Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-08-20
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

Lynn, Mass. August 14.-Pastor
Russell Of Brooklyn Tabernacle spoke
here twice today to large and atten-
tive audiences, We report one of his
discourses from the above. He said in
part
My text is one Of the strongest of
those which once we enormously mis-
understood to teach the eternal tor
ment of the non-elect. Coming to the
text with our minds filed with the
wrong impressions respecting the
character Of the Almighty Creator and
respecting his purposes toward hu-
manity it is easy for us to misunder
stand the words Of st. Jude. SO deep
ly were the erroneous thoughts inn
pressed upon our minds from child
hood that, irrational though they were.
we considered them fundamental the
ology In like manner we wrested to
our own confusion and injury many
Scriptures, reading into them what
they do not say and ignoring what
they do say As, for instance, the
messages of Holy Writ to the effect
that "all the wicked will God destroy;
that "the wages of sin is death; that
''the soul that sinneth, 1t shall die;
that there is no eternal life out Of
Christ. All these and others we warp
ed and twisted away from their beau
tiful and simple teaching, and made
out of them doctrines of devils" with
which we alarmed ourselves and those
committed to our instruction.
We thank God that gradually the
eyes of our understanding are open
ing to discern the great Truth that the
testing of the Church in the present
Age and the testing of the world at
large in the coming Age will be as to
worthiness for eternal life or WORTH
ness of eternl death--everlasting de-
struction-the Second Death from
which there win be no redemption, no
resurrection. no recovery. AS ST. Peter
declares, Those who enter into it will
be. like brute beasts, made to be taken
and destroyed
sodon's Guilt and Punishment.
sodom and surrounding cities were
fprofigate and licentious to the extreme
and Divine Justice decreed that their
course must not continue. but that
they should be made an example Of
a lesson to others Of the Divine dis
pleasure against all such llcentious-
ness Accordingly we read that fire
and birthstone were rained from
heaven to the utter destruction Of those
cities, the place of which is now mark
ed by the Dead Sea. The Sodomltes
were obllterated and only their name
and history have come down to us.
Their utter destruction by eternal fire
or heavenly fire rained upon them was
a complete destruction. Their expert
ence pictures forth the utter destruc-
ton of all whom God will finally re-
Ject as unworthy Of eternal life Not
that fire and birthstone would be rain
ed upon all, but that utter destruction
will come upon all disapproved by the
Almighty. Who thinks that St. Jude
meant that the fire that destroyed the
Sodomites was an eternal One2 Who |
ever thinks that 1t Is still burning as 8
literal blaze should take a look at the |
picture Of the Dead Sea and note that |
there are no fires there. The thought |
is that the fire. which is a symbol of |
destruction, did its work thoroughly, |
completely. leaving not vestlge OF |
these condemned to destruction.
The Sodomites all went TO hell--to |
the Bible hell-to the state OF death |
But they did not go to the hell which |
was manufactured by our forefathers
during the dark ages-a he'll of eternal |
torture. We have Bible testimony on |
the subject, which we viii produce, |
They are unconscious now Ike the re-
mainder Of the dead. waiting for the
resurrection. And the resurrection OPP |
portunity will come to them. as well |
as to all the remainder Of Adams |
race; because they. as well as all 9th
ers. are redeemed by the precious blood
OF Chrlst-by the sacrifice which he
finished at Calvary. This Is not spec
ulative. We have the words OF the
Master himself on the subject, Let us
take our information, our wisdom from
the proper quarter. Then our doubts
and fears win speedily Zee away,
Not a Second Chance.
We win produce the Bible testimony
showing that the Sodomites will be re-
leased and come forth during the me
diatorial reign Of Messiah 10 enjoy a
share OF the blessings then 10 be pour
ed out upon Israel and the world; and
10 have an opportunity of coming into
harmony with God and gaining eternal
life. But we know that straightway |
somebody will say, No. Pastor Russell, |
that would be a second chance, and
God has nowhere promised second
chance to any. Furthermore Il would
be be-'ittleing to the Divine Govern
ment TO suppose that God, after giving
one fair trial TO a man and reaching a
decision would conclude 20 give him
smother trial. as though Divine Justice
were unable to determine the WORTH
ness or unworthiness OF the individual
FOR eternal life Ia one trial or testing
We fully agree with this sentiment,
bot call attention to the fact that the
SOdomites did NOT enjoy one trial for
life. They and all mankind were
''born IN sin. shapen IN iniquity; IN sin I
Nid fhair tanthars conceive than, "