Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-14
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

nowned auditorium in the world hav-
ing a capacity Of ten thousand, was
crowded this evening to hear Pastor
Russell. of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
New York. who delivered an address
on THEREAFTER" under the au-
spices Of the international Bible Stu
dents Association Taking the above
text. he said;
Mankind instinctively look for and
believe In a future life: TO the majori-
ty OF minds il does not seem logical
that death ends all. So surely as we
believe our Creator to be allwise. we
must assume that be has some pur-
pose in connection with our race, not
attained as yet, something beyond the
capacity Of attainment in the present
life. under present conditions. Even
without a Divine revelation. therefore.
we would be justified in anticipating
life beyond the tomb, but specula4
ton upon such an important subject,
Of such vital interest, is not necessary.
we are glad that our Creator has
given US In the Bible clear intimations
respecting his purposes, in relation to
mankind in the future Nevertheless
these purposes we're kept secret not
revealed until the first advent Of our
Redeemer. Thus the Apostle declares
that Christ brought life and immor,
tality to light through the Gospel" 1t
was invisible before, not brought to
light. and It's terms and conditions
could not be clearly disceFned.
Without any Divine revelation, we
see "a suficlency on every hand to
cause astonishment and to cali anx-
iously for explanations. We see the
world Of mankind weak and depraved,
signing, crying and dying. "Transi-
tory" is written upon everything hu-
man The Scriptures assert that we
OF today are living under IA reign Of
sin and death, and that this dominion
has lasted for over six thousand
years. why are these things so? Is
It not true that there Is but the one
God? Is II not true that his creatures
on the spirit plane are perfect. that In
heaven there Is neither signing. nor
crying. nor dying? There is no reign
OF sin and death there, no hospitals.
no asylunis no jails, no penitentlaries
-all is harmony. perfect. pure. in full
accord with the Almighty. Why are
conditions so different on this earth Of
ours?
Because One Man Disobeyed.
The Bible alone offers US an explana-
tion Of the situation. II tells US that
God created our race as pure. as per.
feet, as holy. as happy as the angels,
and that he placed our first parents In
Eden, surrounded with everything
beautiful and desirable. 1T explains
that our fall from that perfection into
mental. moral and physical decrepi-
tude came as a result of disobedience
to Cod II explains that "the wages
Of sin is DEATH" that 'the soul that
II shall die" that all the souls
produced by Father Adam and Moth
er Eve are dying souls. In consequence
OF our sin-lnheritance This is bad |
enough, sad enough; and. as was in
tended, our hearts cry out after the
living God, for his mercy ana compass
sion, that be would save as from death. !
save US from destruction. The answer
Of Divine Justice Is, that we are unfit
10 liye-that our Creator graciously de-
signs that sinners shall not be immor-
tai. But. hearkenlng, we hear mes
sage assuring US that God has looked
down IN compassion and "heard the
groanings of the prisoners tio fore
knew our helplessness under the reign
OF sin and death, and In his Plan made
provision for our case IN advauce-"be-
fore the foundation Of the world"
After four thousand years OF this /
reign Of sin and death. exhibiting Dl
vine Justice without mercy, our Gre
ator revealed the wonderful features
OF his Program He sent forth his
Son. "that he. by the grace OF God,
might taste death for every mau'-
not Tor the Elect Church merely, but
for al the families Of the earth
Hence II Is written that Jesus gave
himself ransom for alls" aud again,
that HE Is the propitiation ,satlsfae-
tionl for our sins uhe Churchsl and
not for ours only. but also for the sins
Of the whole world"
so. then. the death penalty pro-
nounced against our race. which would
bave reduced Adam and his posteri,y TO
the nopeless condition of neasls. as
respecis e,ernal life. God had already
intended 20 SET aside through the sac.
rlnce of CHRIST Nevertheless. he al.
lowed sln ana death 20 reign from
Adam % Moses and from Moses 70
Christ. and from Calvary 10 the pres.
ent he hns eontenied himself with 1
laying the foundation Tor the world
wide blessing. % the death of the Re
deemer He Intends ultimately. tho
Bible assures us. 70 oleF complete de-
liYorance from eln and death. 90 Adam
:.