The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-05-12
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

London, Eng. May S.-Albert Me-
mortal Hall, the lGSFsest and most re-
nowned auditorium in the world. hav-
ing a capacity of ten NA usand. was
crowded this evening to hear Pastor
Russell, of the brooklyn Tabernacle,
New York. who delivered an address
on THEREAFTER" under the au-
spices of the international Bible Stu
dents Association" Taking the above
text, he said
Mankind instinctively look for and
believe in a future life; to the maiori-
ty of minds it does not seem logical
that death ends all. So surely as we
believe our Creator to be all-wise, we
must assume that he has some pur-
pose in connection with our race. not
attained as yet, something beyond the
capacity of attainment in the present
life, under present conditions. Even
without a Divine revelation. therefore.
we would be justified in anticipating
a life beyond the tomb. but specula-
ton upon such an important subject,
of such vital interest, is not necessary.
We are Glad that our Creator has
given us in the Bible clear intimations
respecting his purposes. in relation to
mankind in the future. Nevertheless
these purposes were kept secret. not
revealed until the first advent of our
Redeemcr Thus the Apostle declares
that Christ brought life and immor.
tality to light through the Gospel" 1t
was invisible before not brought to
light and its terms and conditions
could not be clearly discerned,
Without any Divine revelation. we
see a sufficiency on every hand to
cause establishment and to call anx-
iously for explanations. We see the
world of mankind weak and depraved,
signing, crying and dying "Transi-
tory is written upon everything hui
man. The Scriptures assert that we
of today are living under "A reign of
sin and death, and that this dominion
has lasted for over six thousand
years. Why are these things SO? Is
it not true that there is but the one
God? Is it not true that his creatures
on the spirit plane are perfect. that in
heaven there is neither signing. nor
crying, nor dying? There is no reign
of sin and death there, no hospitals.
no asylums. no iails. no penitentiaries
all is harmony, perfect pure, in full
accord with the Almighty Why are
conditions so different on this earth of
ours?
Because One Man Disobeyed.
The Bible alone offers US an eXplana-
ton of the situation. 1t tells Us that
God created our race as pure, as per-
feet, as holy, as happy as the angels,
and that he placed our first parents in
Eden. surrounded with everything
beautiful and desirable 1t explains
that our fall from that perfection into
mental, moral and physical decrepi-
tude came as a result Of disobedience
to God 1t explains that the wages
of sin is DEATH" that the soul that
sinneth, it shall die" that all the souls
produced by Father Adam and Moth
er Eve are dying souls, in consequence
of our sin-inheritance. This is bad
enough, sad enough; and, as was in
tended, our hearts cry out after the
living God, for his mercy and compass
sion, that he would save US from death,
save us from destruction. The answer
of Divine Justice is, that we are unfit
to live-that our Creator graciously de
signs that sinners shall not be immor-
tai. But, hearkening, we hear a mes
sage assuring us that God has looked
down in compassion and heard the
groanings of the prisoners" He fore
knew our helplessness under the reign
of sin and death. and in his Plan made
provision for our case in advance-"be
fore the foundation of the world"
After four thousand years of this
reign Cf sin and death, exhibiting Di-
vine Justice without mercy, our Gre
ator revealed the wonderful features
of his Program. He sent forth his
Son, that he. by the grace Of God,
might taste death for every man
not for the Elect Church merely. but
for all the families of the earth
Hence it is written that Jesus gave
himself q ransom for ALL" and again
that He is the Precipitation (satisfac-
tom for our sins 0he Church's) and
not for ours only. but also for the sins
of the whole world"
So. then. the death penalty pro
nounced against our race. which would
have reduce Adam and his posterity to
the hopeler7 condition of beasts. as
respects eternal life. God had already
intended to set aside through the sac
rifce of Christ. Nevertheless. he al
lowed sin and death to reign from
Adam to Moses and from Moses TO
Christ. and from Calvary to the pres
emit He has contented himself with
laying the foundation for the world
wide blessing. in the death of the Re
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