The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-11-23
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


above text. He said
No other book treats the matter of
human woe and sorrow in the wise,
tender, sympathetic, helpful manner of
the Bible. 1t 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
fheless, 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, his sympathy, in all of
our distresses-hi 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 iniquity 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 dark time of
hard, blighting experiences, night
8 of weeping-of sorrow. In harmony
with this figure it declares that dark
ness covers the (civilized) earth and
gross darkness the heather"
Not alone does this condition affect
those who are in alienation from God
through ignorance and superstition
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, i'll the
footsteps of Jesus. Well does the
Apostle say. THE whole creation
groaneth and trayaileth in pain to-
gether until now. And not only they
but ourselves also, which have Nhe
first-fruits of the Spirit, even we our
selves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption; to wit, the redemp-
ton of our Body,"-the Body of which
Jesus is the Head or Chief and we
are symbolical members or an under
priesthood (Romans viii, %, 23).
There is difference, however, be-
tween the Church and the world in this
grooming, as suggested by the Apos
ties words. The world groans aloud
without alienation, and even it's watt
4r<r for. fEO tot <lf
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. 1.-THE secret of the
Lord is with them that fear Cever-
ence) him and he will show them his
Covenant psalm XIV, 14). These
who possess the secret of the Lord
t'sorrow not as others who have no
hope" Il Thessalonians iv, 49,. They
-tgroan inwardly" and wait for the glo-
rification of themselves and all the
brethren, members Of the symbolical
Body of Christ, by participation in the
First Resurrection. The hopes of these
must be realized first, before the bless
ing can come to the ''gkoaning 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 as being
the candle of the Lord, the lamp of
Divine Truth and enlightenment. Rut
it tells us that its 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 consecra-
ton seek to 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, and light unto my path" foot
steps psalm cxix, 1853. This light
evidently does not shine far into the
future, but enough for each onward
step as it becomes due.
st. Peter amplifies the same thought.
After telling us of the assurance which
he himself and his associates had upon
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION when
they beheld "the Uision' (Matthew xvii,
1-9) of the Lord miraculously trans
formed and with him Moses and Eli
jah and heard the voice from heaven,
It was forceful to their minds as
teaching the coming of our Lord in
glory, in due time. Nevertheless, says
the Apostle, honoring the Bible above
any vision, I'VE have more sure
word of prophecy; whereunto We do
well that We take heed, as unto light
that shineth in a dark place, until the
day dawn, and the day star arise"
Oh Peter |, 81, indicating that the
morning is at hand and that the Sun
OF Righteousness will soon fulfil its
mission of blessing all the families of
the earth.
But Why Is This Thus?
Why does God permit the reign OF
sin and death, injustice, unrighteous-
ness. sorrow, trouble, pain, headaches,
heartaches, etc.? Why does he not
deal with humanity graciously, kindly,
lovingly, as Father-as he deals with
the angelic sons of God? Is it just
or loving "a the part of our Creator
to bring forth millions of his creatures
under these admittedly unfavorable
conditions eset by weaknesses and
sinwardness from their birth and sur
rounded by others similarly weak, and
beset by Satan and his minions- wick
ed spirits? Is it just that we should