The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-06-21
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


national Sible Students Association
here, using the above text. He also
gave a public address under the aus
pices of the association. He had crowd
ed houses and earnest attention. On
the above text he said In part:
l address you, dear friends. as Chris
tians. students of Gods Word, and not
as sectnrians. Although the world Is
full of denominations. each claiming to
be the Church of Christ. we all admit
that there Is but the one Church of
the 6rstborns whose names are writ
ten In heaven" mebrews xii, 23l. This
conviction is being borne In upon us
more and more as the days go by, and
as the eyes of our understanding open
more widely to the teachings of Gods
Word. We realize increasingly that
our division means our shame In the
eyes of the world aud that our Creedal
contradictions imply that we are not all
led in all things by the Holy Spirit, the
teachings of which cannot be Yea and
Nay upon the same subject. 1t is this
sentiment which is taking hold of the
ministry of all denominations and max
ing them anxious for an outward show
of Unity In Church Federation, which
will shortly be effected The Christian
public. however, and especially Bible
students. are not deeply sympathetic
with the Federation idea. They real
ize that at most 1t would be a gloss OF
deception so far as doctrinal oneness
is concerned; aud that otherwise 1t Is
but "A business or worldly combination.
Bible Students are more and more
coming to prefer the Lords way-the
Scripturnl way. They are coming to
realize that what Gods people need is
not more organization but less organl-
Zation. not more explicit creeds but
the one standard of fellowship which
the Bible sets up. They are learning
that this simple creed is:-a turning
from sin and acceptance OF the Lord
Jesus as the Redeemer from sin and
death and the full conservation of the
believer, mind and body, to know and
TO do the Lords will TO the best of his
ability, under the Lords Provldentlal
guidance. We all see that this simple
bond of fellowship IL the only one laid
down In Gods Word, and that whatso
ever is more than this Is Injurious
bondage TO men and to systems, We
all see that the Church Of the Living
God whose names are written In heav-
en-" Is composed exclusively of such as
conform to the terms of this simple
creed--thnt these alone will constitute
1.-THE Body OF Christ which Is the
Church" Bride the Lambs wife,"
whom he will accept aud unite to him
self In the end of this age. We nll see
that this class alone Is referred TO In
the Scripture MS "thc elect" who are
to be associated with the Savior In his
glorious Spiritual Kingdom. which In
visible to men. IL shortly to be estab-
llshed In power and great glory for the
blessing of natural Israel and through
her for the blessing Of all the families
of the earth-lipinO and dead
"Workmen Not Ashamed"
Let us consider the latter part of our
text first: The Apostles suggestion is
that Timothy aud all the ministers OF
the Gospel of Christ are profcusedly
ioorkmen. lnboring under the guidance
of Gods Word. IN the larger sense
every Christian Is II minister of the
Gospel. or. AZ St Peter declares of all
the consecratcd. "Ye nre II Roya
Priesthood, Holy People Peculiar
Treasure" Ia the end of the age will
cone reckoning time, n showing OF
results. Every mans work that hC
bath wrought shall be made manifest
q Corinthians III. l3l.
Our text urges that Timothy, and
every faithful servant of God shoult
be so loyal 10 God and his message
that IN the great time of examination
In the end of this age preparatory tC
the Introduction OF the Kingdom the
showing shall be one of which we neeC
not be ashamed Let us then. as Chris
,ian Bible Students OF all denomlna
tlons gathered here today, ask our
selves respecting our own work In The
world. and how II must appear TO God
10 ourselves, aud to our fellowmen-
yea. how II must shortly be made
manifest to all!
Let us call the roll. Baptist broth
ren. What have you ia, show as work
men who need not TO be ashamed
rightly dividing rhc Word of Truth
Methodist brethren. what say YOU
Presbyterians. next Congregational
lists. Lutherans. Cathollcs--all!
The answer Of one IL practically thu
answer Of all I'VE have-so many hun
dred Churches They cost-so man.
millions Of dollars, Their steeplcs ar
40 high Their cost of malntenanc
is-so much. The number of minister
is-so many. The Church collection
amount 10 so much, The amount col
lected for foreign missions is-so mucl
The amount expended on fine choir
and elegant organs $3.50 much. Tn
aggregated debts Of all our churches
40 much, Tue unpaid interest o
many OF these debts is-so much Th
time and energy expended In fniri