The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-01-21
Sermon by
CHARLES +.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
/ abernacle.

G.. T. Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle,
to large and very attentive audiences.
We report one of his discourses from
the above text, as follows
The word "wiHkcd" In our text is
used In II ngurative sense to signify
that God took no notice OF, paid no
attention to. that long period Of time
from the food to the First Advent OF
our Redcemcr During those twenty
five hundred years the world OF man
kind lay in ignorance and weakness
and vice, but. as our text declares.
God took no notice of it as whole
He gave his attention entirely to the
little nation of Israel, the descendants
OF Abraham, with whom he made II
special Law Covenant. Israel entered
upon Il great schooling period; first
in condition OF peonage in Egypt;
and later. under the command OF
Moses, passing from Egypt to Canaan.
with a wandering of forty years in
the wilderness; still later under judges,
and then under kings, etc. God did
not wink at sin amongst the lSraeltes,
whom he adopted rs his peculiar PEG.
pie" under the Law Covenant mediat.
ed by Moses. We read that every dis
obedience received Just recompense
OF reward" hebrews ii, -. Stripes,
punishments, captivities, under Divine
supervision and predicted through the
prophets, was the portion of the cho-
sen people of the Lord. Obedience on
their part brought blessing and dis
obedience and idolatry brought chas-
tisements-GOd winked at nothing as
respects his chosen people.
At first glance this is pcrpleXing.
Not understanding the Divine Plan we
would be inclined to expect that the
favored nation would he excused more
than othcrs-that it would be the peo-
pie whose impcrfcCtons would be
winkcd at. But not so; Israel was
chosen for Il purpose. And in order to
prepare them for their mission and to
fit them to fill it, the Lord chaStcncd
and scourged them for their sins, and
thus educated and assisted them more
result, when our Lord came into the
world to be mans Rcdeemer, Israel
under the chastiSing, scourging, in
struCting experiences Of many centu.
ries, was by far the most advanced
nation in the world along religious
lines.
Thus 1t was that when the Redeem
er presented himself, some, "a rem
nant," We're "Israelites indeed" and
during his earthly ministry and Scv-
eral thousand more at the following
Pentecostal season. 1t is but reason
able to suppose that no other nation in
the world would have furnished any
such numbers ready OF heart for Mes
Siah, and ConScCratcd fully to him.
Note, for instance, that st. paul's
preaching TO the Athenians on Mars
Hill apparently touched not a single
heart nor head.
The Justice of the Wink.
The Almighty informs us that JUS
tice is the very foundation of all of his
dealings. He cannot be less than Just.
vided to be more than iust-that is.
loving and merciful. There must have
been n justice in this winking men
toned by the Apostle. What was it?
The Apostle explains that owing to
death sentence that was upon the
world In general, and no provision hav-
ing yet been made for redemption
from that death penalty and a resur-
rection deliverance, it would have been
illogical for God to give laws to the
world Of mankind commanding repent
ance, etc. Why? Because they were
already condemned to death. the ex-
IRENE penalty of the Divine Law. No
more could be done to them than de-
stroy them. however badly they lived.
And nothing that they could do would
make them deserving Of eternal life.
So long as that death sentence rested
upon them and no prospect was Of
fered even of release from 1t. God let
them alone, and justly enough wink
ed" at their imperfection and did not
lay II specially to their charge.
With the Jew it was different. God
instructed that nation through the
Law aud the prophets and the chasten-
ings Tor their wrong doings, and thus
prepared In them ''little flock" of
.'Israelites indeed ready for spiritual
things. Additionally, he wished to use
them and their experiences as types
or lessons for Spiritual Israel yet fu.
ture. These types, under the guidance
OF the holy Spirit through the New