Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-01
w.;

CUMBERLAND. Md. Feb. S.-Pnstor Rus
sell. Of BROOKLYN Tabernacle. New York.
preached twice here today in largest audi
torium He is well known here and had fine
audiences. We report his discourse from the
above text followsr
Today this prophecy is fulfilled in our midst
Notwithstanding the fact that during the past
century Bibles have been printed ana circu-
lated among the people blythe million. and not
wlthstsnding the fact that education has he,
como general so that rich and poor. old and
young have the ability to read Gods word
nevertheless In the midst Of the very
famine specified by the prophet. II seems al
most Incredible that should be furnishing
now with Eibles in oJT homes, when our sanity
forcfathers did not famish though education
was limited. The secret lies in the fact that
increasing intelligence on every hand has awak-
ened our reasoning faculties along religious
lines. and the result is the gnawing OF hunger
in our hearts. Our hearts and our flesh cry
out for a living and true Coda God greater
than ourselves-more just more powerful. more
loving. Feeling own impotency, we more
than ever feel our need of the Friend above
all others with a love that stcketh closer than
n brothers.
True. the Bible still proclaims that God is
love. II still assures us that Like as a
father piticth his children so the Lord pitieth
them that reverence Him." 1t still calls us to
the Savior saying, Come unto me. all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and VIII give you
rest Matt. l1:2S.) II still assures us that
"An things shall work together for good to
those who love God. the called ones according
TO His purpose" Thes are the same precious
words which brought peace and comfort TO our
forefathers. Why are they not speaking peace
and sa abstraction 10 the hearts of their children
more generally today?
II is because. with the increase Of knowledge
on all subjects. the increase of liberty OF
thought along every line, the greater freedom
from the thraldom OF superstition and priest
craft. more amenable than previous
generations to the voices of doubt, unbelief.
criticism. higher and lower We are suffl-
GENTLY cut loose from the dogmas of the past
I'D. In Wnrf tn fhnF1n n
our religious forefathers never thought OF do
ing. II seems not TO have occurred to them
to ask Why should God command that we
should love our enemies while Himself would
hate His enemies and deliberately make prepa-
ration for their torture and diaholically arrange
for the eternal reple1lishing OF their lives TO
ing their sufferings? Still than this
the theory that God predestinated and foreor-
dained such an eternity for nine hundred and
ninety mine out of every thousand of His Great
ures foreknowing an the results Is impossible
TO our reasons. whNe entirely logical to the
minds of forefathers.
Consequently we cannot find the rest and re-
freshment and comfort from the Scriptures in
the light of these interpretations which our
forefsthers derived. Consequently also. the
young and the purest OF heart in the
world ere repealed by the religion of the past
as represented in the creeds of all denomna-
like the proolgal son. far from home. They
are thirsty for the refreshments which they
need. intellectually many are looking. wan
dering from 10 sea, desiring the bread OF
life and the water of life. Scanning the
creeds Of all denomina lions they find them
practically alike as respects theories OF ete--
nal Reproduction and damnation for all except
the elect. the saints. They are faint for lack
of spiritual food and drink. They even look
10 the heather and examine the theosophy of
India. the Buddhism OF Japm and Confucian-
ism OF China. seeking for some satisfying por-
tion OF truth. These are in some respects
like the podigal son, far fIom home. They
perceive the swinish content with the husks
Of business, money. pleasure and politics, but
their spiritual longings cannot be satisfied with
'.the husks which the swine do eat" They
are misunderstood by their best earthly friends.
They must learn that in their wanderings along
the highways of science and worldreligion
they will never get satisfaction. There is n
famine in every denomination. In every part
OF the world. No one thinks OF looking TO
the Bible for refreshment and strength. The
higher critics Of all denominations have brand
ed IL unreliable. The professors in all the
grear colleges are Eeprobatng the Bible and
openly laugh at the thought Of finding there
either bread for the hungry or water for the
thirsty.
This is the very picture given in con.
text. They shall wander from sea to sea.
from the north even to the east: they shall
run to and fro to seek the Word Of the Lord
and shall not find it, In that day shall the
fair virgins and the young men faint for
thirst" Amos. S:12-13.
THE BREAD OF LIFE AND WATER OF LIFE.
These hungry hearts must learn that there Is
only the one satisfying portion under the sun
the living and true God and Jesus Christ
the world. and the message Of grace from His
lips to he the water Of life. II Is ours to
call the attention Of this th-hungry class
to the Great Teacher who declared, MY flesh
Is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed;
except We eat the flesh of the Son OF Man.
and drink his blood, We have no life in You"
, John. e:5S-5Sl But scarcely will the inteli-
gent OF aur day hem-ken to these words.
preiudiccd are their minds by the fallacies
which becloud their understanding. They see
not. neither do they understand the goodness Il
God.
why is this? Why are these Bibles in mil
lionss of homes. Catholic and Protestant. neg
lected? Because the people know not that
the bread Of life and the water of life which
they seek are hidden therein. Why is this?
We answer that conditions were very much
the same in Israel at the time Of our Lords
gave is applicable now. He said, 'Ye do
make void the law of God through your ira.
diticns''-''the traditions OF the ancIents.'
MARX. 7:13: l Pet. 1:1s) So now. the ira
ditions handed down from forefsthers real
ly make void. meaningless. ungracious, the
message Of Gods wisdom and love sent to us
through the Lord the apostles and the proph
cts lose who still hold tenaciously TO the
creeds of the past thoroughly blinded now
10 the true teachings of Gods Word. which.
alas the majority OF the independent thinkers,
in rejecting the do~-ras OF the past. have re-
iected also believing that the teachings OF
the creeds truthfully represent the Bible.
These are wandering hther and thiteher. hum
gerlng and thirstinG. looking for the bread OF
life and water of life, and finding 1t nowhere
because they seek not where alone 1t is to be
found.
no. EVERYONE THAT THIRSTETH. COME
We"
TIo. All 80 that hunger for truth. come ye.
There is ~ abundance for us all in our Heaven
" Fathers wonderful provision-in the Bible
Deserving all tho creeds and traditions "
non. lot us gather at our Heavenly Fathers
hoard as his family. as his children. Let
MS prove The truthfuness Of his declaration
that Like ms a father piteth his children, 20
the lord pitieth them that reverence him. ="
Let US seek and obtain the satisfying portion.
let us satisfy longings at the table or
divine provision Mark the Lords words and
consider how truthful they are. Blessed ar"
they that hunger and thirst after righteous
ness for they shall be filled. Matt, SIS. 1t !,
:his truth hungry class that address. We
know their heart lougings for We had the
same We know the satisfaction which they
crave, for We have received II and therA
fsre ,iouhIy glad IN hand forth the bread III
life" and the water OF life" 10 those VIVA
desire It, There are plenty ready TO serve
the appetites Of those who long for pleasure
ball games society fetes. chess. travel. etc
We have not word N say against thoss
TO eternal torment; hence do not tranticaiiS
pleasure. let them wait for the time to
ence which will put them nto the class "r
| cause them 10 feel after God. n haply they
| might find him." as n satisfying portion. IN
4 harmony with the Masters erection. II Is our
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