The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-05-31
PULPIT.
PASTOR RUSSELL
HOMEWARD
BOUND
"As the Waters Cover the
Great Deep Isaiah XII, q.

vironments so that they never heard.
The whole difficulty, we see, lies in the
fact that Gods people in the past have
not studied his Word as they should
have done. Some of us subscribed to
one creed, and some to another, saying
to ourselves, Our creed Is not satisfac-
tory, but 1t is probably as free from
error as other creeds. We consoled
ourselves with the thought that all
Christendom was considerably befog-
ged, and we no more than others.
Some of us probably tried to satisfy
our minds by saying that those fea-
lures of our creeds which dishonored
God, and implied his lack OF wisdom,
or worse, his willingness but lack of
Justice, or lack of power-that these
things >were mysteries which must be
believed, although they could not be
reconciled with human reason and
common sense. Some of us even tried
to persuade ourselves that we were
exercising extraordinary faith in these
matters. but in reality we were mere
ly ignorant of Gods Word. and cred
ulous Of the wisdom of our creed max
ers of the past
True Light Now Shining.
But now, thank God, "The night is
far spent, and the day is at hand"
(Romans xiii, l2l. Now is our saliva
tion nearer than when we believed"
CRomans Kill, III. The evidence that
we are in the morning of the new dis
pensation multiplics on every handl
We are evidently in the period which
the Bible declares as "'rhe day of
Gods preparation" God is preparing
to usher in the long promised period
of blessing and refreshment, which he
has fOretold through all the holy
prophets The wonderful inventions of
our day along the lines of chemistry,
steam and electricity are fulfilments
Of the wonderful DAY of Christ"
which is nearing. Gods people have
failed OF great blessings in not sooner
noticing this fact. We stood, as it
were. with our backs toward the East.
looking for the sun to rise in the West;
we were looking to our own efforts to
convert the world. rather than looking
to the Lord from whom alone must
come the help. Hence the glow in the
East had assumed considerable proper
tions before we noticed it--and many
Of our brethren are still looking to the
West and nngrlly refuse TO turn and
follow the dawn of the New DISPENSE
ton. which now may be so clearly
seen by the eye of faith.
Let us note well the Apostle Peters
words. assuring us that the vision he
had on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION
made u deep impression upon him. He
tells us. nevertheless. that I'VE, have
also more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto We do well that ye take
heed. as unto a light that shineth in II
dark place. until the day dawn, and
the day star arise In your hearts"-the
''pdrousia" presence) of Christ, the
"Morniug Star"
knowledge a Necessity.
But admitting the promise OF the
Scriptures that the knowledge of the
Lord shall be worldwide and ocean
deep-that every creature shall be
brought to an accurate knowledge of
the trnth, in due time Il Timothy Il,
40, wherefor Is the necessity for this ?
! Is knowledge really Indispensable to
| salvation? Is it not written In the
Scriptures of the Apostles Peter and
John, that THE people perceived that
they were ignorant and unlearned
men," If their ignorance and lack of
| learning did not hinder them from hav-
| ing Gods favor, and obtaining saliva
ton through Christ, and even obtain
ing Apostleship, why should so much
stress be laid upon knowledge? Does
God really care for knowledge? Has
| be in his favor must be educated, and
that lie cares naught for the ignorant!
DO we not read to the contrary that,
Not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty. not many noble, are
called; but God hath chosen the fool
| ish things of the world to confound the
wise" q Corinthians /, 20, 20. Hath
not God chosen the poor of this world
rich In faithY' Games ii, 81
| Very true, we answer. With God
the wisdom OF this world Is foolish
ness and with this world, the wisdom
Of God is foolishness. Knowledge may
therefore be viewed from two stand
points SO far as worldly knowledge
commending any man or woman Ia
God, or making any man or woman
more fit for divine favor, we believe
the contrary to be true. Unwiilingly
we are forced to the conclusion that
the great colleges Of the world are the
most destructive agencies in the earth
as respects the Divine revelation, the
Bible, and the true knowledge OF God
which is essential to salvation and
eternal life. We therefore sharply dis
criminate between earthly knowledge
and heavenly knowledge, and between
the wisdom of men and the wisdom OF
God.
Our Lord Jesus gave us the key tc
this question of the Importance ol
| knowIadva In relationship TO our at.