The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-06-28
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle. ,

usual ne nad large ana attentive au-
dience. We quote one of his discourses
In part as follows;
All men who have any knowledge of
Jesus esteem him-Christians Gentiles,
and Jews. All men whatever their
religious convictions are ready to admit
the surprising personality Of the great
Nazarene and his wonderful words of
life. 1t Is as respects his Messlahshlp
that they differ. However, we sub.
NIT that If he were not the special serv-
ant of Jehovah, the Son of God, as
he claimed. sent into the world on a
special mission, then he must of neces-
sity have been either deceived man
or wicked impostor. His wonderful
personality and words of justice and
wisdom and love contradict the
thought that he was either ignorant or
a deceiver. Hence the only tenable
ground Is that he was deceived man
or else that he was indeed the Son of
God who acted and spoke and per-
formed miracles under Divine direction
and power. We hold that the evil
dences of his teaching overwhelmingly
corroborate the truth of his claims.
But here we make n distinction be-
tween the claims which our Lord Jesus
made for himself and other claims
which have been made for him with
out his sanction and without apostolic
or other inspired corroboration.
Let It not be supposed that we are
forgetting the length and breadth of
Jesus love for all humanity and n spe-
clal love for all of his disciples, yea,
for all who loved righteousness and
sought, as he did, to do the Fathers
will In keeping with this was his
prayer for his disciples on the night
before his crucifxion. In connection
with which we read, "Jesus having
loved his own. loved them unto the
end" John Kill. u. And again his
statement "Grenter love hath no man
than this, that Il man lay down his life
for his friends" John XIV, 13). And
again his statement, who is my moth.
er, and who are my brethren? And
he stretched forth his hand to his disci
pies, and said. Behold my mother. and
my brethrenl For whosoever shall do
the will of my Father which is In
Heaven. the same is my brother. and
sister, and mother" AIatthew kill.
1850. These expressions give US
glimpse of the length and breadth of
the hove of Jesus But for the present
occasion let us consider those persons
whom Jesus Is said to have specially
loved.
"Jesus Beholdins Him Loved Him."
The rich young nobleman who came
TO the Lord said, Rabbi what good
thing shall do that l may inherit the
Kingdom OF God2 Jesus saith unto
him, Thou knowest the command
ments . and he said unto him,
Master, all these have | observed from
my youth. Then Jesus beholdIng him,
loved him. Jesus lovingly admired
the young man who was thus desirous
OF being In full accord with the Heav-
enly Fathers will. That young man
had very much of the Masters own
spirit. He wanted to do right and he
desired to have the gift of God, eter'
nal life, He thought that he must
have nerlted this by his faithful atten,
ton TO the Law. Yet he knew that he
had not attained TO eternal life. that
the death sentence was stlll upon him
He sought counsel of the greatest
Rabbi, the greatest Teacher That
Teacher loved so earnest II spirit and
proffered him advice on what he still
lacked of coming fully up to Gods re,
quirements of those who will be grant
ed place In the Messianic Kingdom
which In due time" is to bless Israel
and. through Israel, all the families OF
the earth.
In no uncertain terms the Master
gave the young man to see that while
he had been keeping, probably to the
best OF his ability, the commandments
OF the decalogue, he had only imper
fectly dlscerned the meaning OF the
Divine requirement of love for his
nelghbor as for himself. The young
man was very rich. Aud TO fulfil the
requirements OF the Law to love his
neighbor as himself would have meant
not the boarding OF wealth. nor neces
sarily the distribution OF 1t all, bu
the wise use of II In the interest OF hi!
fellowmen. But TO gain share In thu
Kingdom would require even NOR,
than this. He must take up his crosl
and become follower OF Jesus-walk
ing In the steps OF full obedience I,
the Divine Will The price was too mucl
for the young man, and he went hi
way. Jesus merely answered the ques
ton but did not urge the young maj
70 thus present himself living Sacrj
Zee to God and his service. Indeed 4
no case did Jesus ever do more tha
invite-never did he urge. On the cor
trary he advised, Sit down FIRST an
count the cost of dlscipleship.
What could we surmlse respectin
the eternal destiny OF this young ma
who had been striving SO earnestly
keep the Law and to gain eternal III,
and who turned from Jesus and d'
clined TO take up the cross and follo'
him? Gould we suppose that Diyin