The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-08-20
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
: Tabernacle.


Sandusky, o., Aug. 15.-"Man is
tempted when he is drawn away of
his own desires and enticed. Then,
when desire has conceived. it bringeth
forth sin; and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth DEATH Games i. IA, 15).
In proportion to our intelligence we
all know that sin abounds in the world
and more than this, that there are tend
encies toward sin in our own flesh.
The Scriptural declaration is, 81 was
born in sin and shapen in iniquity, and
in sin did my mother conceive me-"
psalm Ii, 81. The explanation of these
conditions is found only in the Bible,
which tells us that the beginning of
sin was in Eden, and that its painful
influence has descended from parent
to child until now, and that there was
but one complete remedy for it, which
is beyond our power, but provided for
us by our Creator through his glorious
Son, who redeemed us.
Doctrines of Devils.
The Bible is Gods message to all
those who are DESTROYS of learning the
Divine standard and choosing and fight
ing a good fight against the wrong,
against sin wherever found; but es-
pecially against sin and weakness to-
ward sin in ourselves. The more truly
we discern the true PHILOSOPHERS for
sin and the Divine remedy, the better
we are prepared to resist it-fore-
warned we are forearmed.
However it may be explained, the
fact remains that the world of man.
kind, heather and civilized, realizing
sin, feels conscieDce-stricken and an
ticipates punishment of some kind for
violation of recognized laws and prin-
ciples of our being. Ignorance, super
stition. mental unbalance and theory,
supported by priestcraft, have led
mankind heather and civilized, into
fear of an eternity of torture as a
punishment for sins. This the Apos-
tie calls, Doctrines of demons Il
Timothy iv, u. And no doubt the
demons were responsible in some
measure for the deduction of this doc
trine of eternal torment; because fear
is one of the most powerful influences
they can bring to bear upon fallen
humanity as they seek to captivate
them TO sin. Those who have had
much to do with Spiritism thinking
that they were communicating with
their dead friends, but really fellow
Shipping with fallen angels, called
demons in the Scriptures), tell us that
at the beginning these Lying spirits
gained control of their wills by telling
them that they should pray much.
even while presenting to them al
Turing, sinful suggestions q Timothy
iv, II. AS later step they tell them
that everything is glorious and every
body happy lin the spirit land" and
that sins of the present life are unim-
portant matters. Later on they prick
their subjects conscience and work
upon their fears and tell them that their
case is hopeless and that they will
soon have them fully in their power
and torment them forever. With de-
willingness to treat with the "evil
spirits This is sometimes followed
by obsession and not infrequently rea-
son is entirely dethroned and the vic
tim becomes an inmate of an asylum.
The safeguard against all of these
decisions and Misrepresentation is
found in a correct understanding of
Gods Word-the Bible. In proportion
as it's teachings are understood and
followed the mind is relieved of those
doctrines of demons and given a
rational understanding of what sin is
and of what it's real penalty consists.
Obedience to it's instructions brings
proportionate measures of harmony
with God and righteousness and re-
suits in love, joy, peace and holy
spirit or disposition.
"The Wages of Sin Is Death"
Many experience great difficulty in
Kidding their minds Of the doctrines
of demonS"-that the wages of sin is
eternal torment. They find it difficult
to believe the Truth on the subject,
which the Scriptures present. namely.
that 1.-The wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life, through
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans vi.
23). Gods proposition is that all
sinners against his just laws, after
full opportunity, shall be utterly de-
stroyed" CThessalonians j. 9; Acts
ill., 23). The power of eternal life re-
sides in God, and he assures us that
he will not give it to any except those
who come into harmony with him.
Eternal life has not been thrust upon
our race. 1t is entirely contrary to
the Scriptures to assert that man must
live somewhere to all eternity, either
in joy or anguish. The Scriptures as.
sure us to the contrary of this-"All
the wicked will he Destroy"
Our Lord declares that God is able
to destroy both soul and body in Ge-
henna. He who alone has the power
of eternal life has made no provision
whereby sinners can obtain it and thus
injure themselves and discredit the Di-
vine government to all eternity. The
gift of God is eternal life. and that
gift will be bestowed only upon those
who demonstrate a heart desire in
harmoES with God and acceptance Of