The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-11-05
Sermon by
CHARLES /.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
| abernacle.

Nphcsinns ". 3O,. He said:
Most evidently our text Is not nd
dressed to the heather. who know not
God, nor 20 the masses of ChrisicndOm
even. but merely to those who come to
an Intimate acquaintance with the
Lord and who have received his holy
Spirit as a seal. mark. evidence proof.
that they 10y and 10y will attain the
fruition OF their hOpcs-the completion
Of their redemption. their absolute de.
iivrrance from sin and death condi-
lions. Most nSSurcdly no one cOuld
grlcvc the holy Spirit who had not re-
celved II.
The expression. holy Spirit of God. Is
here used exactly IN the same sense as
II we were speaking tn II dear earthly
friend. whose sympathy. fellowship.
favor we hnh learned to esteem very
highly. or such we might say I'm very
similar language. II you do so and so.
II would assurcdly wound and grieve
the spirit of your dearest friend. The
intimation would he that you would no
longer have his esteem and favor rs
before: that the rcprchended conduct
~
between you and your friend II would
not mean that his acquaintance would
necessarily he cut forever. ana that he
would become your enemy. instead of
your friend. II would mean. rather.
that having been your friend he would
esteem You no longer worthy Of the
same degree of fellowship ana conf
dcnce rs before. He would no longer
treat you as Il dear and intimate
friend. and communicate TO YOU his
plans and arrangements along various
lines. He might still speak as he
passed by. and treat YOU In every way
kindly. yet there would be Il difference.
a GOODNESS. q separation. cloud. be
tween If YOU esteemed the iov" Of
your fricud. his fellowship. his inter
est In all of your affairs. YOU would
asSurcdly be continually on guard To
do nothing that might wound, offend,
grtcve him and alternate his sympathy
aud fellowship especially IL he were
on Il higher plane of wealth or honor
or intelligence than yourself, and one.
therefore. whose patronage advice and
counsel you needed and desired.
This. we take it. is the thought be
hind the Apostles word "0rierr' in
our text. It is closely allied with the
thought of offending our best friend.
our Creator. our Heavenly Father. We
are not to get the thought that the
great Creator uf the Universe could be
actually caused sorrow. grief. repin
ing. pain. by any conduct of ours. lie
is too great and we are too inSiGniti
cant. Yet our Heavenly Father takes
note of us as n world of mankind. lie
has provided for our relief from sin
and its penalty, death. He is specially
interested in those who have responded
to his gracious proffers. Like as ia
Their piteth his children so the Lord pit
ieth them that reverence him" psalm
CHI. 49,. His pity extended beyond
this-even to love, when we heartily
accepted his favor and made full con
seCration Of our little all to him. II
was then that he was pleased to sea
us. to give us the mark or stamp Of
sonship to evidence to us that we have
been begotten again to II New Nature
to immortality. to glory with himself
IL SO be that we continue faithful Il
our vow of conservation.
The Lords Jewels.
As father he watches over the in
tereStS of this conSeCrated class. Al
though, as the Scriptures say. they ar,
few" he estimates them very highl.
and, amongst other precious names
gives to these sons of God the title o
Jewels" The experiences of the pres
I,.,i, 81,
jewels--to prepare them for a heavenl.
setting in the Resurrection Morning
They shall be mine. saith the Lord o
hosts. in that day when | make up IN!
Jewels" (Malachi Iii. ~.
AS the lapidary first washes the dia
mond which has been picked from tn
miry clay; as he then critically exam
ines it to note its very best POSSIBLE
ties; as he then gives direction to tn
workman respecting its cutting an'
subsequently respecting its polishing
we have the Divine illustration of hoy
Gods providence through the hol.
Spirit. the holy Power of God. over
rules and guides in all the experience
Of this conseCrated jewel" class. 1t |
required OF them that they eXercis
faith and learn to rejoice in tribula
lions. as we'll as in more pleasurabl
experiences, knowing that they are il
Gods hand. and thar. If they are sui
mlSsivc to him, he will work out 10
them far more exceeding and eteI
nal weight Of glory through the dis
appointments, the frictionS. the SOL
rows, the tears, the anguish even. q
earthly eXpericnces-if these be ct
dured for righteousness sake.
Coming down tn human cOmprPhcr
sion. the Lord represents himself Il
pleased or diSpleaSed. rejoiced or grieN
ed. after the manner OF the most nobl
OF the human family. Because of hi
generosity, his benevolrnce, his desir
to do good unto all, and especially
the household OF faith. and particular
ly to the fully consecrated our Cres
tor takes pleasure In the working out q
great Plan ~ Salvation for humanity
Fer six thousand years our lovln
Creator has permitted Adams disob