The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-08-22
"Comfort one another with these
words q Thessalonians ", ls).

ment We persuade men everywhere.
."Be ye reconclled TO God"-and thus
attain the only eternal life which lie
promised. -, /, !.
But. on the: other hand. note the
kindly description of our God which
the Apostle furnishes i"Blcssed be
God. even the Father Of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father Of mercles.
the God OF all comfort; who com
forteth us in all OF our tribulation.
that We may be able to comfort them
that are in any tribulation, by the
comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted of God.> For us the suffer-
ings of Christ, abound in us. so our
comfort also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted. It Is for
your comfort and salvation or
whether We be comforted. 1t Is for
your comfort and salvation. - Skhow-
ling that as ye are partakers OF the
sufferlngs. SO shall ye be also Of the
comfort" III Corinthians 1. 80.
What wonderful statement respect
ing the Divine Intentions for the com
fort of the world and the comfort Of
the Church. all proceeding from ''the
God Of all comfort" Nothing written
in any sacred books OF any people ut
any time reveals such a God as the
God OF the Bible-a God infinite in
Justice. Wisdom. Power, and Love 1t
is he that is working all things nc
cording to the counsel Of bis own good
WILL" for the ultimate comfort and
salvation OF as many OF his creatures
as will accept his favors. after being
brought to n knowledge Of the Truth
respecting them. The Church Is now
comforted during this Gospel Age
Saved to the highest plane of tho
heavenly naturel and during the COM
ing Age the world is TO be comforted
and saved to the human nature-as
many as will. For the world this
means the glorious opportunity Of the
mediatorial reign OF Christ which will
constitute their time of restitution. up.
lifting. resurrection to all that YVES lost
In Adam and redeemed by the precious
blood of Christ ACTS III, 1921.
@comfort-With These Words"
In order to appreciate the meaning
of our text We, must consider the
words of the Apostle preceding 1t. he,
ginning with tie 18th verse. He de.
clares. ~ would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren concerning them
which are asleep. that ye sorrow not
| even as others which have no hope
All Christian people agree that the
word sleep here refers to those who
died. They are not asleep in heaven
OF course. for there all is wakefnlnes'
and Intelligence and joy. They nrt
not asleep in Purgatory, OF course. for
according. TO. our Catholic friends. slceT
there would be an impossibiIIty. They
are not asleep in IN orthodox hell, for
according TO the description given by
Protestants. none could sleep there
Where. then, are those who arr
rasleep"? st. Paul says that.we sh9ub
not be ignorant concerning them
Have we not been ignorant IN the pas
l-foollshly ignorant? We have Ignored
the Apostles words entirely. We hart
refused to believe that any are ASLEEP
and claim that all are awake. alive,
few In heaven, the many In Purgutor,
or eternal torture. ,,
But st. Pauliwas right, The entire
Bible teaches TINT all who die fal
asleep. Thus We learn Of ST.; Stephen
the first Christian martyr. that lie ''fcl
asleep" Stoned to Death. We read o
the good and bad. kings and peasants
falling asleep in death. We read tina
king David slept with his fathers
some of them good. some of them bad
We read that Abraham slept with hi
fathers-some OF them heather, TIL
Bible tells us where they sleep and tina
they will all beawakencd from the slcel
, OF death In due gtime-in the rcsurrec
ton, during Messlah's reign of thou
sand years. The Prophet declares thu
, "Many that sleep In the dust Of tn
earth shall awake, some to life ever
lasting and some to shame and lnstln
! contempt. Daniel Ill, p.
Those who w:li be awakened fror
, the sleep OF death unto resurrection o
, life Will be the blessed and holy. th
sanity. who will be associated wit
Messiah In the Kingdom work for th
!. blessing and uplifting of the non-elec
Those who will beawakened from III
! sleep OF death to shame and aGe-las'
! ing contempt will be the non-cleC
world. Their. shame will be in propol
!; ton as they have enjoyed light. know
edge and opportunity and have falle
rightly TO appreciate and use thes'
They will have contempt from the
fellows. in proportion rs their shor
comings OF the present time will b
: shown up Many highly cstcemc
amongst men will be awakened to thu
shame and agc.lasting contempt. Bt
7. their case will not be hopeless on
Much OF their weakness and dercll
e ton were the result OF Adams tran
erosion and the sinful condition
s which hive resulted. including unf.