Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-10-09
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Cod $ P Pronnisc
Text, "The Blessing Of the
Lord. 1t Maketh Rich; and He
Addeth No Sorrow Therewith"
proverbs <, 22).

proverbs x. 22).
oOOs-s-s-s-s-s.s-s-s-s-s -s-s-s-s-s-.-s-s-s-s-s-s-O
these things how distinctly Gods
Word is corroborated. In comparison
with this just manifestation of indig
nation of God against sin how unrea-
sonable and unsatisfactory are the
various theories that came down to US
from 1.-The dark ages unsupported by
the Word of God, teaching that our
whole race was born under an origi-
nal condemnation or sentence to eter
nal torture; and that the only ones
saved would be the few graSped by
Divine favor during this Gospel Age
and lifted from relationship to the
world and transformed into saints.
1t is true enough that the Bible
teaches that God has special reward
for those who love him supremely-
more than self, houses. lands or any
other creature. True it is, indeed, that
he has for these exceeding great and
precious blessings; but it is quite un-
true, as it would be quite ungodly, that
our Creator should either by prede:
tination or through lack of foreknowl-
edge or for any other reason consign
our race as whole. either to centuries
of suffering in Purgatory, as some de-
clare. or still worse. as others affirm,
everlasting sufferings.
The Blessing Of the Lord.
Having considered the Divine ex-
PLANTATION of the curse of sin and death
upon the world, and having found it
true to all the circumstances and facts,
LET us now with confidence turn to the
same record, the Bible, for an explana-
tion of what blessings God has in res
ervation for the saints. and also for
the world in general "The blessing
of the Lord, it maketh rich"
The blessing of the Lord has. to some
extent. come to the Church. but it is
a blessing receivable only by faith 1t
is not the real blessing. but, as the
Scriptures declare. a foretaste, ''an
earnest" of the coming Inheritance or
blessing. This foretaste is very pre-
cious to all of the Lords saints, Civ
ing them a feast and joy and comfort
under the most trying circumstances
Of the present life 1t is indeed 1.-THE
peace of God, which passeth all under
standing" which rules in their hearts.
as st. Paul said to the little flock" of
144,O0O, who are named in the Scrip
lures as the very elect" the Ecclesia.
'the Church of Christ. which is his
Body" These believers in Gods prom
ises and arrangements for the bless
ing of humanity through the merit of
Christ's death and by the power of the
Millennial Kingdom may rejoice there
in in advance. 1t is not the intima-
tion. however. that the Church shall
keep the restitution privileges. They
are credited to them so that they may
have something to 'offer," something
to sacrifice" By faith they receive
earthly rights and restitution blessings
and privileges. as Gods gift through
the Lord Jesus. By faith they make a
sacrifice or surrender of those rights
to the divine nature and to joint heir
ship with Christ their Lord and Re
deemer in his Millennial Kingdom. BY
faith. in return. they receive the beget-
ting of the holy Spirit. They are con-
tent, not satisfied They rejoice, though
oft it be in tribulation. Their assur-
ance is that present tribulations are
working patience, experience, hope,
and preparing them for the actual
"glories which God hath in reserva-
ton for those that love him." Like
the Apostle. they hope for the actual
salvation or deliverance. "the blessing
of the Lord which maketh rich at
the coming of our Lord. when the
saints shall be united to him most pre-
tura figure of a Bride united to a
Bridegroom. The marriage of the
Lamb will come, for his wife will have
made herself ready Revelation xix, y.
Let us glance backward and note
the earliest reference Of the Scriptures
the earliest God-given limitations of
coming blessings.
"a Shortly after the fall the Lord de
clared that ultimately the seed of the
woman Cher posterity) would bruise
the serpent's head-would utterly de
stroy sin, would triumph over sin and
Satan.
(2) Later on Enoch prophesied that
Messiah would come, and grant the
world fresh trial for life or death
dude 14. The original trial or judg-
,,,o,+ Gov I;fo ~ daoth xvac thro,1 erl
the one man Adam; and his failure
and its penalty affected the condemna-
tion of his entire race. because all are
imperfect and hence sinners. The
promise of a Messiah, and that be
would grant the world fresh trial
was indeed rainbow Of hope to those
who could receive it.
81 1t was not until Abraham's time
that God really definitely outlined the
channel of the blessing which he pro-
posed ultimately to give to the race,
''the blessing of the Lord, which
maketh rich" Let us examine this
prophetic outline Of coming blessing.
The promise made to Abraham was
this, I'm thee and in thy seed shah all
the families of the earth be blessed"
Here we have something definite.
Something tangible. This promise was
renewed to Isaac, also to Jacob and.
later on at Jacobs death. it passed to
all of his posterity, the nation of Is
rael. In due time, in fulillment of
this promise, Moses, as its mediator,
Instituted the Law Covenant between