Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-12-09

a large attendance today at the Brook
Ign Tabernacle. He took for his text
the words of the Savior, mo man hav-
ing put his hand to the plow, and look
ing back, is fit for the Kingdom of
God" duke tx, 62}. The discourse fol-
lows:
The Great Teacher did not use the
methods of modern revivalists to Sc
cure a following. He did not ask the
multitudes to raise their hand if they
would prefer to go to heaven at death
and then publish them as converts
Christians. Indeed his methods were
kinds of sensational appeals to pride,
selfishness. vanity, etc. He set forth
IN plain terms the difficulties to be ex-
pected by all those who espouse his
Cause and become his disciples He
forwarned them that it would mean
the taking up Of a cross and the bear
ing OF it in his footsteps in the mar
row way Of self sacrifice. He warned
these, saying, Marvel not, it the
world hate you. Ye know that it hated
me before it hated you. IL ye were OF
Che world, the world would love his
own; but because ye are not Of the
world, but have chosen you out Of
the world, therefore the world hateth
you'' q John iii. 13; John XIV, IS, 1917.
Instead of trying to produce an ex-
element which would over-balance the
judgment of his hearers and lead them
TO profess what they subsequently
would not be able or willing to prac-
tice, the Great Teacher, on the con-
trary, said to those contemplating dis
cipleship, "Sit down first and count the
cost" Instead of attempting to sway
the multitudes, our Lord took a diff
ferent course and attempted to make
disciples of only a special class-not
the poor, not the rich, not the learned,
not the ignorant, but, irrespective of
these class lines and distinctions, his
call was to all those who loved right
eousness and hated iniquity. All those
who were weary and heavy-laden, op-
pressed by sin and it's penalty to them
selves and their friends-theSe he
called to learn of him and find rest of
soul
TheDceforth that class, having been
brought in touch with the Redeemer,
can make further progress only
through faith in him and submission
to his guidance into all Truth and into
fellowship with the Father. The class
thus Influenced we believe to be small
as compared to humanity as a whole
only that portion which in honesty of
heart deplores sin and longs for
righteousness and fellowship with God.
These, like the remainder of the race,
are by nature fallen, imperfect, sinful,
condemned but in these still persists
some trace of the image of God, in
the perfection of which father Adam
was created. 1t is this trace or strain
of the Divine character represented
by conscience and faith which leads
them to recognize their fallen and sin
full condition, as compared with the
Divine standard of perfection, and this
becomes the basis of their calling or
drawing OF God, their ear" He that
hath an ear, let him hear" Revelation
ii, y. 1t will be observed that we are
not specially blaming or cOndemning
those who have not the hearing ear.
On the contrary we remember the
gracious words Of Scripture, that in
Gods due time, "All the blind eyes
shall be opened; all the deaf ears shall
be unstOpped' isaiah XIV, 81. We
are glad of this promise of God that
ultimately all shall see and all shall
hear and all shall know Him, from the
least to the greatest. We rejoice, too,
that when they know Him truly, they
will rejoice, even as do we now. That
will be their time of responsibility,
their time Of trial or judgment for life
or death eternal on the earthly plane.
The Kingdom of God.
Our text speaks of the Kingdom Of
God And it is important that we
first of all notice that these words have
IN the Scriptures q two-fold signii-
cance. For instance, our Lord Jesus
taught that we should pray to the Fa-
ther Thy Kingdom come; thy will
be done on earth as it is done in
heaven" The reference of this prayer
is to the Millennial reign or govern
ment Of Christ, which st. Paul de-
clares will begin at the Second Com
ing of our Lord, and continue until he
shall have put down all insubordina-
ton, all sin, everything contrary to
Divine character and Law. 1t will be
the Kingdom Of God which will sub
due all things. 1t will be the Kingdom
Of God amongst men perfected when
all things shall have been subdued.
and when Christs mediatorial King
dom shall be, at the end of the Mil
lennium, delivered back to God, even
the Father. Gods Kingdom will have
fully come in the earth. Gods will
then will be possible of accomplish
ment by men. because all will have
reached perfection; and Christ's media
torial Kingdom will end because it will
be 10 longer necessary. 1t will have
accomplished the great purpose for
=, - Z.