The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-25

LYNN, Mass. Aug. 25.--Pastor Rus
sell. of Brooklyn Tabernacle. spoke
twice to large and attentive audiences
We report one OF his disceurses from
the above text. He said In part:
Ny text Is one OF the strongest of
those which once we enormously mis-
understood to teach the eternal tor
mert OF the non-elect. Coming 10 the
wronE impressions respecting the
character OF the Almighty Creator ano
respecting His purposes toward hu-
manity. II Is easy for US 90 misunder-
stand the words OF st. Jude. SO deep
~ were the erroneous thoughts i'm
pressed upon our minds from child
we considered them fundamental the
ology. In like manner we wrested 70
our own confusion aHd-inJury- many
Scriptures, reading into them what
they do say. As, for instance. the
messages OF Holy Writ to the effect
that "all the wicked will God destroy;
that ''the wages OF sin is death" that
that there is no eternal life out or
Christ. All these and others we warp
ed and twisted away from their beau
tiful and simple teaching. and maze
out OF them doctrines OF devils with
which we alarmed ourselves and those
committed to our instruction.
We thank God that gradually the
eyes of our understanding are open
Ing to discern the great Truth that the
testing of the Church in the present
age and the testing or the WorId AT
worthiness for eternal life or WORTH
ness OF eternal death--everlastins de-
struction - the second death from
which there will be no redemg,iop, no
declares. those who enter into II VIII
be, like brute beasts, made to be taken
and destroyed--annihilat
sodom's Guilt and Punishment.
sodom and surrounding cities were
PREDICATE and licentious to the extreme
and Divine Justice decreed that their
they should be made an example Of
q lesson to others OF the Divine dis
pleasure against all such licentious-
ness. Accordingly we read that IRE
and birthstone were rained from
heaven to the utter destruction or those
cities. the place OF which II now mark
were obiiterated and only their name
and history have come down TO US.
Their utter destruction by eternal IRE
or heavenly fire rained upon them was
q complete destruction. Thor expert
ence pictures forth the utter destruc-
ton OF all whom God Will finally re-
ject os unworthy OF eternal life. Not
that fire and birthstone would be rain
ed upon oil, but that utter destruction
will come upon all disapproved by the
Almighty. who thinks that 81. jude
meant that the fire that destroyed the
ever thinks that II Is still burning as "A
literal ~blaye should take n look at the
picture OF the Dead Sea and note that
there are no fires there. The thought
is that the fire. which is symbol OF
destruction, lid it's work thoroughly,
completely. leaving not vestige or
these condemned to destruction
The Sodomites all went to hell--to
the Bible hell--to the state OF death.
But they did not go TO the hell which
was manufactured by our foretathers
torture We have Bible testimony on
the subject. which we Will produce.
| They are unconscious now like the re-
mainder OF the dead. waiting for the
| resurrection. And the resurrection OBJ
portunity will come TO them, as wei
as TO all the remainder OF Adam s
race; because they. as we'll as all 9th
| ers. are redeemed by the precious blood
1 OF Christ--by the sacrifice which he
| finished AT Cavalry. This Is not spec
| ulativc. We have the words OF the
Msstor Himself on the subject; Let us
take our informant ton. our wisdom from
the proper quarter Then our doubts
and fears viii speedily nee away.
Not second Chance.
! We will produce the Bible testimony
showing that the Sodomites will be re-
| leased and come forth during the me-
diatorial reign OF Messiah TO enjoy a
| share OF the blessings then 90 be pour
| ed out upon Israel9and the world and
harmony with God and gaining eternal
life. But we know that straightway
| somebody will soy. No. Pastor Russell
/ that would be n second chance. anc
God has nowhere promised a second
| chance TO any. Furthermore n woult
be helittlcing 20 the Divine Govern.
ment to suppose that God, after giving
one fair trial to n man and reaching ,
decision would conclude TO give hin
lanother- trial. as though Divine Justic,
were unable 10 determine the worth
ness or unworthiness OF the individual
for eternal life In one trial or testing.
| We fully agree with this sentiment
lbut call attention 10 the fact that tn
lSodomites did not enjoy one trial 70
life. They and ali mankind Wer,
'fs'bofn IN sin. sffspcn I'm fniqulty: I'm siI
/ They were born under the sentence
l"Dyng tnou shut die" Neither the,
Inor anyone else. therefore, could b,