitude of loving right
eousness and hating lniquity-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 a dark time of
hard, blIghtlng experiences, n night
of weeplng-of sorrow. In harmony
with this figure II declares that dark
ness covers the (clvilzed 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 II 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, In the
footsteps of Jesus. Well does the
Apostle say. "The whole creation
groaneth aud travaileth In pain to-
gether until now, Aud not only they,
but ourselves also, which have the
frst-fruits OF the Spirit. even we our
selves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption; to wit, the redemp-
tion of our Body,"-the Body of which
Jesus is the Head or Chief and we
are symbollcal members or an under
priesthood Qlomans will. ~. 23).
There Is difference. however, be-
tween the Church and the world In this
groanlng, as suggested by the Apos-
ties words. The world groans aloud
without alienation. aud even its 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
sanctided ones. The secret of the
Lord is with them that fear Tever-
encel him and he will show them his
Covenant" psalm XIV. 14l. These
who possess the secret of the Lord
''sorrow not as others who have no
hope" Il Thessalonians iv, 13l. They
"groun lnwurdly" and walt for the glo-
rilcatlou of themselves and all the
brethren. members OF the symbollcal
Body OF Christ. by participation in the
First Resurrection. The hopes of these
must be realized first. before the bless.
ing can come 70 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 a Dark Place.
The Bible represents itself us being
the candle OF the Lord, the lamp OF
Divine Truth and enlightenment, But
Il tells 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 conseera-
ton seek 20 walk IN the footsteps OF
Jesus They need the light God pro-
vides It for them. These are repre-
scented by the Prophet as saying TO the
Lord. THY Word Is lamp unto my
feet, aud u light unto my path" foot
steps, psalm cXiX. 1867 This light
evidently does not shine far into the
future. but enough for each onward
rtUp as Il becomes due.
81. Peter ampliies the same thought
After telling us OF the assurance which
he himself and his associates had upon
he Mount or TRANSPORTATION when
hey beheld "thc piSioR" (Matthew xvii.
% OF the Lord miraculously trans,
ormed aud with him Moses ana Eli
ah and heard the voice from heaven.
was forcoful 10 their minds as
oachlng the coming OF our Lord IN
.lory. ln due time Nevertheless, says
he Apostle, honoring tho blhie above
ny vision. we have more sure
word OF prophecy; whereOnto ye do
sell thai Sc take heed, as unto llght
hat shineth Ia a dark place, until the
ay dawn. ana the day star arise"
n Peter 4 %. indicating that the
,orning Is at hand and that the sun
Z Rlrhteousaess viii soon fulul its
llssion ~ blessing an the families OF
be earth
But Why ls This Thusf
why does God permit the reign OF
a ana death. injustice, unrighgeo0s'
~. sorrow trouble, pain. headaches.
. . ~, .ta- .,fa q Why does he not