The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-01-12

Chicago, Jan. 2.-Tastor Russell OF
Brooklyn Tabernacle, New York.
preached here twice today to large au-
dlences. The Auditorium Of world
wide celebrity for It's size and excellent
acoustics. afforded the immense audi
ence superior opportunity TO hear
Pastor Russells discourse In the after
noon. We report his evening discourse
based on the foregoing texts. He said:-
The opening Of New Year is like
the opening of new ledger. II Is
favorable time for determining what
should be disposed OF In the profit and
loss account and for putting into effect
resolutions governing the New Year
The fact that thousands OF resolutions
Will be made Mt this season only to be
broken later under the impact OF temp
tatIon. should not discourage MS from
making such resolutions ourselves and
advising the course to others. The
man or woman who makes no Resolu
lions or Vows makes little progress In
character-building. Poor, fallen human
nature needs all the bands and braces
and supports which well-directed will
can give It, We are not advocating
hasty. and sometimes unreasonable.
vows and resolutions and pledges
thoughtlessly taken. What We do ad-
vocate Is thoughtful. rational sitting
down and counting the cost. and then
and there resolving with the full
strength OF the character. with the full
determination OF the mind. to pursue
the way which deliberate Judgment
tells one Is the proper course.
A Christmas Vow or Resolve.
A Christian, like other men. can be
benefited by such Resolves to himself.
which should be sacredly kept In pro-
portion as he respects himself and
would be respected. These Resolutions
may npply to sundry affairs OF life
his home. bis business. his personal
habits, etc. But when the Christian
comes to consider his highest interests.
he at once recognizes that they are
those by which he Is related 10 his
Creator and his Savior At the very
beginning of his Christian experience.
after he had iouged for righteousness
and turned from sin: after his eyes
had seen Jesus ns his Redeemer: after
his ear OF faith had heard that he was
reconciled to Ged through the death
of his Son and had forgiveness of sins
through faith In his blood-then came
to him the most important moment OF
his life. For God. through his Word.
invited him to make full consecra-
tlon Of himself Including every earth
~ interest and AFFAIR." to the Lord and
his service.
The proposition. In the language of
the Savior. was that he should take up
his cross ard follow Christ: and that
as reward he should have In the
present life tribulation from without.
bui the peace of the Lord within. and
IN the future life experience n share
In the First Resurrection. That change
TO glory. honor. immortality, the Di-
vine nature. means joint heirship with
his Itedeemer In his great Office and
work us the Mediator between God
and the world during the Millennial
Age. The terms are clearly stated
self-denial. cross bearing, service for
Christ. faithfulness unto death. The
rewards also. as clearly stated. are
crowns OF life and membership In the
Royal Priesthood. u seat with the Lord
In his throne. an opportunity of being
one of the judges for helping and up
lifting mankind during the Millennium
While stating the conditions clearly
and distinctly. through his Word the
Lord did not urge conservation. but
said rather that each should sit down
first aud count the cost. After having
counted the cost. whoever chose 10 ac-
cept the proposition did 80 by making
Vow unto the Lord-a Conservation
Vow of full submission--the full SUR.
render OF the will. This was to the
intent that thereafter not only the
conduct OF life. but the words Of the
mouth and the meditations of the heart
should be acceptable to the Lord. This
comprehensive Vow Is symbolized IN
baptism. which, rightly understood. as
explained ny st. Paul. Is n baptism
into membership In the Body of Christ
the Church,. and this by baptism or
immersion Into Christ's death.
Only such as make this Vow IRE ac-
cepted ut all as members Of The Christ,
and anointed with the holy Spirit. II
Is respecting this Vow that ST. Paul
urges In the words Of our text II be-
scech you. Uustificd brethren, by r.
mercies OF God. that We present your
bodies living sacrifices. holy. accepts
Bile to Ged. and your reasonable serv
Ice" Our contract with the Lord
entered into. made secure, by the Vow
Of Conservation, and the remainder OF
life Is merely n testing Of the conse
Grated one. to determine to what de
gree he really meant the Vow: 10 what
degree he uses his every endeavor Ia
be dead 10 the world. dead to self. dead
to all earthly things and diiee toward
God and the interest OF the Millennis
Kingdom 10 which he has consecrated
himself as a "member" Of the Body Of
the Mediator Of the New Covenant
Jeremiah XXI. 81; Galatians, III, 29l.
~ viii Pay My Vows"
Let no one lightly undertake Vow
unto the Lord II carries with II
weighty responsibilities. II would he
better every way that none should
take the Vow withon! first understand
Ing the matter and entering fully info
the spirit OF the resolution he makes
Once made and accepted by the Lord
through the Importation Of the holy
Spirit. II cannot be annulled. But why
should we wish TO annul the Vow?
Why should anyone who puts his hand
to the pillow look back? To use the
Apostles Illustration. why should the
sow that was washed return to wal.
lowing In the mire? Why should we.
after having renowned the world and
received the begettlng Of the holy Spir-
1t. and after having tasted Of the good
Word Of God and the powers Of the
Age to come. lose the precious taste
aud appreciation OF these. and return
In craving to the beggarly elements of
the world? Surely there are no good
reasons for SO doing. Surely the Joys