The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-10
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


Ign Tabernacle. He took for his text
the words of the Savior, mo man hay
ing put his hand to the pillow. and look
ing back. is fit for the Kingdom of
Cod duke tx, GU. 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
the very reverse of this. avoiding all
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 cross and the bear
ing of it in his footsteps in the mar
row way of self sacrifice. He warned
these. saying. Marvel not. if the
world hate you. Ye know that it hated
me before it hated you. If We were of
the world. the world would love his
own; but because We are not of the
world, but | have chosen you out of
the world. therefore the world hateth
you q john iii. 10; John XIV, IS, 49,.
Instead of trying to produce an ex-
element which would over-balance the
to profess what they subsequently
would not be able or willing to prac-
tice, the Great Teacher, on the con-
trary, said 10 those contemplating dis
cipleShip. "Sit down first and count the
cost" Instead of attempting to sway
the multitudes, our Lord took Il diff
ferent course and attempted to make
disciples of only Il 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 10 all those who loved right
eouSnesS and hated iniquity. All those
who were weary aud heavy-laden, OPP
pressed by sin anG its penalty to them
selves aud their friends-these he
called to learn of him and find rest of
soul
Thenceforth 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 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 o. God. their ear" He that
hath an ear. let him hear" (Revelation
ii, u. 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 i'll
Gods due time, "All the blind eyes
shall be opened; all the deaf ears shall
be unstopped' isaiah xxxv, 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 10 the greatest. We rejoice. too.
that when they know Him truly. they
will rejoice. even us 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 Il two-fold signit-
canoe 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 Millemnal 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 20
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 Christ's mediatorial King
dom shall be- It the end of the Mil
lennium. deliyt ~ed 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 no longer necessary. 1t will have
accomplished the great purpose for
which it was intended.
1t was not, however. respecting that
Millennial reign. that mediatorial
Kingdom. that our Lord spoke in our
text. nor did he refer to the perfect
Kingdom. rs it will be turned over to
.lf In, 90 .