The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-01-25

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fixion the limit of lsrael's favor re-
specting the message came to an end,
and then the good tidings of great joy
was permitted to go to all the Gentiles
on the same terms that the Jews had
enjoyed.
The Gospel or good news" consists
of the information that God in his
mercy has provided that the death sen
tence upon Adam and his race shall
not be perpetual; that there shall be
resurrection of the dead. both of the
just and of the unjust; that the pro-
vision for this has already been made
In and through the death of the Re-
deemer. Is it inquired what advan-
tage would there be in a resurrection
of the dead if Herewith all were to
be placed back just where they are
at present? The answer is that there
would be no advantage in such a res
direction. II the Jew could not keep
the Law, and il the very best-inten-
toned of the Gentiles have found them
selves to be imperfect and their efforts
to stand approved before God in the
present life to be failures. what good
could result from merely awakening
them from the sleep of death? Would
it not be wiser and better everyway
to let them perish like the brute beast?
We answer that Gods Word reveals
a very grand outcome to bis Plan of
Salvation. The word resurrection, as
Scripturally used, signifies much more
than to be merely resuscitated. II sig
mites awakening and more-uplifting
out of all sin and death conditions, up,
up. up to perfection-to all that was
lost by Father Adam and redeemed in
the Calvary sacrifice.
Sod Hath Appointed a Day"
This. then. is the meaning of the
Apostles argument. By providing the
Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of
the Church aud the world God has
made possible fresh trial or judg-
ment for Adam and his race Adams
first judgment or trial day was in
Eden. There he lost everything by his
disobedience and brought upon him
self and all of his race Divine sentence
to death. Christ has appeared that he
might redeem Adam and his race. for
the very purpose Of giving them in
dividually another full. fair trial or
judgment for life everlasting or death
everlasting.
That general judgment day men
toned by st. Paul In our text is neither
a damnation day nor a twenty-four
hour day. Ii is the thousand year day
of Christ the period of his mediatorial
reign, in the which Satan will be
bound. all evil influences be removed,
and the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God be made to fill the whole
earth. st. Peter reminds us, Beloved,
be not ignorant of this one thing. that
one day with the Lord is as a thou
sand years" I'll Peter iii. 81. This is
the key to the expressions. '"rhe day
of Christ" The day of judgment"
etc. The Millennial day will be day
of judgment or trial in the sense that
all mankind. the living and the dead,
will then be brought to full knowledge
of God and to full opportunity to re-
gain by resurrection processes a com
plete uplift from all weaknesses. i'm
perfections. etc., which have resulted
from our share in Adams sin aud our
own weakness and ignorance. Sins to
the extent that they were willful will
to the same extent be punishable and
receive lust recompense OF reward"
(Hebrews ii, ~ Every good endeavor
will be rewarded and every shortcom-
ing will be punished.
From this standpoint we see the
IOrce OF the Apostles argument, tnat
1t is the Divine intention to grant to
every member of Adams race another
trial, another judgment. to determine
afresh and individually the worthiness
or unworthiness of each to have eter-
nal life. But why should this fact
make any difference to the world in
the present life! Why did not God
wait until the Millennial Age and give
them all surprise! Why did he send
them the message OF his love and
revelation of this knowledge of his
future dealings? Did he not know
what the past eighteen centuries has
proven. namely, that few of mankind
would have the hearing ear" and
that fewer still. after hearing, would
so love righteousness and so hate in
iquity. as to sacrifice the interests OF
the present life by espousing the Cos
pei message. repenting of sin. and
seeking to live a sanity life. in op-
position to all nnrighteousnessi
Yes, we answer. it is written,
"KnOwn unto God are all his works
from the beginning of the world" (Acts
XIV. 49,. God surely knew that the
message of his grace would generally
fall upon ears that were dull of hear
ing. That we might know this he
caused 1t to be written in the prophe-
cies in advance, that few would have
the hearing ear for his message of love
and mercy. Why. then. did he send
the message? We answer that there
were two reasons for his so doing.
~ He intended that witness should
be given so that those compromising
would have an incentive to a reforma-
ton of life. He wished all to know
that their responsibility in life would
be proportionate to their knowledge of
this fact of redemption. This princi-
pie is stated in the Scriptures by our
Lord. He declares that he who knew
not and was disobedient would be pun
ished with fewer stripes and lighter
punishment for his transgressions,
while those who knew better and sim
ned with deIiberation would be pun
ished with many stripes-in that Mil
lennial day.
~ Another reason for the promulga-
ton Of this good tidings of the Millen-
NAL Day of the Lords Judgment is
that God wishes to use this message
as primary lesson to do primary
work of instruction for a special class
of "elect" characters. whom he is seek
ing in the present time before the in
auguration of the Mediatorial King
dom. He calls these his Jewels" the
Bride of Christ" his members"
This class is specially called out of the
WI w INV, III duNduCC VI tue hilltU-
mum. that they may eventually be
Gods Royal Priesthood, or priestly
kings. in association with their Re-
deemer. These. according to the Scrip
lures, are to be associate judges of the
world with Christ. St. Paul asks,
know We not that the saints shall
judge the world?" q Corinthians vi. ~
We do know it. thank God. And we
know that they will be thoroughly
competent for that work Their expe-
riences In the present life. in battling
against the world and the flesh and
the devil and coming off conquerors
through the assistance Of the great
High Priest, will make them compe-
tent judges Of the world; competent
priests to assist and to bless the world;