The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-11
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

In order to use a telescope to ad-
vantage we need first to obtain n
proper focus on the object to be ex.
amined And so It Is with the Divine
Plan and Purpose. Looking at Il with
the eye of faith through the Telescope
of Gods Word, adjustment of the TO-
Gus is necessary. This focusing of the
Word. Christian people In the past
have very generally overlooked. As a
result the Divine Plan has a blurred
and iDdistinct appearance to our sight.
The various word-pictures, symbols.
types. allegories and plain statements
of the Scriptures without this focusing
together. make very unsatisfactory
and nondescript matter of the Gospel
of Christ, one that is unsatisfactory to
everybody. one that the learned of our
day have repudiated entlrely-an am.
biguous collation. that Is q source of
vexation to millions Of Gods conse
Grated people. The difficulty is that
the Telescope was tampered with dur
ing the dark ages and the proper TO-
Gus was lost. Since then Christian
people have feared to readjust II. They
have gloried In the fact that they never
changed the focus. However, they
have overlooked the fact that some one
else did change II for them long ago
and that the unsatisfactory view we
have gotten is the result of this and
is entirely out of accord with the clear
and beautiful vision of Gods Grace
and Truth and Mercy and Love and
Wisdom and Power as seen by the
Apostles In the early Church.
international Bible Students Assoeia-
ton.
Some of us, dear friends. instead OF
throwing away the Telescope of the
Word of God. are taking pleasure In
cleaning the lenses of the dust of
the dark ages and adjusting the focus
by careful endeavor to speak where
the Word Of God speaks and to be
silent where 1t is silent. and to bring,
as the Apostle suggests, our every
thought into captivity to the will of
God In Christ as outlined In the Bible.
The result. we all can testify. Is not
only comforting, but happifying; not
only enlightening. but refreshing.
Truly, as the Apostle suggests. we
have come to Times of Refreshing
from the presence OF the Lord" And
all this we perceive. is exactly what
the Scriptures foretold. namely, that a
falling away and darkening of the un-
derstanding would follow the death of
the Apostles. but that In the end of
the age the darkness would begin to
scatter before the oncoming light of
the Sun of righteousness, in the morn.
ing of the New Dispensation of Mes
siahs reign.
In accord with all this, note the fact
p that for centuries we have been over
looking certain Scriptures while ac-
cepting others. We accepted the Apos-
ties statement In our text respecting
the reconciliation of the Church, but
we overlooked entirely other Scriptures
4 which speak of still different recon
ciiiation-"God through Christ recon
Cling the world unto himself" QI Co.
rinthans v. 19). We should have noted
the difference between the Church and
the world In this and many other pas
sages of Scripture. We should have
remembered the Lords words. "Ye are
not of the world, even as ! am not OF
the world" We should have seen that
the salvation and reconciling Of the
Il Church Is one thing and the salvation
Z and reconciling of the world is quite
another thing; that these are two diff
ferent salvations--the first to heaven
ly. spiritual conditions and joint-heir-
ship with Christ in his Kingdom: the
other to an earthly inheritance, to
earthly perfection and life everlasting
and an Eden that Is to be worldwide
Paradise restored, Gods footstoo
/ made glorious.
- Gods Purposes to Be Accomplished.
Nevertheless nothing has been lost
No feature of the Divine Plan has
been thwarted. for these two saliva
tons do not progress at the same time
During this Gospel Age none are
saved, nor desirous 10 be saved, excep
those drawn of the Father" "callet
OF God" These have been privileged
10 approach God through the Son
I. whose name is "the only name giver
under heaven or amongst men whereby
"a we must be saved" tActs iv, 12). Only
those who take up their cross and fol
a. low the Lamb through evil report ant
good report, faithful unto death. car
81 now be spirit-begotten; in. the resur
gection, these will be spirit-born, mem
VI bers OF the Bride OF Christ. the Lambs
Wife and Joint-beir with him In hi'
Kingdom 1t does not matter to thu
4 remainder OF mankind that they bav'
been allowed TO remain In Ignorance
of the great fact that God IL about t
pour out upon humanity great bless
z ing: about to pour out his holy Spirl
apon all classes; about to establish tn
Kingdom OF bis dear Son for which WI
pray. "Thy Kingdom come" about 4
cause the knowledge of the Lord TO al
Che whole earth; about to give to ever!
son and daughter of Adam one full
fair. righteous opnortunitY to cope &
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